1984 20th. Anniversary GT-350 Convertible Turbo 4

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

While crusing around the net looking for possible verts for a Forum member I saw this 20th. Ann Mustang. I bought one of them new and still have a V-8, 5speed 4-V version. The auto had fuel injection. This car is one of 104 that were built with the turbo 4. It is the same engine used in the SVO just no intercooler. https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/6134961031.html

So I talked with him several times and since it was only 300 mile round trip I hooked up the dolly and took some cash and went to see the car in person.

It is pretty much rust free a little surface rust on the underside of the floor in a couple place. Nothing in the trunk and the top drain hoses were hooked up so that was good. It does have the original top and paint on most of the car. It had some damage to the left front fender at some time and had been painted. The front rubber nose is in great shape. The engine compartment was complete the fan had been straight wired so it ran all the time.

An odd thing is this car is the bare bones no option model, lol. Never seen one with so little for options. It did not even come with a radio. Still had the delete plug where the antenna goes. No cruise, no intermittent wipers, crank windows.

I did drive the car and it revs easily and quickly to 6,000 no smoke and seems to be ok as far as tune with the turbo. 5 speed shifted fine up and down.

From the wear on the clutch pedal pad I would say the mileage is rolled over the 100,000 mark. Interior is pretty decent the drivers seat needs new cover which I believe is still available from SMS upholstery.

The factory paint was cracked so would have to be stripped to bare metal and painted to do right. Another odd thing is that it still has a vintage set of the 390 mm metric tires in pretty good shape, wheel are really good. They are very expensive now and Coker has them.

A Ford tech in the Charlotte area owned the car and this guy got for his daughter but she hates the 5 speed. Nearly got ran over by 18 wheeler when she panicked and killed the engine several times and could not get out of the way.

It is a driver quality car but a rare car by the numbers. Just thought I would post if someone was interested.

Came home with empty dolly. It was way out in the country. Passed one farm that had a 55 chevy vert sitting under trees growing weeds, not top not cover. I did not stop not a chevy guy.

He is high on price will take less but will leave that up to prospective buyers.

Car show today at the local community college will go look around some. 

 

[Mister 4x4]

LOVE these cars! Wish I had room for another Mustang... it would be either a '71-'73 vert, an SVO, or a 4-eyed Fox - this is almost all 3 in one. LOL!

Thanks for sharing, David.  ::thumb::

 

[secluff]

David, those were nice cars and handled pretty well with a lot less weight on the front vs the 5.0 cars. But they just did not sell that well when compared to the V8 cars. All the 84 Anniversary cars we had were 5.0 powered and sold as soon as they came in. The five 79 pace cars Ford sent was a different story. The lone V8 car sold the next day and the four Turbo cars became "Lot Queens". They placed two in Demo service and just about had to gave the other two away. The SVO's did better but still were a hard sell when compared to the performance and price difference of the GT's. The 4bl carburetors, headers, roller cams, etc that started appearing on the GT's, were the nails in the 4 cyl  Turbo's coffin!  

The SVO's were a bargain considering the unique equipment they came with. The 85 1/2 and 86 had a lot of improvements that made them a considerable opponent at the "Red Light Grand Prix". Our shop tech was tuning a 86 SVO and I asked him how it ran. He replied that my 85 GT would outrun it, but warned me not to miss a gear or I would need a crying towel! 

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

David, those were nice cars and handled pretty well with a lot less weight on the front vs the 5.0 cars. But they just did not sell that well when compared to the V8 cars. All the 84 Anniversary cars we had were 5.0 powered and sold as soon as they came in. The five 79 pace cars Ford sent was a different story. The lone V8 car sold the next day and the four Turbo cars became "Lot Queens". They placed two in Demo service and just about had to gave the other two away. The SVO's did better but still were a hard sell when compared to the performance and price difference of the GT's. The 4bl carburetors, headers, roller cams, etc that started appearing on the GT's, were the nails in the 4 cyl  Turbo's coffin!  

The SVO's were a bargain considering the unique equipment they came with. The 85 1/2 and 86 had a lot of improvements that made them a considerable opponent at the "Red Light Grand Prix". Our shop tech was tuning a 86 SVO and I asked him how it ran. He replied that my 85 GT would outrun it, but warned me not to miss a gear or I would need a crying towel! 

I use to scare people to death making a turn in my 85 SVO, lol. They would start grabbing at everything and the car would just turn and not slide or anything. I put the 85 1/2 turbo with the water cooling on may early 85 so it would last longer. First one went over 100,000.

The owner of this car got took when he bought and he ask what I thought it was worth and I told him $3,500 and just drive it. You could never rebuild it and get half your money back.

It will be on cl for a long time at his price which is negotiable but he will not take $3,500 I had it in my hand and he said no. I just wanted a drop top driver and this would have been a good one except for the TRX wheels.

