What's it Worth? Is this trade worthwhile?

I’ve got a dark metallic 1986 SVO that currently has a bright green 1992 LX hood and front bumper on it, 95,000 miles snd minimal mods (cobra brakes, SN95 spindles, and FMIC). Car in question is a bone stock, dark green with cloth interior 76,000 mile 1996 GT that appears to have a straight body but a interior that’s a little dirty. It’s been kicking around marketplace by me with a 3000$ price tag for almost 2 months now, or accepting trades. Would I be making a mistake to try and trade for it?
 
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I'll second that. In the end, it really depends what YOU want. But I personally would not look at getting rid of a 86' SVO for a first year 4.6. If that SVO is in good condition, they go for way more than 3k around here. At least double, but that's in PA.
 
IMO
yes you are making a mistake.
I don't know how long you have owned the 86, a known car (?), And a first year 4.6 car you know nothing or very little (?) about.

Ive owned the 86 for about 3 months, I traded my 1966 Thunderbird for it after the transmission went yoink. Was going to turn it into a weekend autocross toy but then it got wrecked and the front end got that 92 LX nose. It was supposed to become my new daily driver but all it’s done is sit on jackstands or in the yard while I fix it. The Grand Marquis is going down for a manual swap soon and I wanted a second car during that, which the SVO doesn’t seem to be doing a good job at. Right now it’s waiting on me to put a new master cylinder in so that we can drive each other’s cars and feel them out.
 
I'll second that. In the end, it really depends what YOU want. But I personally would not look at getting rid of a 86' SVO for a first year 4.6. If that SVO is in good condition, they go for way more than 3k around here. At least double, but that's in PA.

Thats a 3k SVO, even painted at best it’s a $5kcar because of how much the right body panels are
 

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Clearcoat is gone on the upper surfaces, it’s missing expensive body parts (like the bumper, headlights, and hood which are all SVO specific), it’s not the same color, and it has P71 steelies instead of the factory wheels. Not worth much to SVO guys, as per SVO guys. They were the ones who said maybe with fresh paint it would be a 5k car.
 
Things to consider:
SVO cars are few and 96 Gts many.
Different engines, the svo needs restoration with rare svo parts and in the long run worth more money, the 96 gt can be built any way you want and with less money.
 
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Not to be an ass, but as rough as that SVO is, I think the hard part will be convincing the GT owner, unless it's similarly rough.
 
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1996 GT, these are all the photos in the ad. He’s seen the same picture of the SVO y’all had and he wants to meet up to drive and see. The fact that he was willing to despite seeing that photo and knowing I need to finish some brake work first (master cylinder and hard lines to proportinging valve) had me second guessing it.

Please keep in mind the purpose of either of these mustangs is purely to be a fun manual daily while I work on putting a TR3650 into my 2010 Grand Marquis, a car I’ve already spent wayyy too much money on making corner, stop, and go faster than it has any right to. As such reliability is a factor to consider more than things like performance and restoration, as I’m already aware SVO parts are expensive and that the 1996 makes too little power to justify a GT badge
 

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1996 GT, these are all the photos in the ad. He’s seen the same picture of the SVO y’all had and he wants to meet up to drive and see. The fact that he was willing to despite seeing that photo and knowing I need to finish some brake work first (master cylinder and hard lines to proportinging valve) had me second guessing it.

Please keep in mind the purpose of either of these mustangs is purely to be a fun manual daily while I work on putting a TR3650 into my 2010 Grand Marquis, a car I’ve already spent wayyy too much money on making corner, stop, and go faster than it has any right to. As such reliability is a factor to consider more than things like performance and restoration, as I’m already aware SVO parts are expensive and that the 1996 makes too little power to justify a GT badge
If that SVO was in better shape, I'd think you were nuts for the trade, but that '96 is in so much better shape that if he's willing to trade and you don't (assuming no mechanical issues on the '96), you're the crazy one (well, you both are, but you know what I mean).
 
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If that SVO was in better shape, I'd think you were nuts for the trade, but that '96 is in so much better shape that if he's willing to trade and you don't (assuming no mechanical issues on the '96), you're the crazy one (well, you both are, but you know what I mean).

To be honest since the photos are taken from one side and for how long that’s been on the market I’m expecting one of three things:

A) a dented quarter panel on the other side
B) the interior is trashed outside of that shot (it gives me smoker car vibes as it is)
or C) it’s going to need “major” drivetrain work soon, like a clutch.

Given the marquis hasn’t gone under the knife yet for manual swap and I work as a tech/detailer for a used car lot, none of those would be major issues for me.
 
The seats in the 96 look like V6 seats and I don't think they were doing a GTS model still. I think the 96 is a V8 swap into a V6 chassis.

Check the VIN for the correct V8 engine tag.
 
The seats in the 96 look like V6 seats and I don't think they were doing a GTS model still. I think the 96 is a V8 swap into a V6 chassis.

Check the VIN for the correct V8 engine tag.

If it’s a V8 swapped V6 even better.

On another note, I found out the catch and discovered an SVO bug.

GT has a crunched rear passenger fender (expected). Dude refuses to send me pictures of it or the VIN (not expected). SVO hits 3/4 gauge driving around my neighborhood at 25mph (unexpected). All in all, shaping up as probably a not gonna happen