Something you said really struck me “thinking man’s Mustang”. At the time I was impressed with the suspension and other upgrades, but “you coulda had a V8” was all my young mind could think of. Now, nearly 40 years on, I see these differently. And THIS ONE - WOW - as close to new as possible. ~ Chuck
A friend of mine bought one new, that same color, for his daughter. He wound up driving it as much as she did. 🤣 I drove it on a few occasions. It rode and handled really well, nice solid feel. It had incredible pull for a 4 banger. It did have quite a bit of turbo lag on the up shifts, after that it pulled as good as a v8 though. Very fun car to drive. That's a very nice example!
I could listen to this guy talk cars all day long! He is good! Thanks for sharing with us, I never knew these even existed. dayum. Cheers from Motown/Dearborn.
I owned a 1986 SVO for 5 years, 1987-1992. Very unique look (with biplane), handled amazing (for the day), and the OEM short throw Hurst shifter made it a real thrill to drive. By far the best looking Fox Mustang IMHO. Steve, thanks for the look back!
At the time in 1984 a friend of mine bought one! He’s was black with black interior! He’s was the first year with that beautiful split spoiler in the rear! It definitely was a looker! And fast for it’s time. That one looks great in that color too!👌😎👍
For those of us who bought these new back in the day I find it funny how those who never drove one are experts on how shitty they are. Clearly they never experienced one. The svo was a blast to drive. You didn’t have to put premium in them. You didn’t have to have the biplane spoiler. You could even avoid turbo lag by down shifting and keeping the rpm’s above 3000. You’d know these things if you owned one.
Love this!! I have a 91’ Mustang hatchback original 4cyl/ 5 speed car but i tossed in my 86’ 2.3 turbo from my old Thunderbird Turbocoupe into it. Now it more fun than the stock 2.3 N/A engine.
I’m sure you know and just mixed it up but the 71-73 mach1 mustang’s NACA hood scoops did provide air to the engine. Not all of them did but it was optional every year from 71-73
With the VIN, you win: 1FA for US made for passenger car, B for manual seat belts, P28 for Mustang hatchback, T for 2.3L four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 200 HP, 9 is a check digit, G for the 1986 model year, F for Dearborn, MI assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Dearborn, MI plant was the "home" Mustang plant until 2004 when production was moved to Flat Rock, MI where it is today. Exterior paint is code 2A Medium Canyon Red and interior is code LA, Charcoal Gray cloth/vinyl bucket seating. This was originally destined for region 22 which is Charlotte, NC. (About 1/2 hour from where my sister lives. I visit there a few times a year). Courtesy Ford (the original selling dealer) is now Hall Ford Elizabeth City at that same address shown on the window sticker.
I got to test drive one of these in 1986, along with the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe (same turbo powerplant, both manual). I liked them both pretty well but recall thinking they were noisy/clattery at idle. That said, fun to drive. Quick with precise steering and braking. I notice the example in the video is missing the upper portion of its "bi-plane spoiler". These SVO's were about as much (domestic) fun as one could have short of a Buick Gran Sport or GNX.
Actually, the dual wing spoiler for this car was deleted and they added the standard GT single spoiler. You can see this mentioned when he showed the window sticker.
I remember talking with a guy at a gas station while filling up that had one. I don’t recall specifically what year he had, but it was fairly new and looked clean. I asked how he liked it. He said he didn’t. The NCT tires didn’t last that long and were expensive. He also had to use premium gasoline. To add insult to insult to injury, he was upside down and couldn’t afford to trade it for something that would take cheaper tires and regular gas. Of course I was in college and not real wealthy so I had to stick with the beat up 71 Cougar I was gassing up and wasn’t in a position to make him an officer. I was impressed with the SVOs when they were being sold. Maybe I wasn’t really looking in later years, but I don’t recall seeing any on used car lots, even in SoCal in the early 90s.
i walked into a ford dealer in 86 with a little money to spend and wanted a stang GT. ended up with an escort pony. lol. 5500 OTD and lasted me 12 years and 200k before it turned into a flintstone car. champagne tastes and ripple budget.
I think the Merkur XR4TI had a similar double-decker spoiler. Since the SVO was supposed to have more of a European flair, that might be where Ford took it from.
Most folks dont know that those 2.3's were Pinto & Mustang II engines! They were faster than the regular Mustang but still slow compared to other turbo cars of the '80s like the T Type Regal, Grand National, GNX, turbo Trans Am & even the Dodge Omni GLHS
I had an '86 SVO. Great little car. Got great mileage had more power than just about anything short of a V8. My idiot cousin stole it one day and totaled it. I should have totaled him. This car here is the same color as mine.
