I have a chance to pick up an '86 GT with 100K miles. It has a 5 speed and the guy claims it is super clean. His asking price is $4K.

I haven't seen the car yet. As long as it is the way it is described - is this a decent price. I was thinking more along the lines of $3K. This could be a good project car where I could throw in a Ford Racing direct replacement engine with 225 hp. Or go with another one of their 5.0 engines....I think they are around the 300 hp range.

Please ignore my ignorance on these cars as my interest in Mustangs has recently surfaced with the new '05s. Originally going to get an '05 and have a beater car....but also thinking about a mid to late 80s GT - fix it up and then get a nicer daily driver.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

Not sure if this link will work but it is always best to campare apples to apples. This is an attempt to link you 1986 Mustangs on Autotrader.com

http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/results...&first_record=1

 

i sold my 86 convertible like a year and a half ago w/ 190k on it for 3k. it had a new engine w/ about 18k. i would definitely replace the engine w/ one from an 87-92 and i am alittle biased b/c the four eyed cars look the best of the foxes

 

I had an 86gt for 5.5 yrs. It was my first mustang and I had many memorable times in it. I say go for it if it's in decent shape

 

i'll be selling this car soon for $5500-$6000
I hope this is a good comparison...
1991 with a motor from my brothers 89 that had only 80k miles on it

 

rear

 

cobra brakes (5 lug) real cobra "r" rims cowl hood, lx rear bumper, cervinis stalcker bumper, lx lights, and the car now has the clear lights in the front, and the interior has yellow pin striping, and a tremmec 3550 5 speed, 3.73 gears,k/n, flowmaster... and some other fun stuff
It needs rear speaker covers and there is no stereo now

 

Pics r needed to determine the true value

 

I'm going to see the car on Friday or Saturday. I'll take my camera. He says it has a new paint job - with the factory GT stripe/decal readded to the hood. Fresh Tires. New exhaust. Says he is the second owner and the car has never been modified.

States there is not one spec of rust - said Mustangs of that era were known to get rust in and around the trunk area.

He has only owned the car for a year - he got a deal on a new C5 Corvette and no longer has the need for the 'Stang GT.

I'll try and get some pics!!

 

A vette, he is gonna regret that purchase, LOL

 

if you get a mid 80's mustang get a 86 or newer. I got an 84 and found out the tranny and rearend are smaller. now I have to find a donor car for mine.
www.rioking.50megs.com

 

i have an 89 gt for sale. it is a black conv. w/ 95k runs awesome lokss good interior is immaculate asking $4k.

 

Buy the 86 as long as it has NO T-Tops and is in good shape

 

The hatch on the 86 and 87 are known to be problematic for Rust....I suspect something in the making or prepping of those parts back then.

Look at the shock towers where the frame rails meet them....if there is a "V" shaped pucker in the frame rails then the car has been hit in the front before. This is often a neglected area to fix when the car is put back together.

The 86 GT has an 8.8 rear but smaller front brakes.

Check the seats as those seats tend to sink in at your lower back...the foam pushes back through the seat frame.

Heater controls: make sure they are not broken and work properly

Transmission...make sure it shifts smoothly and no noise.

Engine mounts...look at the fan in the shroud and see how close it sits to the bottom of the fan shround. When mounts wear the fan starts to hit the shroud and rubs/modifies the blades to clear.

Fan...these are known to crack with age...inspect it for cracks around the center hub.

Wiring under hood...make sure it is not coming apart and is not hard and brittle.

Front bumper cover....GT front covers are not available aftermarket and are expensive...make sure there are not splits or tears.

That should give you some basics of what to look for

 

Take a camera with you and post the pics when you get home... you'll get our responses asap!

 

In my opinion for 4,000 it needs to be real clean,no accident damage,original drivetrain,near flawless interior and emissions legal for NY state.
Ilike the 85/86's also.

Rus

 

FYI...I am selling my 86 GT for $4k...here's a pic of her...

 

another

 

Nice 86. Why on earth would you want to sell it? Even if I had a dozen Foxes I couldn't bear to part with my 86. :scratch:

 

FYI...I am selling my 86 GT for $4k...here's a pic of her... [/b][/quote]
whats up with those wheels? Also, if you dont sell your car,i t would look real sweet if you replace the rear 1/4 glass with that from and 87-93 like my dad did as shown....