Looking at DD 85 GT T tops

[jefferz]

Hey...I have decided I wanna buy a daily driver stang and I looked at an 85 Carb'd 5.0 GT with T tops today. It definitely needs a new interior and tires. The outside is not perfect but its do-able.

The carpet needs replaced, the headliner, dash and seats. The t tops don't leak though. That is kinda rare. The front seats don't look like they are out of a mustang.

He is asking 2000 for it. Its a 5 speed and the clutch felt fine. It definitely needs work.

Is $2000 high? I know these are starting to go up in value and its low NADA book is 3100.

Help! Is it worth restoring?

 

[hsean]

yes
go for it as long as the framerails are not rotted everything else is an easy fix.

 

[NIKwoaC]

I bought my '86 black T-top GT in 2002 for 5000$ it was low mileage and stored in the winter, too.
If you aren't looking for an EFI car, I'd say 2000$ isn't bad, especially for a t-top car. But why not get an EFI car?
Keep in mind the '85 has the junk 7.5" rear end, where '86 and newer use the trusty 8.8".

 

[jefferz]

How hard is it to check the framerails?

 

[Mr. Rustypwnz]

look under it lol, that looks really good if I were closer it would be mine fo sho!!!

id buy it!! paint and some interior work and it would look awesome!!!

 

[jefferz]

I bought my '86 black T-top GT in 2002 for 5000$ it was low mileage and stored in the winter, too.
If you aren't looking for an EFI car, I'd say 2000$ isn't bad, especially for a t-top car. But why not get an EFI car?
Keep in mind the '85 has the junk 7.5" rear end, where '86 and newer use the trusty 8.8".

I have 2 Mustangs of my own one with the 4.6 and a Fuel Injected 5.0 in my 95. I have kinda always wanted a carb'd one. That year it looks like the carb'd had more power anyways.

Is the 7.5" in that limited slip ? or 1 tire fire?

 

[QUICK91LX]

the 7.5 is a traction lok, and it will be fine unless you beat the snot out of it or throw alot of power at it.

in 85, the carbed 5-spd cars were 210hp as compared to 185 for the CFI AOD cars. It will run strong, but dont expect anything better than a high 14 out of it.

For the framerails, pop the hood and check the areas below the strut towers and check the swaybar mounts. also check the floors for cracks especially near the seat bolts. those seats look to be out of an early fox body.

check it over really well...if it runs and drives well and the work it needs is not too much for you, grab it for 2k. just please please please keep it a 4-eye!

 

[jefferz]

the 7.5 is a traction lok, and it will be fine unless you beat the snot out of it or throw alot of power at it.

in 85, the carbed 5-spd cars were 210hp as compared to 185 for the CFI AOD cars. It will run strong, but dont expect anything better than a high 14 out of it.

For the framerails, pop the hood and check the areas below the strut towers and check the swaybar mounts. also check the floors for cracks especially near the seat bolts. those seats look to be out of an early fox body.

check it over really well...if it runs and drives well and the work it needs is not too much for you, grab it for 2k. just please please please keep it a 4-eye!

The car does run nice. It has some minor things but its overall a good car. The t tops are the main thing that drag me to the car. knowing the trend of mustang values and the fact that this one is starting to turn around value wise, I think this is a good investment. its a straight car and the paint is not bad. I drove it on the freeway. it could use an alignment. The seats were in pretty bad shape he said and those were the best ones he could find. He is a good guy. He has owned it twice now.

 

[mercurycapri]

Thats a nice car I'd be worry that its a t top I dont like T tops my 86 is a T top and it leaks. Check for mold dont want ya to get sick. The 7.5 rear diff really isn't all that weak I dont care what anyone says both of my cars have the 7.5 and do well especially with the 351 windsor in my 84 capri.

 

[jefferz]

I know for a fact the t tops don't leak. thats a plus. its a nice car. if it was restored it would be BEAUTIFUL. the sad thing is I want it to be my daily driver and I have a feeling I would baby it along with my other three.

 

[jefferz]

just please please please keep it a 4-eye!

Are you kidding me? Of course I would keep it a 4 eye. thats why I like it! That and the T tops are the two reasons I like the car so much!

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

2k is a steal....buy it.


Also i can tell you from my experience in owning both a stock '85 and a stock '88, the HP rating difference between the two is insignificant...as long as it's not ragged out and the carb is running properly, it would be a driver's race between an '85 and a stock EFI car.