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086 1989 Ford Mustang GT 5-speed Hatchback
Offered for auction is this 1989 Ford Mustang GT 5-speed Manual Hatchback with a clean Carfax. Over the years, many of these Fox body Mustangs have been modified and collectors often lament at the difficulty of finding one in stock condition. This is such a car, the sole mechanical departure from stock is an upgraded alternator. As well, this is a model year in strong demand by collectors as it is the last before the air bag steering wheel appeared in every Mustang, with tilt steering as a bonus; when implemented, Ford did not offer tilt functionality with the air bag steering wheel. Among the reskinned Fox body Mustangs from 1987 – 1993 model years, the ‘87s and ‘88s had bulkier front headrests making the combination of the 1989 model’s steering wheel and headrests sought after. This car is owned by a prominent member of the Golden Horseshoe Mustang Club -those looking closely will see a GHMA decal in the corner of the windshield – and it is clear that he keeps his cars tip-top so that they are always ready for shows and the review of knowledgeable and discriminating club mates. One such show was Motorama ’22, which CCC followers may recall us attending – see the mounted poster he had prepared, it is in the gallery and comes with the car. He has been an attentive steward to this car, recently facilitating reupholstery of the seating surfaces with Ford-sourced material matching the original after purchasing the car already having had a quality repaint under a prior owner’s custodianship.
Refinished in its original dove grey, the car was repainted under previous ownership. We see no evidence of overspray and note that the car reflects attention to detail in the existence of the “Cobra” decal on the driver’s side of the hatch, clean headlamp lenses, as-new louvered taillamps and the correct red stripe in the upper portion of the rocker mouldings; the embossed “MUSTANG GT” imprints at the base of the side and rear mouldings have not been altered. The body of the car remains in excellent condition without any obvious blemishes or paint imperfections. Blue oval Ford badges are clean and in proper position on the front of the hood and hatch lid, the famed 5.0 badges appear on the fenders. Original 15” Turbine wheels are in place, they currently wear original sized 225/60 Fuzion tires with grippy tread, seller estimates they have been used 5,000 km. All glass is labelled Carlite, Ford-correct, and front end is free of noticeable stone chips.
The interior really pops with the new seat upholstery in the original colour. Most would expect to see considerable wear on the seats of an ’89 but not in this Fox. The car is very well equipped – power windows, power locks, air conditioning that blows cold and has been converted to R134a, “pop-top” sunroof with removable glass, power steering, power brakes, cruise control, the list goes on. We note light sun fading on the console storage cover, whose latch is finicky; the ashtray cover, which functions as intended, a common challenge with these cars; and interior door latches, which probably would not be noticeable but for the new cloth covering the seats. The stereo has been upgraded to a modern double-DIN head unit with Bluetooth and GPS, the original Ford Dolby head unit with AM/FM/cassette and six pre-set buttons is included – both included in the photo gallery. Front seat adjustments are mostly manual, though each bucket includes a power lumbar adjustment. We see some sun fading on the carpet, the owner is including two cans of custom aerosol for re-dyeing them, as supplied by LMR, a well-known parts supplier for Mustang (and other) restorations. The hatch shows less fading, has a cargo cover whose retraction feature still works easily and contains a strap for tying down the sunroof glass when enjoying open-air motoring. While it remains perfectly functional, the print on the turn signal stalk, which also controls the wipers, is faded and a new replacement is included.
Under the hood is found the famed 5.0 litre displacement engine strongly associated with Fox body Mustangs. This 1989 is factory-rated for 225 horsepower at 4200 RPM and 300 lb.-ft of torque (3200 RPM). Even its sound is near legend, flowing through the stock exhaust. This GT is equipped with the T-5 five-speed manual which sends power to the rear wheels. Recent work on this Fox includes brakes: front pads and rear shoes. In addition to regular oil changes under the current owner’s care, he has also recently changed the transmission and differential oils. As noted, the alternator has been upgraded from stock, the stock unit has been known to be problematic for some Fox body owners. The engine bay presents as clean – details we notice include the shock towers in nice condition, the fact that the cover for the distributor is intact as well as the installed “The Legend” battery by NAPA. As shown in the gallery, the undercarriage presents as quite proper and virtually rust-free; the photos were taken while the car was elevated on the owner’s home garage lift. Ontario shoppers, please note: the car will be delivered with an Ontario Safety Standards Certificate. As well, there is a clean Carfax, shown in the gallery beginning at image 117.
This 1989 Ford Mustang GT 5-speed Manual Hatchback is available with clean Carfax, original Owner’s Manual, scarlet dye to renew the carpet colour, replacement turn signal switch/stalk, two sets of keys, custom poster (see the gallery) and original AM/FM/cassette head unit from the owner in Rockwood, Ontario.
The VIN decodes as follows:
1 – Built in the USA
FA – Ford Motor Company, Ford passenger car
B – Active seat belts
P42 – Hatchback GT
E – 5.0L 225 HP High Output V8
X – Check digit
K – Denotes a 1989 model
F – Built in Dearborn, Michigan
134749 – Sequential manufacture number
1 – Built in the USA
FA – Ford Motor Company, Ford passenger car
B – Active seat belts
P42 – Hatchback GT
E – 5.0L 225 HP High Output V8
X – Check digit
K – Denotes a 1989 model
F – Built in Dearborn, Michigan
134749 – Sequential manufacture number
Other data on the driver’s door tag:
Exterior – 1K, Light Gray (Smoke), a.k.a. Dove Grey
DSO – B8, Great Lakes Ford of Canada District Sales Office
Body – 61B, Mustang 2-door Hatchback
Moulding – PPP, Grey bodyside molding with Red inset stripe
Interior trim – PD, cloth Articulated Sport seating, low-back front buckets (P), Scarlet Red interior trim color (D)
R – 9, electronic AM/FM search stereo radio with cassette tape player
S – C, sunroof
AX – M, 2.73:1 axle ratio, Traction-Lok (limited slip) differential
TR – 2PPBB, 2 = manual Borg Warner transmission (T-5 5-speed overdrive), PP = front springs, BB = rear springs
Exterior – 1K, Light Gray (Smoke), a.k.a. Dove Grey
DSO – B8, Great Lakes Ford of Canada District Sales Office
Body – 61B, Mustang 2-door Hatchback
Moulding – PPP, Grey bodyside molding with Red inset stripe
Interior trim – PD, cloth Articulated Sport seating, low-back front buckets (P), Scarlet Red interior trim color (D)
R – 9, electronic AM/FM search stereo radio with cassette tape player
S – C, sunroof
AX – M, 2.73:1 axle ratio, Traction-Lok (limited slip) differential
TR – 2PPBB, 2 = manual Borg Warner transmission (T-5 5-speed overdrive), PP = front springs, BB = rear springs
