I don’t want to point out flaws with the Fox Mustang. I’m working on my wife’s currently, they are popular, and the fan base for those cars is about as rabid as any Mopar group I’ve ever been involved in…they are just more open to modifications. A lot of people get into Fox body Mustangs for the right reasons: they are light, parts are available, they are rather small in size, they can do just about anything you want them to do. But some of those attributes aren’t exactly good things. The small size of a Fox Mustang means that unless you’re packing around two gym bags for the trunk and never hope to use the backseat, the car might as well be a two-seater. Plus, go shopping for a clean, nearly unmolested Fox. Let me know how that goes.

Or, I can save you the trouble. The Fox platform was much more than just Mustangs and Fairmonts. The Ford Thunderbird, Mercury Cougar and Lincoln Continental Mark VI are all on the Fox chassis too. Other than a four-inch stretch over the Mustang, there isn’t much difference mechanically. This black 1988 model packs the 5.0, the AOD automatic, and even the same turbine wheels seen on the same-year Mustang GT. Unlike the Mustang, though, there’s a chance two adults could get into the backseat without yoga moves, the trunk is actually kind of useable, and if you’re just driving by yourself, you have room! But the real appeal starts here: this is a 65,000 mile Mercury up for grabs for $4,000. You want to start a project with a car with good bones? Here you go. Build that 5.0 up. Bulletproof that AOD, or go one better and find the pedal box and convert this car to run a five-speed. Do everything you would ever want to on a Mustang, but have a car that hasn’t been seen around in at least ten years with any sort of regularity.

Cars.com Link: 1988 Mercury Cougar XR7