1987 Ford Mustang
Third generation · Fox-body 1979–1993
The long-running Fox-body, built on Ford’s Fox platform from 1979 to 1993.
The 1987 model year
Overview
The definitive late-Fox makeover. A flush 'aero' facelift smoothed the entire body — composite headlamps, a cleaner nose, restyled tail, and an all-new interior with a fresh dash. The 5.0 HO got better-breathing E7TE heads and jumped to 225 hp, the figure it would carry to 1992. The 5.0 LX (the lighter, plainer body with the GT's engine) became the budget-muscle bargain of the era. (Horsepower figures are SAE net.)
Specifications
- Engines
-
- 2.3 I4 (fuel-injected) 90 hp
- 302 "5.0 HO" V8 (SEFI; E7TE heads) 225 hp
- Transmissions
- 5-speed manual (T-5), AOD 4-speed automatic
- Body styles
- Coupe (notchback, LX), Hatchback (3-door), Convertible
- Base price
- $8,271 (LX coupe) ≈$22,800 today (inflation-adjusted) Original MSRP adjusted for inflation (CPI, 2024); not the car's current market/collector value. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (U.S. city average, all items), annual average.
- Production
- 159,145
Year over year
What changed
- Major 'aero' facelift: flush composite headlamps, smoothed body, restyled front and rear, all-new dashboard and interior.
- The 5.0 HO gained E7TE cylinder heads and rose to 225 hp — the definitive Fox 5.0 output.
- The V6 was dropped; the lineup narrowed to the 2.3 four and the 5.0 V8.
- Trim consolidated to LX and GT; the 5.0 LX paired the V8 with the lighter, plainer body.
Living with it
Reliability & ownership notes
- The 1987–93 E7TE-head 5.0 is the strong, well-supported engine the Fox-body is famous for — vast aftermarket.
- Watch for abuse and modification on these popular performance cars; verify the speed-density (1987–88) vs mass-air distinction.
- Inspect for Fox-body rust, especially on convertibles.
Worth knowing
Notable
- The definitive late-Fox 'aero' look that ran through 1993.
- The 5.0 LX 'sleeper' — GT power in a lighter, cheaper body — became a budget-muscle icon.
Sources
- Wikipedia — "Ford Mustang (third generation)"
- FoxStang — 5.0 Fox-body engine specs
- LMR (Late Model Restoration)
- Hagerty
- MustangSpecs — per-year base MSRP
Other Third generation years
Explore the Fox-body generation → All Third generation · Fox-body years →