The Fox-body Ford Mustang is the best blank canvas pony car | Buyer’s Guide

Hagerty’s Editor-at-Large Sam Smith takes a look at the Fox-body Ford Mustang and offers a general overview of the highly affordable but highly variable third-generation pony car. With an easy-to-modify structure, Sam not only covers the pluses and minuses of the Mustang’s massive aftermarket, but also the nuances of owning, buying, and maintaining this iconic classic.


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Episode chapters:
00:00 Introduction - Fox-body Ford Mustang
00:30 Lining up with history
01:09 Affordable smiles per mile
01:51 Every body, yeah…
03:08 Vehicle overview - 1993 Fox-body Ford Mustang Cobra
03:39 Rock your body (styles), yeah…
04:04 Engine variants
04:51 A missive about mass airflow
05:59 Motor mods made easy
06:23 Interchangeable-ish parts
07:12 Suspension and undercarriage
08:39 Rear axle considerations
09:39 Hagerty Valuation Tools
10:34 Sam Smith’s final thoughts
10:44 Credits

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[realmaindrianpace]

I bought a teal '93 Cobra brand new. It's still in the garage. I never get bored of looking at or driving that car.

[chatsworth]

I bought a 79 Cobra and built myself. Yep it got laughed at when i went to our local street drags because 79 was a 140 hp...what they didnt know it I built a 351/427 small block with a built C-6 and a 8.8 373 posi rear. It wiped the smile off a lot of faces at our local races.

[brendertucktuck]

Bought my 89 5.0 when I was 14 and I’m 21 and still have it

[waynemuehlenbein]

Had always wanted a Mustang. Finally, at age 41, I bought a brand-new 1989 5.0, five speed manual Mustang Fox Body LX. Loved it! Nine years and 67k trouble free miles later, I traded it on an Explorer to pull a boat. I still miss my Mustang.

[Krazy_Shorts]

I had an 88 LX with the 4 banger in it in 1991, bought it when i was it every day until i was 36!! loved that thing, I didn't care how slow it was... i loved it. Had 215, 000 miles on it when i retired it, it was puffing blue smoke on start up, leaking oil, etc...but it still started up and ran every day.

[hurricanedt]

I built several foxbody cars. They were my first love. I'm 34, my dad fronted me the money for a 90 Notch back when I got my license in 2003. We kinda shared it. He had epilepsy growing up, so he never got his license. Through advances in medical technology he was able to get his license right around when I did. He got his first ticket with me passing a cop in an industrial park doing 85 lol. The last foxbody I built had a 351W with TF heads, 100 shot and a TKO 600. Now I have a Vortech V3'd 2001 GT. So I'd have to disagree a bit with the video. The 99-04 cars are so far superior in every single way over a fox. And the fox market is so crazy inflated it's not even worth sniffing them. Love the content, cheers!

[gamerfallout]

I’ve owned 3 and im 25. My first car was an 86 SVO, then a 88 GT, and now a 86 GT. I still own it. Love the 4 eye cars. Nothing screams 80s more. Great cars.

[norm]

My Pop bought his 88 GT 5 speed Black Convertible in 1990. I bought it from him in 2013....still have it today.

[mikeshorsepowergarage]

The '93 Cobras have a lot more different parts then mentioned. Daily drove mine for over 20 years. Most reliable car ever!

[victoryveshinojosa]

I owned 4 Fox Body 5.0's back in the 90's and early 2000's. Call me biased but any 5.0 Fox Body with an H-Pipe and Flowmaster muffler is one of the best exhaust notes ever. Add headers, shorty or long tube, and it gets even better. My preference was shorty headers. My dad's neighbor 4 houses down has a 93 Teal Cobra just like this video. I fall in love with it every time I see it.

[jeffjohnson]

I have had my 93 cobra since early 94...215000 miles on it now and restoring it system at a time. It's still a blast to drive.

[fce]

Never forget my buddy got a new 88 LX 5.0. The LX had the power, suspension, brakes, etc., and weighed less than the GT. It was insanely fast, faster than every Camaro, Firebird, Corvette, and all the muscle cars, big block or not. Beyond that, it was a nice comfortable car. Great memories of a simpler, more happy time

[lukestocks]

From a guy from Australia who loved these cars. Who loves Ford's and loves the look of these cars. This really gave a lot of information. Thanks

[flounder]

My high school car was an 86 GT (last of the 4-eyes, first of the F.I. 5.0s.) Loved the hell outta that car, wish I still had it.

[sporty]

I don't know how many I've had over the years. I drove tow truck in Detroit, I towed hundreds of stripped mustangs. Bought alot of them from the tow auction and put alot back together. I got lucky a few times and got some with less than a 1000mi. I didn't keep any cause I was afraid of them getting stolen. They were easy to work on and interchange easy.

[Kantoh]

This thing is beautiful, and brings back so much nostaglia. Gives me the chills just looking at it and hearing it.

[michaelgreco]

My dad has had one since forever(1987) so fitting that this released on father's day

[jodysales]

'89 notch back X-Georgia state patrol. Painted state patrol blue still with the roll bar behind the drivers seat. Loved it and still do.

[j_e_hill]

Great video Sam. I grew to really appreciate these when working at Ford in the early 90’s. So easy to modify and really comfortable to drive hard. Stout. Simple. That “5.0”. And have started to look better in hindsight. That’s a very fine example.

[timcole]

Fastest rising demand I have witnessed in a collector car. Glad I grabbed one.