1981 Mustang Ghia T-Top Hatch

[mustangmania]

After much thought and not wanting to modify this 255 V8/C4 car, I am selling it because I bought a 1985 GT that is already modified (picked it up today, pics to come soon). Right now, I need to get this sold to replace the cash I spent for the 85 GT. I bought this car on a whim to save it, but like my former Pace Car, I shouldn't have bought an automatic. I've finally righted that with the 85 GT.



See my build thread link below for car history and some pics and Marti Report. This is a 1-owner, rust-free car that spent it's entire life in CA until I brought it to MI in January. It is a survivor with many options. First year for Fox T-Tops and PW which it has both. Last year for Ghia.

Call 248-417-8041 or PM me for more info or pics. $4000 firm. Please be serious. This is a rare Fox. The car is located in Beverly Hills, MI 48025.

Thanks!
Bill

[dburdyshaw]

Seriously luv that stance!

[mustangmania]

Seriously luv that stance!

It sure looks good. Hope to see it go to a good home.

[onetrackrider]

Hope you can hold out for the right buyer, that car deserves to stay as is...

[Gemini1999]

I'm not a potential buyer, but more pics just might generate mote interest. There really wasn't much t go on in the thread you linked to. It's a shame that A/T cars don't get much love. I think that they make great cruisers.

[mustangmania]

Here is a link to a bunch of pics. There are three directories, 1) Pics as Purchased, 2) Pics as Received, 3) Pics Current.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resi...hint=folder%2c

I think my resto thread tells the story. But here is a quick summary.

This 1981 Ford Mustang Ghia was ordered on March 12th, 1981 by Vista Ford in Woodland Hills, California. It was used as a dealer demo until it was sold on May 24th, 1982 to 51-year-old AT&T employee, Shirley. In 1996, Shirley parked the car and it sat in her garage until 2010, when her son got it running again. With Shirley turning 83 and in poor health, her son John decided to sell the Mustang. He listed it on Craigslist, but had no luck. He decided he was going to give it to California Cash-for-Clunkers. That’s when I found his Craigslist ad and talked him into selling it to me. He didn’t want to sell out-of-state at first, but I gained his trust and he knew it was going to a good home.

When I got the car home, I did a 4-stage detail to the paint by hand. 1) Clay bar, 2) Rub-out, 3) Polish, 4) Carnauba wax. The paint looks to be all original except the passenger side was repainted at one point. I bought some used 220 TRXs tires locally and some TRX wheels and lugs off of eBay. I also found an original Vista Ford chrome license plate frame at a swap meet.

The interior is all original. The dash has cracks at the speakers, the cruise, the radio/cassette, and the key-in buzzer do not work (the seatbelt buzzer does). There is a rip in the drivers door panel, and a bad spot in the carpeting on the drivers side rear seat area. The steering wheel is cracked, and the left side cruise buttons cracked off, but I have them.

The car is not a mint show car, it is an 1-owner, all-original survivor. I want this car to go to someone who will keep it as-is and not modify it (I could have done that!). The car runs and drives great, a little hesitation on start-up, but it has the original Variable Venturi carb. The engine compartment has not been detailed, I was afraid to spray it and didn't want to wash off any markings with cleaner. The trans has a small drip, but I don't know where it is from, I got kinda lazy wanting to look under there, but I will pinpoint it and post. The t-tops do not leak.

Parts I put on:

• TRX tires, TRX wheels, mount/balance, lug nuts, center caps
• Hatch Struts (have originals)
• Pair used Halogen Hi-Beams
• Seafoam Engine Treatment
• 1 Halogen Low-Beam
• NOS Hood Emblem
• Mirror cover knobs, used
• Spare tire trunk filler board
• Auto Trans selector seal
• Hood support rod clip
• T-Top Bags
• NOS antenna mast
• Vista Ford License Plate Frame
• Owner's Manual

I have no original documentation from the owner's son, but he promised to look thru his mom's stuff and send it to me. He put $1000 in repairs to the car when he pulled it out of his mom's garage in 2010, see attachment. Car also comes with custom car cover with "4MESASY" stenciled on it which matches the name plate on the dash (I explain this in my resto thread).

Also, I will throw in this cool brochure that I found on eBay for Pacific State buyers who bought an 81 Mustang.




I know that I am forgetting something, but feel free to PM or call with specific questions.

Thanks!
Bill

[mustangmania]

Hope you can hold out for the right buyer, that car deserves to stay as is...

Agreed Matt. The car will go to a new home, hopefully an FEP member. And to one who promises not to modify it.

[vascj]

Beautiful car, wish it were a 5 speed!

