1988 Ford Mustang LX Hatchback
From its inception in 1964 until 1993, the Ford Mustang was offered continuously in two roof styles: formal coupe and fastback. While the fastback designation changed to hatchback with the second generation in 1974, the overall shape of the tumblehome was preserved in silhouette, freezing the iconic Mustang fastback shape as the definitive version. The Mustang was a chiseled wedge in reverse that looked as if it could leave the air undisturbed after making its splashy entrance. We're talking decades before the notchback Mustang, but hear us out. When the third-generation Mustang debuted in 1979, there would be two versions as well: a two-door sedan, (the windows were now framed), and hatchback. Ford didn't want to change the formula that had made the Mustang so successful, and that meant there should be a Mustang for every person and every purpose. The job fell to Ford VP of design Jack Telnack, who had three teams working on parallel designs, two in Detroit and one in Italy. Thx To Motortrend.com
For consignment, a car that is just as capable on the street as it is on the track. With a larger than factory engine with speed and power upgrades a plenty, this car is now a pocket rocket Foxbody Stang, with a sting right out of 1988. A 351ci Windsor engine now graces the bay where a meek and mild 4 popper used to sit, along with a 5-speed transmission, a roll cage, racy interior, and Weld wheels with Mickey Thompson drag tires on the rear. Street lethal if you will.
Due to modifications of the emissions control devices installed by the manufacturer, please check your local, state, and federal laws to determine if this vehicle is applicable for use on public highways in your area.*
Exterior
This dual purpose hatchback is painted in Medium Blue Metallic and has straight steel panels which mind their gaps nicely. A few chip off are noted on the bumpers along with a few dents on the roof and the top leading edge of the hatch being bent upward. A lighter hue of metallic blue on the front of this skate fades into the darker blue and expertly applied purple and pale blue flames lick back the hood, front quarters, and doors. Body matching integrated front bumper, dark tinted windows with black surrounds, and some rectangular headlights, (now projector style and tinted), are framed by a fairly bold and muscular cowl induction style hood with pins to secure it on the front. Dark smoke tinted factory-style wraparound tail lights are just below the rear trunk deck and above another body matching rear bumper. All of this resides in the shade of an aluminum rear racing spoiler that has been mounted to the hatch. Weld Racing Prostar are on all 4 corners, and up front wrapped by skinny 165/R15 tires, and on the rear, 275/60R15 Mickey Thompson drag rubber. Save for the drag wheels, tires, and the hood, this is a naturally occurring unassuming Fox Bodied Mustang LX. BUT!
Interior
Framed with a 10-point roll cage with removable door bars, a full on gray interior is provided for you straight line enjoyment. Wrinkled and age folded deeply bolstered leather articulated bucket seats grab you and hold you with a firm snuggle and both show with outer upper bolster wear. The rear seat has been removed in the name of weight savings and gives us a view of the relocated battery and gray steel flooring. Lightly stained gray carpet covers the flooring up front and floats not only the seats but the gray and black plastic console with a small storage area/armrest and a Hurst shifter with a white ball atop. A Grant GT rally steering wheel sits atop the factory column and a factory instrument cluster floats just ahead. An AutoMeter tachometer and shift light have been added to monitor engine rpms and in dash central we see a trio of white face supporting gauges. Just below this menagerie of readouts we note a Painless wiring custom switch panel with various toggles for ignition, line lock, the starter, fuel pump and an electric fan. Hovering just above the rollbar is a gray felted headliner, tight and alright.
Drivetrain
The 351ci Windsor V8 engine has all the fixings and is adorned with worked over cast iron cylinder heads, a fairly radical camshaft, and an Edelbrock intake manifold. Feeding the proper and copious amount of air and fuel is a QuickFuel 4-barrel carburetor perched under an open element chrome lidded air cleaner. On back is a Tremec T5 5-speed manual transmission. Making the connection from the transmission to the rear axle is an aluminum driveshaft which sends power to the Summit Racing aluminum differential cover equipped Ford 8.8" and in turn the rear tires. Sheesh! I'm sweating with anticipation on the test track, which will be a straight-line version today! Buckle up!
Undercarriage
A 4 link and coil spring rear suspension with Lakewood drag shocks and an adjustable anti-roll bar make up the rear suspension. Subframe connectors are seen tying the unibody together and giving the chassis some extra stiffening. Up front is a tubular K-member, and an independent front suspension with coil springs. All solid and rust free, nicely put together, and topped off with headers and a Flowmaster mufflers setup exiting with turn down tips just prior to the rear axle underneath. We see the catalytic converters have been removed from the exhaust and for the steering we note a manual rack and pinion arrangement and the whoah factor is provided by power disc brakes up front and power drums in the rear.
Drive-Ability
It fired up with a thunderous roar, and our test driver, who doubles as my sidekick decoder, took her for a spin, and spin it did, especially for the rear tires. He said launching was awesome, and of course did not get close to any top speed, but it is reported it goes like hell. Racing aspect aside, this skate can still be driven as a hopped up street car with nearly all functions operational save for driver's power lock not functioning and the brake lights not illuminating when the pedal was pressed.
Take a Fox body and spend some cash on it to make it go straight, and you now have a super 'Stang, a Muscle Mustang, and a powerful pony. A few faults and flaws on the body but overall an excellent build with quality parts, and capable of being a multi-purpose tool. Smoke the competition on the straight line and look good at the local shows.
1FABP41A0JF151136
1-USA
F-Ford Motor Company
A-Passenger Car
B-Manual Belts
P41-Mustang LX Hatchback
A-2.3 Liter 4 Cylinder
0-Check Digit
J-1988
F-Dearborn, MI Assy Plant
151136-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