I had a 1986 SVO. Im so regretful selling it in yr 2000. It had low mileage and garaged kept!. 1 thing I noticed in this video is that this is missing the Bi-wing spoiler. Did he order the car with spoiler delete? All SVO had them. It's also missing the trunk roller cover.
That is NOT the "SVO specific spoiler" on that car at 7:40. Those traditionally had the two piece flat black spoilers. In order to get that spoiler, you actually had to delete the traditional SVO spoiler and add in the GT spoiler. Special ordered one of these in Dec, 1985 and took delivery in May, 1986 -- beautiful Oxford white. Was an absolutely fun car to drive, it handled curves as if it was on rails. The 1986 front end with the integrated headlights looked much better than the 1984 and 1985 versions. Owned it when I was young - my wife said "car or house!" I opted for the house, dammit. 20/20 hindsight, dumb choice. All I have left is the window sticker. Everything was standard except for the sun roof -- a $315 option. Window sticker price for that car was $15587 plus delivery fee of $374 = $15961. Was in mint condition when I sold it in 1988, I wonder where it is now.
cool, i had the mercury capri with the svo turbo but i dont rember having the 5 lug wheels on the mercury. I couldnt hang with my girlfriends Tarus sho, the sho was hot
I owned a 1986 SVO and it is supposed to have the twin rear spoiler. From what I can see in the video it looks like the car has the wrong spoiler. Also SVO spoilers were gray not color matched to the body of the car. I knew everyone anywhere near me that owned one back then and I've never seen one with a color matched single rear spoiler. I did a quick look on the internet and don't see any 1986 or any other other year with that spoiler. That's not the SVO specific spoiler.
@@young768 you are correct the other experts replying to my comment don't have a clue. I owned mine from new and was I around multiple others back then. The spoiler and trim on mine, which was a 1986.5 officially, was gray.
Don't forget the 1982 model King cobra 2.3 l turbos 4-speed manual transmissions with the same gear ratio as the 83 through 86 SOV!! They might not have been as popular but they were still the same vehicles just a different style looking Mustang Fox body had a single cow in junction hood scoop in the middle of the hood with a king cobra on the hood my mom's Car was black with the orange and gold stripes the golden king cobra head on the hood stood out it was also a sunroof I do believe but it was a 4 bolt lug pattern instead of the 5 bolt lug pattern!! Truly forgotten car out of the 1980 Mustang fox body's!!😅😮😊
My father once bought what he believed to be a 1986 Mustang SVO 4cyl turbo. He carefully checked the VIN number and discovered what nobody knew at the time. This Mustang was actually a 1987 model year, 1 of 37 made that year before they shut down manufacture of those vehicles. And yes, it did feel like it had a V8 in it.
Hey Steve, love the videos. The hatch has been replaced. The original SVO came with a two tiered spoiler on the rear hatch. You can see it in some of the pics in the documentation you show. The hatch came off of an 86 GT (85 GT didnt have the 3rd break light) or an LX 87-92. Keep them coming!
@@travislivengood2744 I just googled this...I never knew there was a spoiler delete option that replaced the dual plane spoiler with a single LX style. A very rare option!!!
@@highoctaneclassics3969 Aheeeeee! That was an unusual color, infact a friend was given one brand new, same color in '86 or '87 and with the SVO loaded with three additional friends quickly managed to T-bone my first cousin of all people; SVO and occupants were higher than Georgia Pine blasting down a country road in East Tennessee, deep into generating boost on ascent of a stretching hill which has a notorious blind spot (being that there is a road that intersects at the perfect location for maximum carnage) ; cresting the apex a few clicks under 80mph I would imagine, SVO and friends immediately impact, who of all people(?) my country ass first cousin who just picked up his girlfriend and was driving a '72 CCdeVille that we had sold him years earlier. Cousin and girlfriend, no major injuries. SVO pilot snapped wrists from death grip, jacked up face from debris, couple snapped legs, few missing teeth, couple of other boys snapped a few bones and lost some teeth, and one guy had about 20ft of intestines removed as the SVO was lap belts only for rear occupants. Yep, low production numbers and a propensity for achieving parts car status overnight does make the SVO a tasty collectible for sure 🤘🤘
These cars Achilles heel is the mega-meh front fascia styling. I think these cars were a flop for Ford. Not many people wanted a Euro-Mustang. Not at that price anyway. I think Ford should have marketed this based on a Mercury Capri model to make it stand apart from the traditional 5.0 mustangs. It could have served as a halo car for Mercury. Or even used to bolster /legitimize “Merkur”
The SPOILER ON THIS CAR IS REGULARLY FOUND ON ALL 86 GT MuSTANGS THE *SVO ONLY *SPOILERS WAS AN OPTION TO*DELETE IT IN 1986 ONLY. ONLY FOX AT THE TIME TO HV 5 LUG 16" SPEC ONLY SVO RIMS..HURST SHORT SHIFTERS.
