Searching through any Ohio-area Craigslist ads usually leave me feeling like the two Stormtroopers afro-picking the desert in the movie “Spaceballs”. It’s the rust belt for a reason, and one glance around any random street in the state will remind you just how dire it is for a driver-quality car. You’d swear that they were de-icing the roadways with battery acid, as bad as some of these cars are. But, since I’m currently holed up in Cleveland, I decided to make a foray into Craigslist, hoping for a diamond in the rough. Instead, I found a rough, but certainly not dead, four-eyed Fox that has builder potential.
Let’s be up front: you’re getting a 1986 Mustang, a former V8 car, as a roller for $600. There’s interior that’s passable for the price and all the body panels are present…after that, be happy that there actually isn’t frame rot or hackery. You’ll need a driver’s side fender and door if you want straight body panels, and at least one taillight unless you like the shot-out look, but you can easily find those, and for ease of mind, you should probably stick with spray-bomb black for a color for the time being…remember, budget and all. That $4,400 left over after buying the maligned pony could make for a nice scrappy small-block and maybe even the transmission of your choice if you play your cards right.
If you can’t make an entertaining driver out of a Fox like this, we don’t know what to tell you. They’re cheap to build and a blast to beat on. Isn’t that what owning one of these beasts is all about? You make the call…
Craigslist Link: 1986 Ford Mustang
Roller four eye Fox from the rust belt?
That is sheer poetry – or could be a good name for a weird car-related C&W band. As for ol’ four eyes, a 302 or even a 289 decked out with Cobra valve covers and air cleaner fixed to a T5 and running an EFI set up would be just fine.
Bryan McTaggart – the Bard of BangShift!
It is 600 bones for a reason, the underside most likely is so rust pitted, it’s a wet noodle..
And he called it a beast..
puff puff pass..
Paint it white with red targets (like Kyle Larsons race car) and finish it off with ammo holes from my “weapon of choice”
I agree with Stich626, this is likely to be rusted beyond salvation. Even if it’s not rusted, look at the damage on that door and fender. I think that the car is bent. Fender jammed into the door usually means a front end hit.
Then there’s the wiring harness, etc.
If it’s not rusted out, at least a V8 car from 86 will have an 8.8 rear end, but with 4 lug drum brakes. Rather have one from an explorer.
I like fox bodies, but find no reason to want this one, even for $600, unless it’s for a rock bottom cheapo build. Junkyard LS (sorry Gordie, I don’t care about the brand cults) or Explorer 302, cheap auto from whichever truck you choose.
Pics I see don’t look bad . But my self imposed limit on things that don’t start and drive are $500 . Unless we are talking race cars that are caged and ready to go minus a motor and trans .
351 windsor out of a truck and a c6 and pill it till it quits. Some cheap drag lites with a good slick on the back.
There are too many Fox body’s in better shape for that money. Also rather buy a complete car so you don’t have to chase down the parts.
For the price even if it is rusted I would still bite. If the floors are rusted then you just back half the car.