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In the 80s, the fate of the V8 was very much in jeopardy, but Ford was hedging their bets with the wonderfully potent SVO Mustang. This 1986 example is one of only 3314 built in the final year of production, and brought a potent turbocharged engine, 4-wheel disc brakes, and a very unique look, making it a fast, fun, and rare pony car. This nasty little SVO wears a shiny coat of black paint, and as the car's original color and having seen 1980s Ford paint, it looks quite a bit better than it would have new, although the paint is now a few years old. The shape is familiar to any Mustang fan, but thanks to a special nose with flush-fitting headlights, the offset hood scoop that feeds the top-mounted intercooler, and that oh-so-80s biplane rear spoiler, the SVO has a totally unique look. During the repaint, it also got a cool satin black stripe on the hood that follows the line set by the grille at the base of the windshield, a custom look that we like a whole lot. And while a lot of V8 Mustangs were abused and beaten at the track, it seems that the more sophisticated SVO and its European-inspired personality was treated differently. Keeping it subtle, the only badges on the car are the Ford emblems fore and aft, plus the tiny SVO insignias on the front fenders where the ubiquitous 5.0 usually lives. Nevertheless, this car looks downright nasty crouching on those big 18-inch wheels. Inside, the SVO was equipped much like its GT brothers, with body-hugging cloth buckets that do a great job of holding you in place during spirited driving. They're original and in good condition, but show the usual signs of use and time now that this car is 30 years old. The gauges are all fully functional, including the console-mounted information center. And if originality matters, the factory-issued AM/FM/cassette stereo is still in place. A genuine leather-wrapped wheel (showing its age) and matching shifter knob were part of the SVO's special equipment (this one now sports a short shifter with a shiny billet knob), and things like A/C, power windows and locks, and a folding rear seat were standard equipment. Door panels and carpets are in great shape, even in the hatch area, and of note, this car has neither T-tops nor a sunroof, making it feel tight and solid, even today. There's some evidence of age throughout, but someone has clearly taken very good care of this car. It would be a very big mistake to under-estimate the potent 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which in stock trim put out more horsepower than the mighty 5.0 V8 in 1986 (205 versus 200). The motor is typically a bulletproof little powerhouse, and this one runs extremely well and remains completely stock, so you know it hasn't been abused with too much boost from a big turbo or something like that. Linked to a slick-shifting T5 5-speed manual, it loves to dance and revs are your friend, so the 3.73 gears on a Trac-Lock limited slip are a great choice. Koni shocks were also standard equipment, and if you've ever been near a track, you know they're the tool of choice for keeping the tires connected to the pavement. And the SVO carries 4-wheel discs and 5-lug hubs, which, for some reason, never trickled down to the rest of the lineup but are very welcome here. Blacked-out Motegi Racing alloys have been fitted, now wearing big 225/40/18 performance radials. Future collectable and still a blast to drive, this SVO shows you one path to Ford's future that is still very much relevant today. Call now!
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