1988 Ford Mustang Convertible
Generously lent by Charles Bourret
Return to performance for the Mustang with desirable 5.0 V8
Fox body improved body and suspension, no longer a “ rattle box”
To many the most popular Mustang generation
The Fox body Mustang of the 1980’s is the car that injected muscle car DNA back into Ford. The Fox body is one of the most popular American sports cars of all time, selling 2.5 million models in total. With its short wheelbase and lightweight body, the Fox body was extremely versatile, being used for drag and road racing, and even drifting in later years. This extremely clean convertible is a rare bird today, showing just 18,000 miles from new.
The oil crisis of the 1970’s significantly dampened United States automotive culture. Companies were making smaller, more fuel efficient and frankly unexciting cars, and when the first Fox body’s were produced in 1979, they were also far from exciting. Built upon the “Fox” platform, the new chassis was smaller, lighter, and utilized a wider engine bay than in previous designs. Even though a 5.0-liter V8 was offered, it only produced a measly 140 horsepower and was discontinued after a short run due to a second oil crisis on the horizon.
The Fox body became a legitimate sports car in the mid-1980’s, with the introduction of the high output 5.0-liter V8 that produced over 200 horsepower and 285 ft./lbs. of torque. This launched the Fox body into cult status, as the Mustang was officially back and stronger than ever. By 1988 the Fox body had been in production for nearly a decade and Ford had made some more modern upgrades to the design of the car. A more attractive, aerodynamic front fascia and redesigned rear end was introduced for the 1987 model year. The interior was revamped as well with a new dashboard center console, seats, and trim.
In many aspects, the Fox body is unique from every other generation of Mustang. Thanks to its smaller chassis design, Jack Telnack was able to design an attractive body to match the new era of Ford automobiles. At this time, Telnack was the Vice President of Design for Ford Europe, and suggested a design that more resembled European sports cars of the period. The chassis design was also influential in the car being so useable in different performance settings. In 1981 Ford partnered with McLaren, giving birth to the M81 Mustang. This car utilized Ford’s 2.3 liter turbocharged four-cylinder tuned by McLaren, and McLaren adjusted the overall suspension settings. Today the Mustang is a popular platform choice for drifting and road course racing due to its lightweight and short wheelbase.
While Ford produced thousands of Mustangs with the 5.0 V8, many of them were used for what they were built to be used for. To find a car like this 18k mile convertible is extremely rare. The Mustang name is still strong, though like other manufacturers, Ford is stepping into the EV arena, even recently placing the Mustang nomenclature onto an EV.
Specifications:
Engine: 5.0 Liter V8
Horsepower: 225 @ 4200 RPM
Torque: 285 @ 3200 RPM
0-60 MPH: 6.8 Seconds
Top Speed: 142 MPH
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Weight: 3192 lbs.