Steve I hate you! One year older and you still have hair color. Ok some. just kidding. I knew I was old when I got a miner ticket and the officer put in the hair color as grey.
Something you said really struck me “thinking man’s Mustang”. At the time I was impressed with the suspension and other upgrades, but “you coulda had a V8” was all my young mind could think of. Now, nearly 40 years on, I see these differently. And THIS ONE - WOW - as close to new as possible. ~ Chuck
thats a bi-wing delete car, spoiler is the same as any other
A friend of mine bought one new, that same color, for his daughter. He wound up driving it as much as she did. 🤣 I drove it on a few occasions. It rode and handled really well, nice solid feel. It had incredible pull for a 4 banger. It did have quite a bit of turbo lag on the up shifts, after that it pulled as good as a v8 though. Very fun car to drive. That's a very nice example!
I could listen to this guy talk cars all day long! He is good! Thanks for sharing with us, I never knew these even existed. dayum. Cheers from Motown/Dearborn.
I always liked these little known gems.
I had a few turbo coupes in the same era.
Super fun cars.
I owned a 1986 SVO for 5 years, 1987-1992. Very unique look (with biplane), handled amazing (for the day), and the OEM short throw Hurst shifter made it a real thrill to drive. By far the best looking Fox Mustang IMHO. Steve, thanks for the look back!
I'm a GM guy who never really cared for Mustangs. But I really like this one
Bad news for you: GM produce a lot of PoS .
My favorite mustangs.
Beautiful shape!!!
I loved the bright red that came on some of those.
At the time in 1984 a friend of mine bought one! He’s was black with black interior! He’s was the first year with that beautiful split spoiler in the rear! It definitely was a looker! And fast for it’s time. That one looks great in that color too!👌😎👍
Just bought a 86 SVO.
That is a thing of beauty !
Classic and nice.🥰
For those of us who bought these new back in the day I find it funny how those who never drove one are experts on how shitty they are. Clearly they never experienced one. The svo was a blast to drive. You didn’t have to put premium in them. You didn’t have to have the biplane spoiler. You could even avoid turbo lag by down shifting and keeping the rpm’s above 3000. You’d know these things if you owned one.
Love this!!
I have a 91’ Mustang hatchback original 4cyl/ 5 speed car but i tossed in my 86’ 2.3 turbo from my old Thunderbird Turbocoupe into it. Now it more fun than the stock 2.3 N/A engine.
Im a Chevy guy I got a 84 vette but this is badass!!! Love the way the turbo feeds into the top Mount intercool!!! Really cool 🤘🤘🤘
I’m sure you know and just mixed it up but the 71-73 mach1 mustang’s NACA hood scoops did provide air to the engine. Not all of them did but it was optional every year from 71-73
I always wanted one of these because of the fact they made GT power but did it with a turbo 4 cylinder and it just made it different.
My absolute favorite mustang, I would take that over a Saleen or a GT 350 any day!
Such a neat car! My 97 Neon ACR also came with adjustable Koni struts…
The fact that you admitted you had a neon was enough
its a Hurst shifter as well
It's missing the Bi Plane rear spoiler.
With the VIN, you win: 1FA for US made for passenger car, B for manual seat belts, P28 for Mustang hatchback, T for 2.3L four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 200 HP, 9 is a check digit, G for the 1986 model year, F for Dearborn, MI assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Dearborn, MI plant was the "home" Mustang plant until 2004 when production was moved to Flat Rock, MI where it is today. Exterior paint is code 2A Medium Canyon Red and interior is code LA, Charcoal Gray cloth/vinyl bucket seating. This was originally destined for region 22 which is Charlotte, NC. (About 1/2 hour from where my sister lives. I visit there a few times a year).
Courtesy Ford (the original selling dealer) is now Hall Ford Elizabeth City at that same address shown on the window sticker.
appreciate the added info
@@seanh2390 Sure thing.
I got to test drive one of these in 1986, along with the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe (same turbo powerplant, both manual). I liked them both pretty well but recall thinking they were noisy/clattery at idle. That said, fun to drive. Quick with precise steering and braking.
I notice the example in the video is missing the upper portion of its "bi-plane spoiler". These SVO's were about as much (domestic) fun as one could have short of a Buick Gran Sport or GNX.
Handled FAR better than the Buicks though.
