The Demand for Foxbody Mustangs is Rising (& So Are Their Selling Prices)

Black Foxbody Mustang

If you were a child of the ‘80s and had any sort of love for things with four wheels, you are familiar with the foxbody Mustang. You may have been introduced to the futuristic look of Ford’s flagship pony car through Vanilla Ice and his timeless ballad “Rollin in My 5.0“. Or perhaps you remember the green GT convertible on bright gold Daytons in “Menace II Society”.

Mustang GT Convertible from the movie “Menace II Society”

Mustang GT Convertible from “Menace II Society”

Photo Credit:  Internet Movie Cars Database

Much more likely is that your first intro to this nimble little machine was through a friend of a friend at school. There was at least one in every high school parking lot and everyone knew what that five-point oh badge meant. For whatever reason, nearly an entire generation of people have fallen in love with the Fox.

For decades, the fox was considered the go-to platform for muscle enthusiasts. They were relatively cheap, had a V8, and could be found on any street corner. What they lacked in power was made up through being a light-weight unibody chariot. You could walk into your local Ford showroom and leave with a GT that could run into the 12’s at the drag strip that same night. They introduced many of us to EFI.

For these reasons, the fox has a special place in many people’s hearts.

Since their inception, they’ve been a hot car in the racing scene due to the fact that they are supported heavily by the aftermarket. Even today, you’re able to get nearly every part of the car brand new from some manufacturer; either the original Ford OEM specification or modified.

The lightweight of the chassis, albeit weak, has given enthusiasts more bang for the buck when it comes to power-to-weight ratios. However, these cars are becoming a rare sight and a prized possession. Locating your dream Foxbody Mustang is now harder than ever due to loss of supply, re-surging popularity, and continued aftermarket support.

Finding a Foxbody Mustang for Sale

Now that I’ve hopefully invoked a little emotion in you, try to find one for sale today. Go on, I’ll wait.

Back already? That’s right, they are not as plentiful as they once were. And the ones that remain are all clapped out or are worth a small fortune.

The car that you could once pick up for less than the price of a set of tires has quietly disappeared almost entirely out of the “for sale” section. And now, the unmolested fox Mustang in perfect condition is worth more than a brand new Honda Fit.

Just recently, a 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra R sold at Barrett-Jackson for $132,000USD. Of course, that’s a Cobra and not your run-of-the-mill Fox Mustang. But even a clean, low-mileage GT is going to run upwards of $20,000 USD. It doesn’t seem that the model or options in a Mustang seem to be an issue with potential buyers, however, there are a few models that seem to garner special attention. The SVO (4 cylinder turbo) and Cobras seem to be a hot commodity.

Red 1993 Mustang SVT Cobra R

 

1993 Mustang SVT Cobra R sold at Barrett-Jackson for $132,000

Photo Credit: Barrett-Jackson

What’s Changed About the Foxbody Mustang?

So what happened? These cars went from a dime-a-dozen to collector cars in what seems like overnight.

Well, it turns out that they made the perfect platform for racing enthusiasts to enter their sport of choice for a relatively low price. This meant that people were buying them up and modifying them for their desired outcome. Many of them were neglected and abused. No one really ever considered them to be a valuable car since so many were produced.

This slowly but surely has created a low supply of clean Foxbodies for today’s enthusiasts. Today, many of us who grew up loving this car are now around the middle-age mark and finally have some disposable income to spend on having a nice weekend driver in the garage. We are looking to relive our past to an extent and are now buying Mustangs as projects, show cars, and race cars. The demand is now outpacing supply, and we know what that leads to.

On top of this, the Foxbody is starting to regain its former fame. Famous auto personalities are starting to look towards the iconic pony car and incorporate them into their skillset.

Vaugn Gittin Jr., a famous drift racer mostly recently noted for his work on the new Mach-E 1400 prototype, had built a 1990 Mustang GT drift car just a few years ago.

Youtube star Matt Farah turned a retired SSP (Police Interceptor) into a wide-bodied, independent rear suspension, canyon-carving monster just a few years ago. In October 2018, he auctioned it for charity and it fetched $65,000.

Ken Block is currently working on building a new Gymkana car based on the Foxbody GT and has also purchased a convertible to provide content with. Guys like these are the modern superstars and are bringing a lot of attention to the platform.

Vaughn Gittin Jr. with his Foxbody Drift Missile Mustang

Vaughn Gittin Jr. with his Foxbody Drift Missile

Photo Credit: @VaughnGittinJr

Foxes Love Coyotes

With continued aftermarket support, Fox owners are able to install the modern 5.0 Coyote engine with relative ease. Entire kits for this swap are available with just a quick Google search and the donor Coyote can be found in the local junkyard.

Very soon, we will likely see kits for Ford’s new 7.3L V8 engine that is currently being used with the F250, a push-rod engine that is rumored to be capable of 600+ horsepower with basic modifications.

Manufacturers are even releasing parts to improve the dated interior by replacing the stock ash-tray with cup holders and USB ports with quality that matches Ford’s very own parts.

The triangle windows could not be replaced as rumor has it that Ford had lost the original moldings, but persistent manufacturers now have them available for restoration projects.

New and different wheel designs are still being released for the Fox’s 4-lug configuration, as well as 5-lug conversions.

It seems that there’s never been a better time for owners.

Ford’s new 7.3L gas pushrod engine

Ford’s new 7.3L gas pushrod engine used in the current F250

Photo Credit: Ford.com

Loving the Fox?

Whether you want a race car, a way to relive your past, or to turn heads, there are many compelling reasons to be looking at a Foxbody in 2020.

The platform is still relevant for enthusiasts thanks to continued aftermarket support and popularity among auto celebrities. The car that was once thought of as a bargain racer has elevated its status to collectors.

I suppose it should be no surprise knowing what happens to older autos, but here we are. If you’re looking to find your dream Fox, you’re probably in for months of searching various auto trading platforms to find the perfect car. But be patient, it will come.