Canaan Manley's $700 Craigslist Fox-body Mustang Turned Widebody Pro-Tourer on a Budget
You know what they say: When life gives you a wrecked 1992 Fox-body Mustang notchback, take out its 5.0-liter Ford powertrain, buy another Fox-body, and make a widebody Pro-Tourer — or something like that.
The story of Canaan Manley's wide-body notchback Mustang you see here goes back way before this specific Fox-body came into the picture. "In 2014," Canaan began, "my wife and I relocated across the country, leaving Mississippi and hauling everything we owned to Oregon. I had sold all of my project cars, and many of the spare parts I had collected as our new home didn't have a garage to store them in. After getting settled out west, I decided it was time to get a new project to tinker with."
He landed on a 1992 Ford Mustang notchback, and after purchasing the car, Canaan spent the next seven months working in the car and getting it roadworthy. Finally, the day came for him to take the Fox-body out for its first real drive, and disaster struck. "I made it 36 miles that morning before a nice family in a rented Cadillac SUV rear-ended my Mustang and totaled it." The car was deemed a total loss but, for all of $500, Canaan was allowed the chance to buy the car back from the insurance company. He decided keeping the 1992 Mustang for its H.O. 5.0-liter engine and drivetrain would be more than worth it. Once he was ready, the hunt was on for another car to start the project all over again.
"It took me a month of searching online forums and ads to find another notchback Mustang," said Canaan. "This one was about three hours north and was a 1980 base model." With a worn out four-cylinder but a decent body, this Craigslist find was the perfect candidate — especially at the reasonable price of $700.
Then the build began.
