1988 Ford Mustang GT 83523 Miles Red Coupe 5.0 Liter V8 5 Speed Manual

Description for Ford Mustang 1988

5.0 Mustangs like this 1988 Ford Mustang GT were arguably as big an influence on car culture as the original small-block Chevy. Putting traditional high performance within reach of almost everyone with a checkbook, it shouldn't be a surprise that Ford built millions of them. However, for those same reasons, finding one that hasn't been thrashed to within an inch of its life is definitely a challenge 30 years later. Fortunately, we were able to round up this 5-speed GT... hatchback in an appealing red-over-black color combination. Judging from the overall condition, this car has led an easy life despite the modest upgrades under the hood. We believe that's original red paint with a black vinyl wrap to add some contrast, and since red is especially tough to maintain, you know this car has been properly tended. Today it's showing a soft gloss and surprisingly little orange peel, although there are a few minor signs of use here and there. The urethane ground effects that give the GT its unique look are in excellent condition, and both doors fit well. All the black rubber parts that usually turn gray with age and UV damage are supple and dark, and with recent parking lights, the nose is bright and clear. A Saleen rear spoiler, some window slats, and a set of taillights from a 1985 GT give this one a unique look without going too far astray. The beautiful red cloth interior is inviting and functional, with supportive buckets that were some of the best on the market in 1988, and they're in absolutely fantastic condition today. The dash is simple, with great high-visibility gauges, fingertip controls for headlights, and big rotary knobs for the A/C system. An aftermarket steering wheel blends in rather well with the stock interior, and the big tach on the center stack is a familiar sight to Mustang fans. The center armrest and ashtray door are intact, two plastic items that rarely survive the years and early Mustangs like this also got adjustable thigh supports that were eliminated in later cars. This GT offers A/C, power mirrors, interval wipers, and a recent AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the dash. And since this is a pre-airbag car, it's got a tilt steering column, which makes a big difference in terms of comfort. The hatch area is big enough for just about anything, with fold-down seats and a retractable cargo cover to keep your gear safe. The 5.0 liter EFI V8 under the hood is the reason the Mustang was the pony car of choice for an entire generation. Great sound, bulletproof performance, impressive torque, and an aftermarket that could transform it into anything your wallet could afford. It has the usual 5.0 upgrades, including a GT40 tubular intake that's probably worth $1000 all by itself, performance heads, a slightly bigger cam, silicone hoses, an upgraded alternator, and cold air induction with a mass-air sensor conversion. This pony also carries the highly desirable 5-speed manual with a fresh clutch, which feeds a set of 3.08 gears in the Track-Lok 8.8-inch rear end. The underside is extremely clean, and features a set of subframe connectors and a new Flowmaster exhaust system. The 17-inch Center Line wheels look exactly right and carry staggered 245/45/17 front and 275/40/17 rear performance radials. Sensibly modified and with a known ownership history, you won't find many 5-speed 5.0 Mustangs that are still this clean. Call today!