Np/Cp - R/T Sleeper Edition

"Sn210" (sn210)
11/22/2013 at 20:53 • Filed to: None

Found this on eBay. It's all kinds of awesome. If I said that anywhere other than Oppo, I'd be committed.

I first heard about these cars a few years ago when a coworker and I were discussing our former cars. He had an impressive list, which included a 3000gt, a SVX, and one of these Spirit R/T's. I had never heard of them before, but once I did some research, it quickly earned a spot on my bucket list. I love a good sleeper, and this one came right from the factory that way.

I stumbled on this eBay listing tonight. It is super clean and has crazy low miles. This car's owner treated it like the collector car it might become someday, but is he too early? He's asking $11,900 for the Buy it Now. What do you guys think?

The car has all the original documents and all it's original parts. The seller, who is the second owner, says the the only thing that's been replaced on the car is the battery. He's got floor mats for his floor mats and covered the seats when it wasn't in use.

Why do I want this so bad?! Not going to lie, if I had a ton of money and needed one of these for my collection, the auction would be over already.
eBay Auction: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (23)

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 20:57

Actually, you'll be committed saying it in Oppo too. You'll just have company, and it'll consequently take more of the men in white coats to pull it off...

Josh Welton > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 21:03

They're pretty rare, and totally bad ass. Even so, That's twice as expensive as I've ever seen one listed for.

Josh Welton > Josh Welton
11/22/2013 at 21:07

It was the fastest 4 door sold in the US at the time. 141mph top speed. 14.5 1/4 mile was way quicker than the Mustang 5.0s and z28s the same year. Nuts.

Aaron James > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 21:13

These are fun cars, so were the Shelby Daytonas of that era. The price seems high but the car looks real clean. I wouldn't pay that for it but that doesn't necessarily make it a CP, I'm middle of the road here. I'd feel like I got a good deal at around 7500. This is all with zero research, just gut feeling.

Sn210 > Josh Welton
11/22/2013 at 21:15

I also just read that it was the first production car to have 100hp per liter. This was on an old forum, so I have no clue how true that statement is. I want it more now.

Sn210 > Aaron James
11/22/2013 at 21:17

100% agree. I'm not sure it's Cp territory, but it's definitely a few grand too high. Like someone else said, it's twice as high as any I've ever seen listed. That being said, I've never seen one this clean.

Josh Welton > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 21:22

Great source of info: http://www.allpar.com/model/spiritrt…

Sn210 > Josh Welton
11/22/2013 at 21:32

Kinja'd!!!

So cool. Thanks!

Aaron James > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 21:33

The condition does make it much more attractive, how much more is really what you need to decide. If you are comfortable paying 10 or 11 for it and it will make you happy, go for it. http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1…

Frank Grimes > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 21:34

I would ask about the head. they have aluminum heads with steel inserts. After a while of heat cycles the heads crack and leak coolant. My brother has a white one on the side of the house. It's for sale. The things are fast! Really throws you back in the seat on on ramps.

lucky's pepper > Josh Welton
11/22/2013 at 21:44

Assuming you are right on the quarter mile time of these (I've no reason to doubt the time you quoted, as I remember they were very quick), they weren't way quicker than the 5 liter Mustangs of the day. My 1991 5 liter coupe ran 14.5 in completely stock trim, and I'm sure magazine test drivers were much better than me.

As quick as, but no where near "way quicker".

lucky's pepper > Josh Welton
11/22/2013 at 21:45

As quick as, but no where near "way quicker".

carcrasher88 > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 21:50

Kinja'd!!!

I think the NADA 'high' value of $5,922 is rather low, considering the low production number and the condition, so I'll give it an NP.

Also, that Direct Connection air freshener is awesome!

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 21:54

I'm all for sleepers, and I like Mopar, but I say CP.

lucky's pepper > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 21:56

While I'd hate to see someone buy this and use it like a regular car, driving it all the time and putting a ton of miles on it, that is a hell of a lot of car for 12k.

NP, but not for me. 12k will buy a Fox-body that's just as nice.

Josh Welton > lucky's pepper
11/22/2013 at 22:00

I was just basing this on times I found online and it matched what I've seen in the past. Most data I found had them running high 14s to low 15s. I'm sure they're all over the board.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Sn210
11/22/2013 at 22:01

I guess the most relevant question is whether or not you're willing to treat her as collector's item to the same level as her previous owner. If you want one to hoon about in mad fashion, more power to you, that's all fine and good, but are you willing to give up the resale side to say "no time for lube, I'm goin in dry"

Josh Welton > lucky's pepper
11/22/2013 at 22:08

I just found a post from a forum where they were trying to list the 10 quickest production Mustangs. The '87-'93 was on the list at mid 14s, but they said it was actually hard to find any consistent data on these cars...so it makes sense that we'd come across differing times.

this was the hardest one to find a time from a reputable source. You can't just Google 5.0 Mustang 1/4 mile times and expect any simblance of accurate stock times. I remember an old Motor Trend showing one running 14.5 @ 94. I'd say that's on the money. These cars have gotten almost folk-lore status, with reports of stone-stock cars running in the twelves. I've seen some quick ones, but never in the 12's on the stock tires, with no mods at all. I'd say the norm is 13.8-14.9 depending on the driver. I won't call this the quickest Mustang from the factory by a long shot. I will, however, call it the most favorite for the drag strip, and the one with the most potential.

lucky's pepper > Josh Welton
11/22/2013 at 23:21

The key to a quick Fox-body was body style and trim level. A 5 liter LX coupe was 150 lbs or so lighter than a LX hatch, which was 100 lbs or so lighter than a GT (that was from memory so don't quote me). To guess I'd say, in stock trim, my '91 was probably a 14.2-14.3 car with a better driver. After it had a few modifications and was running 13.9s with me at the helm, a friend of mine took it down the track and easily took two tenths.

No matter what the body-style or trim level though, a stock Fox-body running in the 12s is pure fiction.

Josh Welton > lucky's pepper
11/22/2013 at 23:25

Right on man, thanks for the info.

Josh Welton > lucky's pepper
11/22/2013 at 23:28

And I know I'm splitting hairs, because 2 years later the f-bodys were in the 13s pretty easily. Shit, nowadays a throwaway car like the Sebr...err....200 runs mid to low 14s. But in context that flippin' r/t was quick.

lucky's pepper > Josh Welton
11/22/2013 at 23:44

Yes it was. A reasonably priced four door sedan with a manual gear box capable of running with the fastest cars of the day is pretty damn impressive.

Beldrueger > Sn210
11/23/2013 at 08:41

I had a few friends with these back in the day. I didn't understand the appeal then, and I don't understand it now. It's a true shitbucket with an OK engine. This is back in the 90's and I had a Galant VR-4. If you wanted a fast 4-door sleepter, the VR-4's were infinitely better cars than the Spirits, but I wouildn't buy one of those today either.