1987 marked a major design update for the Fox body Mustang, and came into the look that it is most known for today. Design elements like the clean nose panel and headlights that are flush to the corners had all started with the discontinued Mustang SVO.

Other design updated for the ’87 Mustang included the revised ground effects, with a large and low air intake, large fog lights, and vents ahead of each wheel. Out back, the rear spoiler had a cleaner look. Many of these changes were to improve the aerodynamics of the Mustang, and as a result the drag coefficient was improved.

While the louvered taillights were a total product of the times, the move from louvered quarter window bezels to clean black glass gave the Mustang a more modern look. The turbine-style wheels rounded out the visual package.

The 5.0-liter V-8 was updated with new heads, updated fuel injection computer, and a new exhaust system. The result was in an increase in output to 225 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. The mid-range V-6 engine was dropped for 1987, as the four-cylinder received fuel injection, bringing output up to 90 horsepower and 122 pound-feet of torque.

The Ford Mustang also got a new interior design with more modern gauges and button clusters on either side of the instrument panel. This was also the last year a T-Top was offered in the fastback, making a T-Top from this year (with the new looks and updated V-8) a rather collectible model.