A collection, which includes one of every year 5.0L Fox-body, is heading to Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale next week. Dennis Collins is selling 18 Mustangs, ranging from 1979 to 1993, all with no reserve and each with less than 20,000 original miles. Every Mustang is a beautiful execution of the original model and each one showroom fresh.
Collins is back again, after setting six Barrett-Jackson records last year in Scottsdale, he’s setting up to do the same this year. Last year, six of the eight Mustangs he sold broke records for each year and model of Mustang, respectively. Last year the records included a 1994 Mustang convertible, which sold for $44,000 and a 1985 SVO hatchback in Jalapeño Red with 7 actual miles, it sold for $63,800. Then there was the 1990 model GT 7UP Limited Edition, which sold for a whopping $82,500.
Collins, who is known for selling Jeep parts with Collins Bros Jeep, is an avid collector/flipper, and friends of the Gas Monkey Garage crew. For this year’s collection, Collins has included one of every year, except for the1980 and 1981 model, as there wasn’t a 5.0L option those years.
“I don’t really have any expectations. The goal wasn’t to set records, but to have the best collection I could find,” said Collins. “Our parameters were they had to be documented and have less than 20,000 miles. Most of them even have the original tires.”
Collins explained the collector Mustangs like Roush and Shelby models often have well documented paper trails, but not the Fox-bodies. “We focused on trying to find cars that were heavily documented,” said Collins, “Logistically, to pull this off was very difficult, to get them all detailed, serviced, documented and shipped to the auction. Then to have an hour and a half of TV time to sell them consecutively was difficult as well.” The cars will go back to back on Sunday on the Velocity channel at 1:30pm.
With “no reserve,” on any Mustang, Collins does run the risk of losing money on this auction, “Just simply the math of getting them transported and entry fees is a huge amount of money,” said Collins who expressed his nervousness of the sale.
The list ends with a late-model, a 2013 Mustang GT used as the Need for Speed movie camera car. Purposely built for the movie, it features extruding steel bumpers, deleted taillights, satin black paint, racing seats and glass compartments for cameras. It’s based on a Saleen with the blown 5.0L Coyote, 6-speed and slotted Saleen brakes. Despite the movie work, it only has 7,780 on the odometer.Collins is selling 18 models total, including some special editions and rare makes. He’s also including two other Mustangs in his list heading to Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. The first is a 1976 Cobra, in white with blue stripes and blue interior. It features a 5.0L with a 4-speed, Traction-Lok rear axle, power steering and brakes, AM/8-track stereo, tinted glass and only 3,281 miles.
The list of 18 Fox Bodies starts with a 1979 Mustang Cobra, a real museum piece—even the tires are original. With a claimed 16,000 miles, it’s a one-owner car with factory air conditioning, speed control and power steering and brakes. Of course it’s powered by the original 5.0L and C-4 automatic.
Next up is an 1982 GT T-Top 5.0L, backed by a 4-speed, and features Dealer Accessory Stripes package. It has remained in the same family since new, and includes the original paperwork. This car only has 11,907 miles.
An 1983 Mustang GT convertible was one of the first Fox Body convertibles built, as the last GT convertible offered was sold in 1973. This Mustang is one of 995 GT convertibles built in 1983 and this particular GT was ordered with a 5-speed, A/C, a sport-tuned exhaust, cruise control and power steering, brakes and windows.
A rare, but interesting find is the 1984 GT350. A 20th Anniversary Limited Edition model, it features T-Tops, and a high output 5.0L backed by a 5-speed. This particular Mustang was special ordered with A/C delete, a sport tuned-exhaust, Traction-Lok, upgraded sound system and power steering and brakes. The original ordering dealer owned this car until 2017, resulting in only 1,404 miles. Maybe just from test rides? It’s claimed to be 1 of 7 with these special-ordered options.
Of course the list must include a SVO, the only 2.3L in the list, it’s a 1986 model painted in Charcoal Gray. The car was ordered with leather performance bucket seats, 8,000 RPM tach, Traction-Lok axle, A/C, a tilt steering wheel, adjustable shocks and functional hood scoops. A two-owner car, it only has 3,124 miles. The original window sticker is still intact, and claimed to be 1 of 145 ordered with these specific options.
A lesser-known Mustang is the 1988 Mustang ASC Mclaren convertible. One of only 1,015 built, this two-seater convertible is powered by the 5.0L and backed by an automatic transmission. It only has 15,601 original miles on the odometer. The Mustang features McLaren leather seats, A/C, an Alpine stereo and power steering and brakes.
Rounding out the list of every-year Fox-body is a pair of 1993 convertibles; the first being a triple-white model with leather sport seats, Traction-Lok, cast-aluminum wheels and only 7,350 miles.
The second, is an LX convertible with EFI, auto transmission and finished in Reef Blue Metallic paint. It’s claimed to be one of 561 produced, only has 340 miles.
The collection is currently on haulers from Passport Transportation, and set to cross the block on January 21st around 1:30pm. Collins plays favorites, saying he likes the 1990 Notchback the best, and “of course the 1983, because that’s when I graduated high school.” On the 1983, they’re rare, as only 993 GT convertibles were built. Collins said he’s been buying and selling Mustangs since high school, but with this sale, he’s a bit nervous, “but hey, no risk no reward.”
