Such controvercy over a simple car...I LOVE IT!
If you look at the dealership brochures (pictures, std equip. and options list) along with the production line worker list of '86 5.0(RS)/GS differences ('85s and '86s are pretty much identical) stated in a message Sandy posted on
www.foureyedpride.com that I referenced in one of my posts there, you will find this car is wholly probable and not a hack job.
The only items that have been "hacked" are the crappy exterior color change, incorrect hatch, wheels and radio installed by the owner before me.
Options included on this GS are the CFI H.O. V8/auto/3:27:1 locking rear diff, AC, power group (windows, door, and power remote release), and electronic digital search radio. Options that were not selected were the two-tone paint, aluminum alloy wheels, and T-top or sunroof. I can't remember if the tilt/cruise were std. or optional, but chekcing the dealership brochure again would tell.
Previous items being argued about that have been substanciated:
seats and upholstery - early '85 production items from left over from the '84s
dual tip single exhaust system - same as seat and upholstery
grey dash panels - check the brochures and production line RS/GS differences, they're standard on the GS. Did the grey dash panels replace the woodgrain units on the GSs in '85/'86, or on all bubblebacks from '83-up?
black headlight buckets - same argument as dash panels
chrome window and door trim - standard on the GS
V8/auto/3.27:1 locking rear diff - all options on a GS in '85
And as far as the long standing 5.0(RS)/GS debate, here's my take on it:
All of the cars folks are claiming to be GSs, that for all other intents and purposeses are 5.0s(RSs) with a single GS badge on the rear hatch are, in my opinion, exactly that and are just interesting production line mistakes. These cars all have the RS buck tag, the RS equipment, etc., etc., but have a single GS badge on the hatch...
that's it.
Let me pose this question:
How simple would it be for a single production line worker, disgruntled, sleepy, careless, or otherwise, to continue to pick a single GS badge out of a bin and stick on the rear hatch and have it go unnoticed? My feeling is this is pretty likely. Let me ask now how likely it would be for a car that has been labled a GS from the start with no RS special equipment, that contains all of the correct standard GS equipment and an interesting list of factory GS options, to be a real GS? Again, pretty likely.
Here are some pictures for your scrutiny. Let the debate continue!