@@yankeetraveler1118 I'll take your word for it as I'VE NEVER EVEN RIDDEN in a GNX! g
Actually, the dual wing spoiler for this car was deleted and they added the standard GT single spoiler. You can see this mentioned when he showed the window sticker.
Love the fox body
Great vid!!!!!
Get well Steve!
Interesting to see one without the bi-level spoiler. Beautiful example.
I remember talking with a guy at a gas station while filling up that had one. I don’t recall specifically what year he had, but it was fairly new and looked clean. I asked how he liked it. He said he didn’t. The NCT tires didn’t last that long and were expensive. He also had to use premium gasoline. To add insult to insult to injury, he was upside down and couldn’t afford to trade it for something that would take cheaper tires and regular gas. Of course I was in college and not real wealthy so I had to stick with the beat up 71 Cougar I was gassing up and wasn’t in a position to make him an officer. I was impressed with the SVOs when they were being sold. Maybe I wasn’t really looking in later years, but I don’t recall seeing any on used car lots, even in SoCal in the early 90s.
I saw one one day but had no idea what it was until now
i walked into a ford dealer in 86 with a little money to spend and wanted a stang GT. ended up with an escort pony. lol. 5500 OTD and lasted me 12 years and 200k before it turned into a flintstone car. champagne tastes and ripple budget.
Ive got an svo spoiler👍
Sad to see a SVO without the second louver on hatchback.
Lower spoiler is regular. It's missing the unique upper wing.
I was just thinking that as well
I did some research and I think the wing spoiler could be deleted
I think the Merkur XR4TI had a similar double-decker spoiler. Since the SVO was supposed to have more of a European flair, that might be where Ford took it from.
@@mat13174 Correct. Pause on the window sticker and you'll see the item "single wing spoiler -NC"
Most folks dont know that those 2.3's were Pinto & Mustang II engines! They were faster than the regular Mustang but still slow compared to other turbo cars of the '80s like the T Type Regal, Grand National, GNX, turbo Trans Am & even the Dodge Omni GLHS
I had an '86 SVO. Great little car. Got great mileage had more power than just about anything short of a V8. My idiot cousin stole it one day and totaled it. I should have totaled him. This car here is the same color as mine.
Where is the bi-plane wing spoiler?
I had a mustang turbo from 1979 but they were carberated but they only made 10 I had number 8
A very cool vehicle. They were really rare here in Canada but I had two friends who owned them. One had a factory rear spoiler delete.
I had a 1986 SVO. Im so regretful selling it in yr 2000. It had low mileage and garaged kept!. 1 thing I noticed in this video is that this is missing the Bi-wing spoiler. Did he order the car with spoiler delete? All SVO had them. It's also missing the trunk roller cover.
That is NOT the "SVO specific spoiler" on that car at 7:40. Those traditionally had the two piece flat black spoilers. In order to get that spoiler, you actually had to delete the traditional SVO spoiler and add in the GT spoiler.
Special ordered one of these in Dec, 1985 and took delivery in May, 1986 -- beautiful Oxford white. Was an absolutely fun car to drive, it handled curves as if it was on rails. The 1986 front end with the integrated headlights looked much better than the 1984 and 1985 versions. Owned it when I was young - my wife said "car or house!" I opted for the house, dammit. 20/20 hindsight, dumb choice. All I have left is the window sticker. Everything was standard except for the sun roof -- a $315 option. Window sticker price for that car was $15587 plus delivery fee of $374 = $15961. Was in mint condition when I sold it in 1988, I wonder where it is now.
cool, i had the mercury capri with the svo turbo but i dont rember having the 5 lug wheels on the mercury. I couldnt hang with my girlfriends Tarus sho, the sho was hot
would loved to have seen a COP SVO trunked version - cop issue everything but as a trunker..... ( I never liked the fox body hatch back)
I thought all SVO’s came with a “Bi-plane” rear spoiler ?
did he say a 3.75 rear gear?
I owned a 1986 SVO and it is supposed to have the twin rear spoiler. From what I can see in the video it looks like the car has the wrong spoiler. Also SVO spoilers were gray not color matched to the body of the car. I knew everyone anywhere near me that owned one back then and I've never seen one with a color matched single rear spoiler. I did a quick look on the internet and don't see any 1986 or any other other year with that spoiler. That's not the SVO specific spoiler.
Original SVO spoilers (dual wing) were black, not gray. They turned gray with time if you didn't regularly clean them.
@@bigdog8008 I owned one from new it was always gray. All of the trim on the car was gray.
@@michaelporter3555 Interior = gray. Spoiler on back was black from day 1.
The spoilers and trim in the 85 through 86 had a charcoal trim color where the 84 was black.
