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What Used Car to Buy: 1979–93 Ford Mustang 5.0

Photo credit: Ford
Photo credit: Ford

From Car and Driver

From the June 2020 issue of Car and Driver.

The Fox-body Mustang, produced from 1979 to 1993, enjoyed a long and successful run and earned three 10Best trophies. Over the years, Ford offered a range of power options, but the lustiest models wore "5.0" regalia. Which, as the name implies, meant that when you popped the hood, you'd find a . . . 4.9-liter V-8. At least the cars' performance could back up the marketing embellishment, leading Ford back to pony-car credibility after the Mustang II debacle of the '70s. The Fox-body models, particularly the minimalist LX trims, aged well and still deliver an entertaining shove in the back. They were built by the millions, so despite their appeal, a plentiful supply keeps prices reasonable.

Engine

The 4.9–liter—or in cubic-inch parlance, the 302—really rounded into form in 1985, hitting 210 horsepower with a four-barrel carb. By 1987, the fuel-injected Windsor V-8 made 225 horses and 300 pound-feet of torque. But then Ford lowered those ratings to 205 and 280, respectively, in 1993, giving rise to conspiracy theories that the engine was either overrated in its 225-horse heyday or else sandbagged to provide some distance from the 235-hp Cobra. In any case, from 1987 on, performance was pretty consistent. We clocked a 1987 GT at 14.7 seconds in the quarter-mile; a 1993 Cobra ran a 14.3.

Photo credit: Ford
Photo credit: Ford

Value

The LX notchback, one of the cheapest trims during the Fox-body's tenure, has become one of the most expensive. It is lighter and stiffer than the hatch and thus prized by speed freaks. (The notch­back 5.0 was also the basis for the police-issue SSP.) You can get a drivable car for under $5K, but it'll take closer to $10K if you want one that'll really complement the mint condition of your letter jacket. Between $10K and $20K, a car's trim or body style doesn't matter as much as condition and mileage. Low on funds? Look for the "four-headlight" cars from the early years. They're not as quick as later cars, but that's easily fixed.

Photo credit: Ford
Photo credit: Ford

Problem Areas

Any Rust Belt car deserves a close underbody inspection, especially at the base of the strut towers. The Fox-body platform wasn't known for stiffness, so if a car has been driven hard, the body may be deformed. The torque boxes (where the rear suspension links mount to the body) can bend or crack. Consider getting torque-box reinforcements and additional bracing to keep the car from wringing its body like a wet towel. But a Mustang 5.0—particularly one with the Borg­Warner T-5 manual—is a rugged machine as long as horsepower remains stock. Or at least within the realm of reason.

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