Fox-body Mustangs are at an interesting point right now: they are certainly classics, excellent hot-rod fodder, and are finally starting to surge up in value, yet are still very approachable in price. Go hunting for the costs to clean one of these cars up, too, especially 1989-newer cars, and you will be impressed. Even the field-find Mustang is a good investment so long as the metal’s good, and you’re guaranteed to find a buyer! Using this logic, I turned to Craigslist and set the bar extremely low: $1,000 dollars. For that kind of money, I was hoping to find a ragged-out, bashed car that needed just about everything. I was not expecting to find a complete, mostly decent 1990 Ford Mustang LX hatchback that is giving the owner fits.
According to the listing, the Mustang has been this guy’s runner, but one day it just wouldn’t start. After throwing spark plugs, a new distributor, rotor and more at the engine, he’s found his wit’s end. He notes that the engine will spin over, but that it just won’t kick, so he’s decided to cut his losses. You have to love a find like this, right? Even if it’s a 2.3L four-banger car, there’s plenty to work with. The Terminator-style wheels aren’t included with the deal, but that shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. It’s not perfect, but it is far and away from beaten, with typical sun bleaching in the interior and yellowed headlights. We’d listen to his plight for hours before throwing the Fox on a car trailer and hauling it home. Even if the engine is for-sure done, a couple hundred bucks at Pull-A-Part can net you a complete engine setup. This guys sees a money pit…we see a blank canvas. What do you see?
Craigslist Link: 1990 Ford Mustang LX
The wheels look good on it. I think id offer him a little more and keep the sheels to keep me motivated.
No find a donor t-bird turbo coupe /xr4ti/or Svo and keep it a 2.3 Megasquirt stand alone turn up the boost and really mess with people and your “pinto” powered mustang on a very low budget
For a grand, if that car isn’t rusty, it is a deal, even without the wheels. It would make a good turbo 4 swap or V8 swap.
a 429/460 is a direct bolt in swap to a 4 cyl Fox body. Throw some V8 springs in the front, change the rear end and you are cruising with a Mad Max-esque machine that will scare the hell out of your neighbors everytime you light it off!!!
http://www.jegs.com/p/Hooker-Headers/Hooker-Ford-Racing-Melling-460-Swap-Kit-for-1979-93-Mustang/761731/10002/-1
I’m always on C/L looking especially in the $1000-$1500 range. If I didn’t have multiple projects going, more $1000 beater would be in my yard!
That Mustang must have been a winner since it sold already.
A no-brainer!
Keep the wheels, paint it satin black then swap in a crate coyote motor and transmission. Upgrade the brakes and suspension to suit all that extra power then enjoy the hell out of it!
Put in a warmed up 427 Ford with a manual shift and have fun. Or drop in a blown 429 and have even more fun.