[Bryan Knebworth]

The previous owner was going to give it to California Cash-for-Clunkers. Imagine that? What a travesty!!
When I lived in SoCal, I was a few blocks away from a Cash-for-Clunkers place. They had an '84-'85 SVO in their midst...all worn-out with tweaked bodypanels, yet all original. Wouldn't want to see another Fox body end up there!!

This '81 is really nice. Yes its one of those years that non-Mustang people will say "They made a Mustang in '81?" but its quite possibly one the cleanest '81s out there; PW, V8, and T-tops, not to mention its one owner (California) status make it sparkle.

If I were selling this car for a friend, I would ask $5995 for it, as the day is long.

[mustangmania]

The previous owner was going to give it to California Cash-for-Clunkers. Imagine that? What a travesty!!
When I lived in SoCal, I was a few blocks away from a Cash-for-Clunkers place. They had an '84-'85 SVO in their midst...all worn-out with tweaked bodypanels, yet all original. Wouldn't want to see another Fox body end up there!!

This '81 is really nice. Yes its one of those years that non-Mustang people will say "They made a Mustang in '81?" but its quite possibly one the cleanest '81s out there; PW, V8, and T-tops, not to mention its one owner (California) status make it sparkle.

If I were selling this car for a friend, I would ask $5995 for it, as the day is long.

Bryan,

Thanks for the kind words. When I was at the 50th anniversary at Ford HQ on April 17, most people ignored the Mustang IIs and the Fox Bodies saying "they're not really Mustangs" Imagine that, Mustang snobs.

I would ask more, but I need a quick sale because I "borrowed" to get my 85 GT and need to put the money back (wife is angry). So, if I get what I have into it and it goes to someone who can appreciate the car for what it is, then I'm good. If it doesn't sell after a month or so, I'll put it on eBay for a higher price. Either way, I'm glad I rescued the car, it's rare. 1 of 23 with paint/trim combo. Out of those 23, 13 were 'D' code T-tops, 4 were 'C' code Sunroofs, and 6 were blank code Hardtops.

Bill

[mustangmania]

Beautiful car, wish it were a 5 speed!

Tony, if it was a 5spd, someone else would have gotten a nice black 85 GT and I'd be shiftin' gears in my white 81 t-Top!!

[mustangmania]

Sale postponed until after July 18th. The car will be part of the Ford Product Development Center Car show in Dearborn, MI on July 18th. It will be the 1981 representative in the 52-car Mustang Horseshoe. Pics to follow.

[dburdyshaw]

Sale postponed until after July 18th. The car will be part of the Ford Product Development Center Car show in Dearborn, MI on July 18th. It will be the 1981 representative in the 52-car Mustang Horseshoe. Pics to follow.

Ooooooooooh ---- provenance!

Hope you can hold out for the right buyer, that car deserves to stay as is...

Agreed.

[roush235]

Nice car. Please take pictures at the July event.

[foxylady]

Awesome!! Yes please post pics of the event.

[mustangmania]

Nice car. Please take pictures at the July event.

Awesome!! Yes please post pics of the event.

Definitely will, thanks for the interest!

[Funky Cricket]

Fellow michigander here, I hope you find the right buyer, but a shame for someone to stuff a 351 in there and track it. I think the same of any remaining foxes with 200 inlines in them as well.

[mustangmania]

Fellow michigander here, I hope you find the right buyer, but a shame for someone to stuff a 351 in there and track it. I think the same of any remaining foxes with 200 inlines in them as well.

Agreed! Getting harder and harder to find like this. And the crap I had to go thru to rescue it! I most likely won't get my money back, but I was glad to do it.

[mustangmania]

Back up for sale. Great day at Ford on Friday. There was a Mustang from every year made. Mine was the 81 in the top left corner of the Horseshoe.



$5000 firm to FEP members. Putting it on eBay very soon.

[foxylady]

Very cool!!!

[foxylady]

Good luck with the sale. I hope it finds a wonderful home. I really really wish I could buy this car.

[mustangmania]

Good luck with the sale. I hope it finds a wonderful home. I really really wish I could buy this car.

Thanks! Wish you could too!

[roush235]

Cool pic. Did you take pictures of the other years, specifically the less-popular years? What car was used for 79, a local pace car I assume? Finding Mustang II's is usually difficult, but in the Dearborn area there probably were a few to choose from.

[mustangmania]

Cool pic. Did you take pictures of the other years, specifically the less-popular years? What car was used for 79, a local pace car I assume? Finding Mustang II's is usually difficult, but in the Dearborn area there probably were a few to choose from.

My buddy took a picture of each car in the horseshoe, I am waiting on him. I will post in another thread when I get them. Yes, the 79 was a Pace Car. Actually, the cars came from all over Michigan and some other states. The 74 Mustang II came from another state.

[mustangmania]

Open to a reasonable offer.