Advise for a potential buyer 95 GT vert

[Husky44]

I can't get forum searches to work worth a darn, but I did scan a bunch of pages, to see how many times you guys have already answered these questions, and I came up empty.

I'm looking at a 95 GT convertible, 57k miles, 2nd owner has had it since 97. What should I be looking for? I'm pretty good on first generation Mustangs, and learned a little about Fox bodies (because the donor car for my 67 vert was a 91 LX). But I know NOTHING about this body style, other than this is the last year of the 5.0, and that it's different than the older 5.0s. What are the problems on these?

I'm buying something to use as a summer toy, drive to work, nice weekends, that kind of thing. Not looking to do a lot of mods. I've got my 67 for that, but it's not going to be ready for the road this summer.

Please give me as much advice as you can spare!

Car details:

Body looks good, with nothing but a few chips to the chin spoiler that someone has tried to cover up with touch up paint, not very noticeable. Top and interior are phenomenal.

Mods: Cobra wheels, K&N Filter, 70mm throttle body, MSD box and coil, FRP spark plug cables, BBK shorty headers, and an underhood brace (it'd be an export brace and monte carlo bar on a first gen Mustang, not sure what you call it on this one). Newer SS exhaust (but he only used 2" pipes! WTH?). Car drives awesome. I couldn't get under it, mainly due to time. Car is stored every year from Late OCT-Mid APR. Mainly highway miles, totaling 30k in last 10 years. Owner is in his 60s, and certainly is not the type to thrash the car.

THANKS!!!

 

[Pokageek]

There's no problems with these cars. They will run forever...until you attempt something STUPID like putting a 414 in one. Then it turns to ****.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

Basically anything having to do with the Fox will carry over to the SN95 model, with a few small changes along the way (5 lug wheels, 4 wheel disc brakes, electric fan, CCRM that contains EEC, FP, and fan relays instead of individual relays, and a different EEC). With the low mileage like that, I'd jump on it in a heartbeat! Good luck with your decision!

 

[Husky44]

until you attempt something STUPID like putting a 414 in one. .

Kinda like putting a 347 EFI into a 67???

If I buy it, I am not modifying this one in any way.

 

[BlackVert]

the most common problems with these cars are the harmonic balancer and the pip in the distributor. this is not unreasonable as the car is now 14+ years old. other than that, there are no problems that seem to keep popping up on the forums.

as keith can attest ... and it sound like you are amiliar with it ... doing the modding thing can be a source of headaches. my hot rodding project took 2 years to get back on the road, and i have only been driving it a month or so. who knows if everything is shaken out yet or not?

 

[Husky44]

More Questions???

OK, I drove it, and put it up on jack stands. Drives out nice, no apparent problems.

On the jackstands, I was a little disappointed. By the way the car looked and was obviously maintained body/interior-wise, I expected it to be in great shape all the way through.

Underneath, I saw some oil on the bottom end. At least some of it is leaking from the D/S freeze plug (engine heater installed there). It was dry at the head gasket, but there is oil down onto the pan--can't tell if it's a leaking pan gasket? Also, hard to tell if it might be coming out at a rear main seal? No noticeable leak at the front of the pan. Did this engine have the multi-part pan gasket like the old 289/302?

Finally, the tranny (5 speed manual) was damp from oil. Looks like it's coming from the plate on the top where the shifter mounts. Is this a normal place for leakage?

Are either of these areas of big concern. Again, my intent here is to have a driver, since my 67 won't be ready this summer. I DON'T want another project car!

 

[ProKiller]

i wouldn't worry about those things. its probably the pan gasket (single piece). mine did the same thing. we just used some sealant and smeared it around and it held for years. if it had an aftermarket shifter installed, the silicone may not have sealed well. as long as the fluid level is okay, i wouldn't be to concerned

the car itself sounds great, don't know about the price, but it sounds good to me.

 

[Husky44]

Price is a little higher than I'd like--

He's asking $10k. Book value in AK for high retail is $7500-8000.

Problem in my mind is that it's right at that tipping point between a used car, and beginning to be a collectible. And although it's not one that someone parked in their garage when it was brand new, it's close.

So, what's a reasonable price for a near perfect body and interior, with only the problems I mentioned?

Did I mention it was bright YELLOW? (a definite plus in my book). Plus, I've always liked this body style, since it was Ford's first real attempt to bring back some of the original styling cues from the first generation cars.

Guess I need some validation, or someone to talk me off the ledge. The seller just left me a voice mail, which means he's probably ready to accept my offer from last night...

 

[BlackVert]

for me, the fact that it is the last year of the venerable 5.0 is a positive.

the fact that the body and interior are excellent is also a positive.

but i would not be willing to pay $10,000 for it. it sounds like it is worth the book value though.

 

[RIO5.0]

10K ???? Thats high for sure...even with those miles I'd doubt a dealer would even ask that...Thats mint Cobra territory, price wise...

Depends how many offers he had, and how much your loving it....I'd throw 8500 at him and see what gives...

 

[Zero Signal]

That's how much I paid for my 95 in 1999 and it was MINT. That's a really high value now days unless somehow these years are retaining value in some way I don't know about.

I also wouldn't go over $8500. The yellow is hard to come by. I rarely seem them around town and when I do, it's almost always the same car.

 

[Venom351R]

10K ???? Thats high for sure...even with those miles I'd doubt a dealer would even ask that...Thats mint Cobra territory, price wise...

Depends how many offers he had, and how much your loving it....I'd throw 8500 at him and see what gives...

I agree with Andy 10K is to much, as he said thats more mint condition Cobra asking price for these year cars.

That's how much I paid for my 95 in 1999 and it was MINT. That's a really high value now days unless somehow these years are retaining value in some way I don't know about.

I also wouldn't go over $8500. The yellow is hard to come by. I rarely seem them around town and when I do, it's almost always the same car.

Yeah but that was back in 99 when the cars where only 4 years old, its now 9 years later.

 

[Husky44]

Thanks for the validation!

I offered him $8500 yesterday...he said he needed to think about it. I wouldn't pay $10k. That said, playing with toys here in AK is a little more expensive. The market's fairly limited (rear wheel drive convertibles aren't exactly common, and the ones that are in good shape are VERY SCARCE=$$$). Plus, the sellers generally know that going for<<<<<<<BREAKING NEWS>>>>>>>

Seller just called, I'm picking it up at 7 pm tonight!!!

WOOT!

Pics to follow

Thanks guys!

PS, when you see me start posting about mods--STOP ME!!!

 

[BlackVert]

congrats!

 

[Zero Signal]

I agree with Andy 10K is to much, as he said thats more mint condition Cobra asking price for these year cars.



Yeah but that was back in 99 when the cars where only 4 years old, its now 9 years later.

Yeah that was my point. How could he be asking that much 9 years later and mine was blue book at the time.





Post pics

 

[Husky44]

Picture of the new arrival!

Brought it home tonight! Too bad it's probably going to rain tomorrow. Here's a pic, along with it's older brother:

 

[BlackVert]

welcome to the rabbit hole

 

[Zero Signal]

Not a vert fan, but that's VERY nice

I'll go out on a limp and guess that the 67 has no motor? My 95 sits about that high in the front for that reason :\

 

['94ChickStang]

***Edit below***

 

[The O.G.]

car looks good