Why This Car Is Special

The 1987 Ford Mustang GT Convertible occupies a specific and well-regarded spot in Fox-body history. By 1987, Ford had sorted out the third-generation Mustang's growing pains and delivered what many enthusiasts consider the sweet spot of the Fox-body era. The GT received an updated front fascia that year with flush composite headlights replacing the quad rectangular units used since 1979 — a change that gave the car a cleaner, more modern look without abandoning its muscular character. Combined with the aero body kit, hood scoops, and rear "Mustang GT" lettering molded into the fascia, the 1987 GT has a cohesive, purposeful appearance that the earlier Fox-body cars lacked.

What makes this particular car worth your attention is the combination of body style, drivetrain, and color. Convertibles accounted for a small fraction of total Mustang GT production in 1987 — Ford built far fewer open-top GTs than hatchbacks or notchbacks that year, and the ones that survive in this kind of presentable, driver-quality condition are becoming harder to find. Add a rare factory color like Shadow Blue Metallic, back it with the 5.0 HO V8 and a 5-speed manual, and you have a car that checks the boxes Fox-body buyers are actually looking for.

The VIN confirms this car was assembled at the Dearborn Assembly Plant — the same Michigan facility where Ford built Mustangs throughout most of the Fox-body run. The "E" in the eighth position of the VIN identifies the 5.0-liter High Output V8, confirming the engine is correct for the car.

Features List

• 5.0L High Output V8 Engine
• 5-Speed Manual Transmission
• Cold Air Intake
• Dual Exhaust with Rear-Exit Tips
• Cobra-Style 5-Spoke Wheels
• Yokohama Performance Tires
• White Convertible Top
• GT Hood Scoops
• GT Aero Body Kit
• Front Fog Lights
• Air Conditioning
• Power Steering
• Power Brakes
• Bucket Seats (Front)
• Rear Bench Seat
• Center Console
• Tachometer
• AM/FM Cassette Radio
• Kenwood Speakers
• Power Windows
• Power Door Locks
• 5.0 Embroidered Floor Mats
• Ford 8.8 Rear Axle
• Clean Undercarriage

Mechanical

The engine in this 1987 Ford Mustang GT is the 5.0-liter High Output V8, which Ford introduced to the Mustang GT in 1982 and continued refining through the end of the Fox-body run in 1993. By 1987, this engine was producing 225 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque in factory form, fed by a multi-port electronic fuel injection system — a significant improvement over the carburetor that had been standard equipment just a few years earlier. The result was a Mustang GT that could run the quarter mile in the low-to-mid 14-second range, which was genuinely competitive with anything Detroit was building at the time.

This car has had a cold air intake added, which improves airflow into the engine and gives the 5.0 a bit more audible character under throttle. The dual exhaust exits cleanly through the rear valance with the correct GT-style tips — a setup that lets the HO V8 breathe properly and delivers the exhaust note these engines are known for.

The transmission is the Borg-Warner T-5 5-speed manual, which was standard equipment on the GT. It's a close-ratio gearbox that works well with the 5.0's torque curve and keeps the car engaging to drive. Behind it sits the Ford 8.8-inch rear axle — the same unit Ford used in the Mustang GT from 1986 onward and a known strong point of the Fox-body platform. The 8.8 is widely considered one of the most durable rear axles Ford ever put under a passenger car, with a broad aftermarket support base if you ever want to build on it.

The undercarriage photos tell an important story on a car this age. This one shows clean, solid floorpans with no visible rust-through or structural compromise — a meaningful finding on a 38-year-old convertible that could have come from anywhere in the country. The floor pan stampings are intact, the pinch welds look solid, and the exhaust routing is correct and complete.

Interior

The 1987 Ford Mustang GT Convertible's interior is finished in gray cloth throughout — seats, door panels, carpet, and headliner are all consistent and show well for the mileage. The front bucket seats are in good shape with no visible tears or significant wear in the bolster areas, which are typically the first place to show fatigue on a used Fox-body. The rear bench, often the most neglected surface in a convertible because it's exposed to sun and weather when the top is down, looks clean and structurally sound.

The center console houses the T-5 shifter with a correct leather-wrapped shift boot, and the console itself shows no cracking or damage. The dashboard is straight with no major warping — an important detail on Florida cars, where decades of sun exposure often causes the top of the dash to crack and curl. The gauge cluster includes the tachometer that was standard on the GT.

The AM/FM cassette radio is the correct period unit and remains in the dash. Kenwood speakers have been added, which is a common and reversible upgrade that improves sound quality without altering the car's character. The 5.0 embroidered floor mats on the driver and passenger sides are a period-correct accessory that fits the car well and remains in good condition.

Convenience features include working air conditioning, power windows, and power door locks — all of which were optional on the 1987 GT and are genuinely appreciated on a car you plan to drive regularly. The convertible top mechanism operates correctly, and the white top itself is in serviceable condition.

Exterior

Shadow Blue Metallic is a color that photographs darker or lighter depending on the light — in direct sun it has a noticeable blue cast; in shade it reads closer to a dark gray. It's not a color you see on Fox-bodies every day, and it pairs well with the gray interior and white convertible top. The GT aero body kit — front air dam with integrated fog lights, side rocker extensions, and rear valance with dual exhaust cutouts — was factory equipment on the 1987 Mustang GT and gives the car a finished, intentional look rather than something cobbled together from an aftermarket catalog.

The hood features the functional-looking GT scoops that were part of the GT package, and the Cobra-style 5-spoke wheels fill the wheel wells correctly with the Yokohama performance tires. The rear valance carries the "Mustang GT" lettering in the correct font, flanked by the dual exhaust tips that exit cleanly at both corners. The white convertible top is down in the photos, but the folded stack looks correct and intact without the bubbling or shrinkage common on deteriorated tops.

The body panels shown in the photos are straight, with no visible collision damage or significant surface concerns. This is an open-air car that has been kept up — not a barn find or a project.

Conclusion

The 1987 Ford Mustang GT Convertible is a Fox-body that gets the important things right. The drivetrain combination of the 5.0 HO V8 and T-5 5-speed manual is exactly what buyers in this market want. The 8.8 rear axle is correct and stout. The low mileage is consistent with the condition of the interior and undercarriage. The Shadow Blue Metallic paint over gray cloth with a white top is an unusual and appealing combination. And the convertible body style, in a GT-optioned car, represents a small slice of 1987 Mustang production that is only getting harder to find in honest, driver-quality condition.

This is not a show car. It's a presentable, correct, low-mileage Fox-body GT convertible that you can drive, enjoy, and show up to any Mustang meet with confidence.

To learn more or schedule a time to see this 1987 Ford Mustang GT Convertible in person, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida 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.