Do you know if anyone has ever turned the bead locks and O.D. of the rim down the .177" on the radius to make a 15" tire fit?

 

[secluff]

David, can't say I've heard of anyone doing that to one of those rims. The price of the 390mm TRX tires and the introduction of the 15" "Porthole" rims in 1985 made the desire and demand for the TRX rims go to Zero! I had a fellow offer me a set for $100.00 in 1982 when I owned a 80 Hatchback Mustang. Politely told him no, cause I knew what the Michelin only tires cost, and finding  dealer that even wanted to stock them.

And I hate to irritate Eric by continuing to mention the SVO all the time, but unless you've had some interaction of some sort with that car, you can't believe how advanced it was over all the other cars of that era.

OK Eric, I'm done for now!  :whistling:

 

[Mister 4x4]

You're not irritating me at all... I love the SVOs!  I almost traded my '82 GL hatchback in on an '84 SVO - but came to the sadness and realization that I just wouldn't have been able to afford it on my meager E-3 salary... even with no other bills.

The test drive of the SVO was a total blast, and only made me want it that much more.  Aside from the stereo, it was vastly superior to my weiner little stock 2.3L GL.  I think I even pouted for a few weeks after deciding not to make the deal.

What I should've done was made the deal and just sucked it up since I got orders to Izmir, Turkey a few months later.  I wound up storing my '82 for the whole 15 months I was gone, which had me trading it for my '85 Nissan 4x4 when I returned because I didn't know about Stay-Bil at the time - it didn't run right after I woke it up, so I figured it was time.  I could've stored the SVO just the same, and maybe even have paid it off while I was gone.  But, I still would've suffered financial hardship the whole time.  So, at the time it was for the best.  Still kicking myself for not buying the car, though.

But I'm pretty sure if I would've gone from this:

To this:

I probably wouldn't have this:

I still want another Fox body, though.  Four-eyed or SVO... '83-'86... makes no difference to me as long as it's a hatch or vert (I'm not a big fan of the '87s-newer, though).

 

[NOT A T5]

CHEVY

C - CHEAP

H - HEAVY

E - EQUIPPED

     and

V - VERY

Y - YSELESS

lollerz

 

[Mister 4x4]

CHEVY

C - CHEAP

H - HEAVY

E - EQUIPPED

     and

V - VERY

Y - YSELESS

lollerz

Well, maybe.  But the SVO is still a Mustang, after all.

 

[secluff]

David, it seems like every time You, Eric, and I get started on the Fox Mustangs, the train jumps the tracks at the SVO station! As long as we have a good time, and no animals were harmed ( including the goat in the VIP lounge) then no harm no foul.

I believe the original TRX wheel was 390mm x 150mm which roughly was 15 1/3 x 6. In early 1980 dollars the rims ran $233.00 and the tires weren't much less. So it didn't take long for the fascination with the handing of the TRX system to go away when replacing damaged rims or buying new tires. So at least where I was there wasn't any interest in machining a rim a lot of folks didn't like anyway. The four lug hubs didn't help with finding after market rims either.

A lot of the Fox limited edition cars are starting to come into their own value wise, but the market for the 84 GT 350 Anniversary car is just not there, especially at $8500.00. In a lot of ways that is probably one edition that Ford would like to forget. There was a lawsuit initiated By Shelby claiming the "GT 350" Ford used in the stripe belonged to Shelby and was used without their permission. Ford in turn watched Shelby very closely to make sure Ford's word "Cobra" was not used by Shelby on anything. (Especially during the time Shelby was in bed with Chrysler). Very strained relations for a long time. After a lot of money changed hands, they kissed and made up and the 07 GT 500 was born!  

 

[73pony]

Here you go. Couple of SVO's for sale here locally.

https://quadcities.craigslist.org/cto/6125731523.html

https://waterloo.craigslist.org/cto/6120691878.html

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Here you go. Couple of SVO's for sale here locally.

https://quadcities.craigslist.org/cto/6125731523.html

https://waterloo.craigslist.org/cto/6120691878.html

Not bad looking. My 85 is the dark gray but needs a lot of TLC. The cars would almost pull 1.0 g on skid pad back then. For used existing parts in a lot of the upgrades so did not cost them much. The conversion to 5 lug took the axles from the Ranger PU and the fronts have the same calipers and I think rotors as the Lincoln. The forged lower control arms are also a Lincoln part number.

They use them on the dirt tracks here for racing, lol. They are difficult to beat and they cannot run the fuel injection had to run carb. Rules might have changed have not been to track in years.

