The BaT thread for the cars we won't buy, but kinda wish we would

[JST]

This was the opposite end of the Mustang world from that 5.0 LX, back in the day--a pretty loaded up GT convertible (though still with a stick).

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...onvertible-10/

We had one of these in...'87, I think? Same color, though it had a white leather interior. It was literally the coolest thing that 14 year old me had ever seen, though I never got to drive it on my own (though I did on my learner's permit).

By the time I got my license in '89 it had been replaced, first with a Probe GT and then with an 89 GT convertible that had an auto. That car was tragic. It was amazing how much slower the AOD Mustangs were.

Will be interesting to see what this one goes for. It's nice, though there seems to be some debate about the paint. But my guess is that a loaded GT doesn't have the same pull as a base LX these days.

EDIT:

A number of years later I had a similar car in Reef Blue Metallic, which was maybe the most perfect 90s color that ever existed.



That would be a cool car to take to Radwood.

[ZBB]

https://jalopnik.com/some-people-may...y-b-1843133134

Not BAT... but it’s certainly interesting...

[Alan]

Originally Posted by JST

We had one of these in...'87, I think? Same color, though it had a white leather interior. It was literally the coolest thing that 14 year old me had ever seen

All I read was this ... I have 4-5 yrs on you and man those cars were fun.

My friend had a 87 Mustang GT coupe with some crazy exhaust and we would take that bad boy out for some crazy drag racing ... back then it felt super fast though i’m pretty sure my Audi Q7 truck could beat it and my ridiculously heavy 540 would blow its doors off

It’s amazing how things change.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by Alan

All I read was this ... I have 4-5 yrs on you and man those cars were fun.

My friend had a 87 Mustang GT coupe with some crazy exhaust and we would take that bad boy out for some crazy drag racing ... back then it felt super fast though i’m pretty sure my Audi Q7 truck could beat it and my ridiculously heavy 540 would blow its doors off

It’s amazing how things change.

The thing to remember with those cars were that they (86-93) were making 300 ft-lbs of torque almost right off the line. They fell on their face over about 3750 RPM (or something similarly low). They were amazing for stoplight races against rushhour traffic, but beyond that...meh. OTOH, there wasn't much out there that did better at the time. And they sounded amazing stock.

I liked (still do) the color of the one JST linked, but was never a fan of the convertible versions. As flexy as the hatchbacks were, the verts were...not good in that regard.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by clyde

The thing to remember with those cars were that they (86-93) were making 300 ft-lbs of torque almost right off the line. They fell on their face over about 3750 RPM (or something similarly low). They were amazing for stoplight races against rushhour traffic, but beyond that...meh. OTOH, there wasn't much out there that did better at the time. And they sounded amazing stock.

I liked (still do) the color of the one JST linked, but was never a fan of the convertible versions. As flexy as the hatchbacks were, the verts were...not good in that regard.

This generation of Mustang 5.0 defined the decade. Cars of this period were all so flawed and unreliable. This car had great styling and street performance out of the box.

Compare to a Camaro of this era (godawful), a 911 (1960s powertrain) or the Corvette (optispark anyone?).

[JST]

Originally Posted by lemming

This generation of Mustang 5.0 defined the decade. Cars of this period were all so flawed and unreliable. This car had great styling and street performance out of the box.

Compare to a Camaro of this era (godawful), a 911 (1960s powertrain) or the Corvette (optispark anyone?).

Yeah, and this was the decade when German cars were...let's be polite. They were kind of slow, especially in the US, because in Germany they ran with no cats and here they were hobbled by emissions equipment.

So the Mustangs from 87-93 not only were (relatively) cheap, they were about as fast as anything out there (at least up to 60).

[Plaz]

Originally Posted by JST

Yeah, and this was the decade when German cars were...let's be polite. They were kind of slow, especially in the US, because in Germany they ran with no cats and here they were hobbled by emissions equipment.

Honestly they were comparatively slow even before that came into play, weren't they? I mean the quality and driving experience was exquisite compared to a Pinto or K-car, but no 2002 was keeping up in a straight line with a GTO or Chevelle back in the day.

When did catalytic converters become mandatory, like '77-78?

[kognito]

Originally Posted by Plaz

When did catalytic converters become mandatory, like '77-78?

A little before that. I was pumping gas after high school hours for Mobil. I think the unleaded pumps were added in 1974

[kognito]

Originally Posted by Plaz

Honestly they were comparatively slow even before that came into play, weren't they? I mean the quality and driving experience was exquisite compared to a Pinto or K-car, but no 2002 was keeping up in a straight line with a GTO or Chevelle back in the day.

When did catalytic converters become mandatory, like '77-78?

Originally Posted by kognito

A little before that. I was pumping gas after high school hours for Mobil. I think the unleaded pumps were added in 1974

Google says 1975

[JST]

Originally Posted by Plaz

Honestly they were comparatively slow even before that came into play, weren't they? I mean the quality and driving experience was exquisite compared to a Pinto or K-car, but no 2002 was keeping up in a straight line with a GTO or Chevelle back in the day.

When did catalytic converters become mandatory, like '77-78?

Yeah, that's a good point. I mean, performance in general in the 80s (and of course the 70s) was pretty bad. But growing up BMWs were never really "fast," eg.; indeed, it wasn't really until the N54 that mainstream BMWs were "fast" cars.