1988 was a big year for the Ford Mustang. Road & Track named the Mustang GT one of the “Ten Best Cars in the World” while Car and Driver also included it on their “Ten Best” cars list. Nevertheless, it was Auto Week’s Christopher A. Sawyer nod at the Ford Mustang that summed it all up, “Mustang was born a legend, but it is value for the performance dollar that really draws the customers through the door. Grudgingly or not, there is something that folks at both Ford and GM can agree on, the Mustang is the best value for the money in its market segment.”

As for actual changes in the Stang, there were only two. The LX received a higher capacity battery while it lost the T-bar roof from its list of options. With convertible sales still going strong, the T-roof just really was not necessary any longer.

Mustang sales in 1988 rocketed to 211,225 despite the fact that sticker prices were steadily climbing, some as much as $900. The four cylinder LX notchback and hatchback were the only two cars that started below the $10,000 price tag, with the GT hatch starting at $13,272 and the ragtop starting at $17, 512. Just goes to show you, you cannot hold down the pony.

If you take a look at the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on your Ford Mustang that was produced between 1965 and 1973, you can get a great deal of information. In fact, you just might be surprised at what you can learn.

From the VIN you can find out the model year, the plant where it was assembled, the body code that tells the original body style, the engine code that indicates the type of engine that was originally installed and the unit number which is the production number for a particular model year in a certain plant. The unit number begins with 100001.

Let us use a hypothetical VIN:  9T03R123456

9 - Model Year
The model year is indicated by a single digit number. The code is as follows: 5 for 1965, 6 for 1966, 7 1967, 8 for 1968, 9 for 1969, 0 for 1979, 1 for 1971, 2 for 1972 and 3 for 1973.

T - Plant Code
The plant code, the assembly plant where the car was produced, is indicated by a letter. The plant code is:  F is for the assembly plant in Dearborn for the dates 4-9-64 to present, R is for the assembly plant in San Jose for the dates 7/1364 to 6/30/70 and T is for the assembly plant in Metuchen NJ for the dates 2/1/65 to 12/31/70.

03 - Body Code
The body code, the body style of the car, is indicated by a two-digit number. The body code is as follows:  07 is the body style for the hardtop for the years 1965-1966, 08 is the body style for the convertible for the years 1965-1966, 09 is the body style for the fastback for the years 1965-1966, 01 is the body style for the hardtop for the years 1967-1973, 02 is the body style for the fastback for the years 1967-1973, 03 is the body style for the convertible for the years 1967-1973, 04 is the body style for the grande for the years 1967-1973, 05 is the body style for the mach I for the years 1970-1973.

R - Engine Code
The engine code is indicated by a letter. The engine codes are: A is for the 1965-1967 289-4V; C is for the 1965-1968 289-2V & 1971 429CJ; D is for the 1964½ 289-4V (low compression); F is for the 1964½ 260-2V & 1969-1973 302-2V; G is for the 1969-1970 Boss 302; H is for the 1969-1973 351-2V; I is for the 1968 302-4V & 1971 429CJ Ram Air; K is for the 1965-1967 289-4V High Performance; L is for the 1968-1973 250-1V; M is for the 1969-1971 351-4V; Q is for the 1969-1970 428CJ & 1972-1973 351-4V; R 1969-1970 428CJ Ram Air & 1971 Boss 351; S is for the 1967-1969 390-4V; T is for the 1965-1970 200-1V; U is for the 1964½ 170-1V; W is for the 1968-1969 427; X is for the 1968 390-2V; and Z is for the 1969-1970 Boss 429.

12345 Unit Number
The unit number is a six-digit production number that represents the model year at a certain plant. It begins with 100001. In this case, unit number 12345 is vehicle number 23,456.

The 1987 Ford Mustang was originally slated to get a major facelift, but it was nixed due to outrage from the public. Ford had planned to base the next generation Mustang on the front wheel drive Mazda platform, but Mustang enthusiasts would nothing of it. The Ford Probe eventually took the platform and did just fine, but it was not for the pony.

There were other changes to the Mustang family. The SVO, who’s sales had been declining steadily, was no longer in production. However, the LX notchback, convertible, and hatchback made as comeback as did the ever-popular GT ragtop and hatchback. Mercury’s Mustang, the Capri based on the Fox generation of Mustangs, was also axed. Sales and public interest just were not strong enough to keep it going.

On the outside, the Mustang was slicker and sleeker with a smoother nose, flush mount headlamps, and wraparound turn signals. Most of the exterior moldings were finished in black and the overall appearance was more contemporary. The LX had a simple grille, a single slot with a small Ford oval while the GT sported dummy scoops in front of each wheel as well as other sportier additions.

Under the hood, the 302 was still the standard for GTs, but there was a lot of tweaking from better cylinder heads to improved torque. The next generation of Ford Mustang had been born.