In 1984 they had several of the SVO's at the Charlotte motor speedway or maybe it was Atlanta for the 20 th. Mustang show. You could get a ride on the track in one at speed. Bill Elliott and a couple other NASCAR drivers for Ford drove them and you just rode. They were lined up for the rides. Elliott was impressed with the car and took one home. The light weight just made them a fun car to drive and were tough to break.

 

[73pony]

Here you go. Couple of SVO's for sale here locally.

https://quadcities.craigslist.org/cto/6125731523.html

https://waterloo.craigslist.org/cto/6120691878.html

Not bad looking. My 85 is the dark gray but needs a lot of TLC. The cars would almost pull 1.0 g on skid pad back then. For used existing parts in a lot of the upgrades so did not cost them much. The conversion to 5 lug took the axles from the Ranger PU and the fronts have the same calipers and I think rotors as the Lincoln. The forged lower control arms are also a Lincoln part number.

They use them on the dirt tracks here for racing, lol. They are difficult to beat and they cannot run the fuel injection had to run carb. Rules might have changed have not been to track in years.

In 1984 they had several of the SVO's at the Charlotte motor speedway or maybe it was Atlanta for the 20 th. Mustang show. You could get a ride on the track in one at speed. Bill Elliott and a couple other NASCAR drivers for Ford drove them and you just rode. They were lined up for the rides. Elliott was impressed with the car and took one home. The light weight just made them a fun car to drive and were tough to break.

They are cool for sure and I would love to snag one up but I'd prob be looking for a new wife. 

 

[Mister 4x4]

David, it seems like every time You, Eric, and I get started on the Fox Mustangs, the train jumps the tracks at the SVO station! As long as we have a good time, and no animals were harmed ( including the goat in the VIP lounge) then no harm no foul.

I believe the original TRX wheel was 390mm x 150mm which roughly was 15 1/3 x 6. In early 1980 dollars the rims ran $233.00 and the tires weren't much less. So it didn't take long for the fascination with the handing of the TRX system to go away when replacing damaged rims or buying new tires. So at least where I was there wasn't any interest in machining a rim a lot of folks didn't like anyway. The four lug hubs didn't help with finding after market rims either.

A lot of the Fox limited edition cars are starting to come into their own value wise, but the market for the 84 GT 350 Anniversary car is just not there, especially at $8500.00. In a lot of ways that is probably one edition that Ford would like to forget. There was a lawsuit initiated By Shelby claiming the "GT 350" Ford used in the stripe belonged to Shelby and was used without their permission. Ford in turn watched Shelby very closely to make sure Ford's word "Cobra" was not used by Shelby on anything. (Especially during the time Shelby was in bed with Chrysler). Very strained relations for a long time. After a lot of money changed hands, they kissed and made up and the 07 GT 500 was born!  

My '82 originally came to me with stock 14" steelies, wire wheel hubcaps, and pizza-cutter white walls (stock GL wheel option).  First chance I got, I went with the 14x6 chrome modulars and 225/60R14 Goodyear Eagle GTs shown in the pic.  Had I been smarter at the time, I would've explored going with a +1 or +2 rim/tire combination (a la Saleen, with the 16x6 Enkeis & 50-series Gatorbacks).  I also fell victim to the limited wheel options of the 4-bolt hubs, and had planned a 5-lug conversion as part of my list of upgrades when I returned from overseas.

If mine would've come with the TRX wheels, I would've done the same thing - ditched 'em as quickly as I could.  I've never been a fan of the 3-spoke wheels (hated 'em on my wife's Grand Prix GT, as a matter of fact).  Not to mention, replacing the tires alone would've killed me as an E-2/3.  I understand the Michelin tires were super-soft and wore out quickly... even under meager 4-cylinder power.

 

[Mister 4x4]

Here you go. Couple of SVO's for sale here locally.

https://quadcities.craigslist.org/cto/6125731523.html

https://waterloo.craigslist.org/cto/6120691878.html

Not bad looking. My 85 is the dark gray but needs a lot of TLC. The cars would almost pull 1.0 g on skid pad back then. For used existing parts in a lot of the upgrades so did not cost them much. The conversion to 5 lug took the axles from the Ranger PU and the fronts have the same calipers and I think rotors as the Lincoln. The forged lower control arms are also a Lincoln part number.

They use them on the dirt tracks here for racing, lol. They are difficult to beat and they cannot run the fuel injection had to run carb. Rules might have changed have not been to track in years.

In 1984 they had several of the SVO's at the Charlotte motor speedway or maybe it was Atlanta for the 20 th. Mustang show. You could get a ride on the track in one at speed. Bill Elliott and a couple other NASCAR drivers for Ford drove them and you just rode. They were lined up for the rides. Elliott was impressed with the car and took one home. The light weight just made them a fun car to drive and were tough to break.

They are cool for sure and I would love to snag one up but I'd prob be looking for a new wife. 

Me as well.   :whistling: