Thought I would start a thread featuring my most recent acquisition, a 1990 Mustang LX hatchback.
I bought this car because my '65 Mustang coupe project simply needs too much work at this time for me to be able to actually finish and enjoy it. It is completely disassembled and on a rotisserie; its a great car, just totally APART! Between getting married this fall and the planning that goes along with that, as well as an absurd work-travel schedule that isn't letting up any time soon, I just don't have the time to finish my '65 right now. Additionally, its very difficult to continually throw money at a project like this, and still not even be close to being able to drive it. And... try explaining that to a woman; boxes and boxes showing up at the house, but the damn car is still a basket case...
So I made an executive decision to buy a car that I can enjoy right now. The stipulations were that I had to be able to get my money back out of it, and I had to be able to enjoy it. After some research and market watching, I deemed fox Mustangs to be fully depreciated, and currently on the market rise for collectors. If you didn't tune in, note that there were a handful of very clean low mileage STOCK fox body mustangs that sold for $25-30K+at January's Barret Jackson auction. In the past there have been several sub-1000 mile examples (plain LX 5.0 cars) that have sold for $70K+. I'm not shooting for the moon here because I'm a realist. But, I bought this for a very fair price, it is a well documented car, and I do not think I can possibly lose. I'd love to say I'll own it forever, but given my track record I can't do that; historically, I unload my prime examples when I think the market will deliver on what I'm looking for. In the meantime, my wonderful fiance and I have a somewhat retro weekend car that we can take to vineyards and breweries, or on weekend cruises. That's how I justified this to her, anyway.
I scoured eBay and Craigslist for 6 months looking for the perfect fox. I followed up on leads to cars that I knew about years ago, and must have looked at 15-20 cars in different states of modification and repair. I kind of wanted a race car to start, but then realized that my racing days are probably over. I really wanted a coupe, but really good examples are currently hovering at $15k+ (above my budget), and they are REALLY hard to find. I was adamant about having a real 5.0 5 speed car, which further complicated the search. Initially I passed on this car because when I first looked at it, I deemed it "too good" for my initial plans for modifications. But when you look at enough junk, eventually you really appreciate nice clean cars. I called back the owner, who had removed the ad from Craigslist, and was relieved to find out he still had it. I struck a deal to pick it up, and that was that.
The car:
**1990 Mustang LX 5.0 Hatchback
*5 speed
*Vermillion red
*Black tweed cloth
*Power windows, locks, and mirrors
*Factory sunroof
*30,275 original documented miles
*Original paint, glass, body panels
I am told that the black interior was very uncommon in 1990, but I am going to rely on the Marti report to shed some light on that. The car was sold new at Universal Ford in Glen Allen Virginia. I am the 5th owner. The original owner sold the car in 2003 to a gentleman in Westchester County, NY, who sold it to a gentleman in Thomaston, CT, who sold it to a gentleman in Monson, MA, who I bought the car from. I have all the original dealer paper work, less the window sticker
.
When I bought the car, the modifications were as follows:
*Window tint; I have the original receipt from 1990
*Aftermarket head unit and amp (done in the mid 2000s)
*Pro 5.0 shifter
*Ford Racing Floor Mats (carpeted)
*SVE 70 mm throttle body
*SVE fenderwell cold air intake
*Eibach Pro Springs
*Bilsten shocks and struts
*FRPP 4.10 gears
*Flowmaster cat back
*Aftermarket (vintage) anti theft system
My plans are a complete return to stock condition, less the 4.10 gears, and the Pro 5.0 shifter base (using the stock handle knob and boot).
*I've already installed the factory airbox and throttle body, removed the aftermarket audio garbage (need to repair some holes in the console ).
*I currently have the entire front suspension out of the car, getting urethane bushings and such, stock springs, etc. Calipers, drums, backing plates and control arms are at powdercoat, and I am replacing the rest of the brake hardware (strictly for cosmetics).
*I am having the factory wheels reconditioned (pictures show that the finish was not A1), and I have polished out the OEM center caps. I am going to fit the rear with a wider (255/60) M/T drag radial, while retaining 225 60 15 front tires to get the right look.
*I will fully remove the window tint, as well as the vintage anti theft device. I'm also going to replace the battery cables with stock style units, as someone hacked the positive end.
*I'll obviously do a full under car and engine wash, as well as a tuneup. Additionally, it has some lame paper exhaust manifold gaskets that have to go.
*Complete paint correction and exterior detail, and it should be ready for cruising.
Ultimately the pristine body (and very good paint), unmolested torque boxes and subframes, and clean pinch welds are what sold me on this car.
Initial pictures, which do not do the car justice. I'll post more of my progress.
I bought this car because my '65 Mustang coupe project simply needs too much work at this time for me to be able to actually finish and enjoy it. It is completely disassembled and on a rotisserie; its a great car, just totally APART! Between getting married this fall and the planning that goes along with that, as well as an absurd work-travel schedule that isn't letting up any time soon, I just don't have the time to finish my '65 right now. Additionally, its very difficult to continually throw money at a project like this, and still not even be close to being able to drive it. And... try explaining that to a woman; boxes and boxes showing up at the house, but the damn car is still a basket case...
So I made an executive decision to buy a car that I can enjoy right now. The stipulations were that I had to be able to get my money back out of it, and I had to be able to enjoy it. After some research and market watching, I deemed fox Mustangs to be fully depreciated, and currently on the market rise for collectors. If you didn't tune in, note that there were a handful of very clean low mileage STOCK fox body mustangs that sold for $25-30K+at January's Barret Jackson auction. In the past there have been several sub-1000 mile examples (plain LX 5.0 cars) that have sold for $70K+. I'm not shooting for the moon here because I'm a realist. But, I bought this for a very fair price, it is a well documented car, and I do not think I can possibly lose. I'd love to say I'll own it forever, but given my track record I can't do that; historically, I unload my prime examples when I think the market will deliver on what I'm looking for. In the meantime, my wonderful fiance and I have a somewhat retro weekend car that we can take to vineyards and breweries, or on weekend cruises. That's how I justified this to her, anyway.
I scoured eBay and Craigslist for 6 months looking for the perfect fox. I followed up on leads to cars that I knew about years ago, and must have looked at 15-20 cars in different states of modification and repair. I kind of wanted a race car to start, but then realized that my racing days are probably over. I really wanted a coupe, but really good examples are currently hovering at $15k+ (above my budget), and they are REALLY hard to find. I was adamant about having a real 5.0 5 speed car, which further complicated the search. Initially I passed on this car because when I first looked at it, I deemed it "too good" for my initial plans for modifications. But when you look at enough junk, eventually you really appreciate nice clean cars. I called back the owner, who had removed the ad from Craigslist, and was relieved to find out he still had it. I struck a deal to pick it up, and that was that.
The car:
**1990 Mustang LX 5.0 Hatchback
*5 speed
*Vermillion red
*Black tweed cloth
*Power windows, locks, and mirrors
*Factory sunroof
*30,275 original documented miles
*Original paint, glass, body panels
I am told that the black interior was very uncommon in 1990, but I am going to rely on the Marti report to shed some light on that. The car was sold new at Universal Ford in Glen Allen Virginia. I am the 5th owner. The original owner sold the car in 2003 to a gentleman in Westchester County, NY, who sold it to a gentleman in Thomaston, CT, who sold it to a gentleman in Monson, MA, who I bought the car from. I have all the original dealer paper work, less the window sticker
.When I bought the car, the modifications were as follows:
*Window tint; I have the original receipt from 1990
*Aftermarket head unit and amp (done in the mid 2000s)
*Pro 5.0 shifter
*Ford Racing Floor Mats (carpeted)
*SVE 70 mm throttle body
*SVE fenderwell cold air intake
*Eibach Pro Springs
*Bilsten shocks and struts
*FRPP 4.10 gears
*Flowmaster cat back
*Aftermarket (vintage) anti theft system
My plans are a complete return to stock condition, less the 4.10 gears, and the Pro 5.0 shifter base (using the stock handle knob and boot).
*I've already installed the factory airbox and throttle body, removed the aftermarket audio garbage (need to repair some holes in the console
).*I currently have the entire front suspension out of the car, getting urethane bushings and such, stock springs, etc. Calipers, drums, backing plates and control arms are at powdercoat, and I am replacing the rest of the brake hardware (strictly for cosmetics).
*I am having the factory wheels reconditioned (pictures show that the finish was not A1), and I have polished out the OEM center caps. I am going to fit the rear with a wider (255/60) M/T drag radial, while retaining 225 60 15 front tires to get the right look.
*I will fully remove the window tint, as well as the vintage anti theft device. I'm also going to replace the battery cables with stock style units, as someone hacked the positive end.
*I'll obviously do a full under car and engine wash, as well as a tuneup. Additionally, it has some lame paper exhaust manifold gaskets that have to go.
*Complete paint correction and exterior detail, and it should be ready for cruising.
Ultimately the pristine body (and very good paint), unmolested torque boxes and subframes, and clean pinch welds are what sold me on this car.
Initial pictures, which do not do the car justice. I'll post more of my progress.
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