Started this discussion on a local board. But I often wonder which one of my two notches will be "worth more" in the future.
Black 87 (62 made with this option/color/year)
It's a no-option factory 5.0/5-speed with 68,000 miles. But has been repainted and restored and modified slightly (5 lug, FRPP Z-spec T5, alum. driveshaft, bigger brakes, GT40 heads, real 93 Cobra intake coming soon, BBK long tubes, etc...). The car is going to be mint top to bottom as I'm in the process of redoing the underbelly because I don't like how I painted it previously. Interior is being redone from my custom black to factory mint smoke grey with optional leather sport seats.
Blue 89 (687 made with this option/color/year)
Only options are AOD and AC, factory 5.0 car with 80,000 miles. Not restored, not repainted, not molested all factory stuff down to the 10 holes and airbox. I'm just putting some small random things back to ford spec like the spark plug wires, coil and generally just cleaning it up. But I am converting it to a 5 speed. Paint is original but not a 10/10, it was faded pretty badly (I am restoring it with polish), but has some stone chips and the front bumper is pretty faded, not fixable without repaint but still "liveable".
I tend to gravitate towards un-restored being worth more in the long run like the 89. But my 87 is a more desirable year in my area (no need for emissions testing every other year), it's also a factory 5 speed and more "rare" in terms of it being factory black and no AC - very cheap poor man's Mustang back in 87. The 87 will also be properly re-painted in the near future, I'm just making sure the engine bay and undercarriage is mint and factory "concourse" spec, at least in terms of paint, labels and such.
So let's say in 3 years... which would you pay more for? The untouched "barn find" 89 or the restomod/OCD-restored 87.
Black 87 (62 made with this option/color/year)
It's a no-option factory 5.0/5-speed with 68,000 miles. But has been repainted and restored and modified slightly (5 lug, FRPP Z-spec T5, alum. driveshaft, bigger brakes, GT40 heads, real 93 Cobra intake coming soon, BBK long tubes, etc...). The car is going to be mint top to bottom as I'm in the process of redoing the underbelly because I don't like how I painted it previously. Interior is being redone from my custom black to factory mint smoke grey with optional leather sport seats.
Blue 89 (687 made with this option/color/year)
Only options are AOD and AC, factory 5.0 car with 80,000 miles. Not restored, not repainted, not molested all factory stuff down to the 10 holes and airbox. I'm just putting some small random things back to ford spec like the spark plug wires, coil and generally just cleaning it up. But I am converting it to a 5 speed. Paint is original but not a 10/10, it was faded pretty badly (I am restoring it with polish), but has some stone chips and the front bumper is pretty faded, not fixable without repaint but still "liveable".
I tend to gravitate towards un-restored being worth more in the long run like the 89. But my 87 is a more desirable year in my area (no need for emissions testing every other year), it's also a factory 5 speed and more "rare" in terms of it being factory black and no AC - very cheap poor man's Mustang back in 87. The 87 will also be properly re-painted in the near future, I'm just making sure the engine bay and undercarriage is mint and factory "concourse" spec, at least in terms of paint, labels and such.
So let's say in 3 years... which would you pay more for? The untouched "barn find" 89 or the restomod/OCD-restored 87.