@@young768 you are correct the other experts replying to my comment don't have a clue. I owned mine from new and was I around multiple others back then. The spoiler and trim on mine, which was a 1986.5 officially, was gray.
Don't forget the 1982 model King cobra 2.3 l turbos 4-speed manual transmissions with the same gear ratio as the 83 through 86 SOV!! They might not have been as popular but they were still the same vehicles just a different style looking Mustang Fox body had a single cow in junction hood scoop in the middle of the hood with a king cobra on the hood my mom's Car was black with the orange and gold stripes the golden king cobra head on the hood stood out it was also a sunroof I do believe but it was a 4 bolt lug pattern instead of the 5 bolt lug pattern!! Truly forgotten car out of the 1980 Mustang fox body's!!😅😮😊
How much?
My father once bought what he believed to be a 1986 Mustang SVO 4cyl turbo. He carefully checked the VIN number and discovered what nobody knew at the time. This Mustang was actually a 1987 model year, 1 of 37 made that year before they shut down manufacture of those vehicles. And yes, it did feel like it had a V8 in it.
Hey Steve, love the videos. The hatch has been replaced. The original SVO came with a two tiered spoiler on the rear hatch. You can see it in some of the pics in the documentation you show. The hatch came off of an 86 GT (85 GT didnt have the 3rd break light) or an LX 87-92. Keep them coming!
86 model year only could be optioned sans the amazing bi plane spoiler.
@@travislivengood2744 I just googled this...I never knew there was a spoiler delete option that replaced the dual plane spoiler with a single LX style. A very rare option!!!
The 80s was such a strange time...
That is not the wing on the SVO, that is n LX wing
It's missing the twin tail.
They. Became oil burners around 100,000 mi,s. The turbo reduced the life of those old pinto bred engines.
Spoiler is gt not svo. Svo double spoiler
Spoiler is not the original one for this SVO. Should be the matte black dual spoiler.
Those things moved with a stick
Bi-wing go bye bye???
Too fast flew off 😬
@@highoctaneclassics3969 Aheeeeee! That was an unusual color, infact a friend was given one brand new, same color in '86 or '87 and with the SVO loaded with three additional friends quickly managed to T-bone my first cousin of all people; SVO and occupants were higher than Georgia Pine blasting down a country road in East Tennessee, deep into generating boost on ascent of a stretching hill which has a notorious blind spot (being that there is a road that intersects at the perfect location for maximum carnage) ; cresting the apex a few clicks under 80mph I would imagine, SVO and friends immediately impact, who of all people(?) my country ass first cousin who just picked up his girlfriend and was driving a '72 CCdeVille that we had sold him years earlier. Cousin and girlfriend, no major injuries. SVO pilot snapped wrists from death grip, jacked up face from debris, couple snapped legs, few missing teeth, couple of other boys snapped a few bones and lost some teeth, and one guy had about 20ft of intestines removed as the SVO was lap belts only for rear occupants.
Yep, low production numbers and a propensity for achieving parts car status overnight does make the SVO a tasty collectible for sure 🤘🤘
SVO mustangs had a DOUBLE spoiler - this looks like a regular spoiler
I still havent found an 80s car that i like the look of
Grand National and tta
These cars Achilles heel is the mega-meh front fascia styling. I think these cars were a flop for Ford. Not many people wanted a Euro-Mustang. Not at that price anyway. I think Ford should have marketed this based on a Mercury Capri model to make it stand apart from the traditional 5.0 mustangs. It could have served as a halo car for Mercury. Or even used to bolster /legitimize “Merkur”
The SPOILER ON THIS CAR IS REGULARLY FOUND ON ALL 86 GT MuSTANGS THE *SVO ONLY *SPOILERS WAS AN OPTION TO*DELETE IT IN 1986 ONLY. ONLY FOX AT THE TIME TO HV 5 LUG 16" SPEC ONLY SVO RIMS..HURST SHORT SHIFTERS.
wax-on wax-off
you can put the "name" MUSTANG on a bicycle - and the insurance will KILL you !
My first car was a 80 2.3 , non turbo. Not a fast car.
Cocaine is a helluva drug
Pp
Total sleeper....
So very true!
Not a fan of this generation.
I have the same exact svo in the same color. Canyon red. Mine has 44k miles
Steve I hate you! One year older and you still have hair color. Ok some. just kidding. I knew I was old when I got a miner ticket and the officer put in the hair color as grey.
Im surprised double belts too..
The spoiler is NOT authentic....repaint ? My 34k Original Black leather 1986 is proof Original owner
my first car , where,s the dual wing spoiler ???? .....i was born in '64 too ..... loved it . if i could get another