Why This Car Is Special

The Fox Body Mustang is one of the most significant chapters in American performance history, and the 1987 Ford Mustang convertible with the 5.0 HO V8 represents the platform at a pivotal moment. Ford had carried the Fox platform since 1979, but it was the return of the 5.0-liter High Output V8 in the early 1980s — combined with steady refinements through the mid-decade — that turned the Fox Body into a genuine performance icon. By 1987, Ford had sorted out the platform well enough that the 5.0 Mustang was regularly embarrassing cars that cost twice as much.

What makes this particular car interesting is what it is and what it isn't. This is not an GT — it's an LX body, which Fox Body enthusiasts have long recognized as the smarter buy. The LX carried the same 5.0 HO engine as the GT but wore cleaner, less adorned sheetmetal. It was lighter than the GT by a meaningful margin, and that weight advantage made the LX 5.0 a legitimate sleeper. The 5.0 fender badge on this car tells you exactly what's under the hood to anyone who knows what to look for, and to everyone else it just looks like a clean white convertible. That combination of substance and restraint is exactly why LX 5.0 convertibles have developed their own dedicated following.

The VIN on this car decodes to confirm it was built at Ford's Dearborn Assembly plant in 1987, and the body code confirms the convertible configuration from the factory. This is not a coupe that was later converted — it left the assembly line as an open-top car with the reinforced structure that Ford built into the convertible body from the start.

The odometer shows 67,051 miles, which for a 37-year-old car indicates this has largely been driven and enjoyed without being abused or treated as an everyday commuter.

Features List

• 5.0 HO V8, 302 cubic inch engine
• AOD 4-speed automatic transmission
• Fox Body convertible with black manual soft top
• Chrome pony wheels
• Gray cloth bucket seats front, rear bench seat
• Center console with floor shifter
• Full gauge cluster with tachometer
• Air conditioning
• Power steering
• Power brakes
• Power windows
• Power door locks
• AM/FM cassette radio
• Dual exhaust with dual rear tips
• Rear deck spoiler
• 5.0 fender badge

Mechanical

The engine in this 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 convertible is the 302 cubic inch High Output V8, which Ford rated at 225 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque for 1987. Those are SAE net figures, which means they represent real-world output at the flywheel without favorable test conditions inflating the number. The HO designation distinguished this engine from the lower-output 302s used in other Ford products of the era. It featured a specific camshaft with more aggressive lift and duration, cast iron heads with larger ports than the standard 302, and a higher compression ratio. The engine was fuel injected via Ford's sequential electronic fuel injection system, which gave it strong throttle response and reliable cold-start behavior compared to the carbureted engines it replaced.

Backing the 5.0 HO is Ford's AOD 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission. The AOD was Ford's response to federal fuel economy standards, adding a true overdrive fourth gear to bring highway RPM down and improve fuel economy. With the 5.0 HO, the AOD is a capable match — it allows relaxed highway cruising while keeping the low-gear acceleration that makes the 5.0 enjoyable around town. The AOD in an automatic 5.0 is often overlooked in favor of the T-5 manual cars, but it's the right transmission for a convertible that gets driven regularly, particularly in warmer climates where top-down cruising is a priority.

The underside photos show the dual exhaust system intact and the rear axle housing in solid condition. The floor pan appears clean with no visible rust or structural concerns, which is consistent with a Florida or southern car that hasn't been exposed to road salt. The suspension components visible in the undercarriage photos appear to be in serviceable condition. The Fox Body used MacPherson struts up front and a four-link coil spring rear axle — the same basic architecture that Ford continued refining through the end of the Fox platform in 1993.

Interior

The interior of this 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 convertible is finished in gray cloth throughout, which was a common and practical choice for an open-top car in a warm climate. Cloth ages better than vinyl in the sun, and the seats in this car show the two-tone houndstooth-pattern insert cloth that was characteristic of the Fox Body Mustang's interior in this era. The buckets up front have integrated armrests and appear to be in good condition with no obvious tears or significant wear to the bolsters. The rear bench seat, which is a notable feature of the convertible body — the hatchback and coupe did not offer a usable rear seat in the same way — shows some light soiling consistent with use but no structural damage.

The dashboard is the revised Fox Body unit that Ford introduced for the 1987 model year, which featured a more contemporary two-spoke steering wheel with the Ford oval center cap and a reshaped instrument cluster pod. The gauge cluster includes a tachometer reading to 7,000 RPM, a speedometer, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and ammeter — giving the driver real information rather than idiot lights. The panel dim knob is visible on the lower left of the dash, a period-correct detail that is easy to overlook but confirms the originality of this interior.

The center console houses the AOD shifter and an AM/FM cassette radio that fits cleanly in the original dash opening. Power window switches are located in the door panels, which are in good shape with the characteristic Fox Body pleated lower pocket design in gray. The carpeting is gray and shows the original Ford Mustang script floor mats in the front footwells, which are a correct detail for this car.

Exterior

The 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 convertible wears Oxford White paint over a black manual soft top — a classic combination for a Fox Body drop-top. The white exterior is clean with the aero-style front fascia and body-side moldings that Ford gave the Mustang for the 1987 model year refresh. That year brought meaningful exterior updates, including flush composite headlamps in place of the rectangular sealed-beam units, a restyled front fascia, and body-colored rocker extensions that gave the car a cleaner, more cohesive appearance than earlier Fox Body Mustangs.

The LX convertible body is distinguished by its lack of the GT's ground effects and hood scoop, giving it a simpler, cleaner profile. The rear deck spoiler on this car is a correct factory option for the LX convertible. The chrome pony wheels are a period-correct wheel style for the Fox Body era and suit the LX's cleaner exterior well. The dual exhaust outlets exit cleanly below the rear bumper, flanking the embossed Mustang lettering in the rear fascia — a detail Ford added to the 1987 refresh that gives the back end a finished look.

The black soft top is in place and appears intact. The 5.0 badge on the front fender is the correct factory badge and sits cleanly against the white paint. The overall impression of the exterior is a car that has been driven and kept up rather than a show car or a project, which is consistent with the mileage on the odometer.

Conclusion

The 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 convertible occupies a specific and well-respected position in Fox Body history. The LX body, the 5.0 HO engine, the convertible top, and the automatic transmission make this a car that can be used regularly without the fatigue of a manual in traffic, while still delivering the character and performance that made the Fox Body platform so enduring. The white and gray color combination with the black top is period-correct and holds up well nearly four decades later. At 67,051 miles, this car is at a point where it can be enjoyed as-is or selectively freshened without a ground-up commitment. The floor pan and undercarriage photos show a car that has lived in a rust-free environment, which is the most important structural foundation any Fox Body buyer should start with.

For anyone who grew up with these cars, drove one in high school or college, or simply appreciates the value that the 5.0 LX convertible represents in the collector market, this 1987 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 convertible is worth a close look.

To schedule a time to see this car in person, call Skyway Classics at 941-254-6608.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.