I guess the title says it all.

The fastback body style (GT) was introduced late in '86 and are sometimes called '86 1/2. They look like this.

There is no difference. '86GT='86.5GT. There were no '86GTs made with notchback. Also, the ".5" does not designate factory Getrag as some like to think, since it was introduced in late '86.

In 1986 you could only get a 4 speed manual. The 86 1/2 introduced the 5 speed manual.

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Jay
1986 Northstar GT
www.members.home.net/jaygrande

So, Jay:

By your reasoning, there would also be such a thing as an '86.5 v-6 SE as well. The v-6 SE got the Getrag as an option late in '86 too, but I've never heard people refer to the Getrag '86 SE as a ".5". Show documentation...

quote Originally posted by Jay: In 1986 you could only get a 4 speed manual. The 86 1/2 introduced the 5 speed manual.

No, no, no...
If that's the case, what's the difference between a 64 Mustang and a 64 1/2? The midyear designation only refers to a model that was introduced after the beginning of the calender year. Hence, an 86 SE manufactured in August of 86 is an 86, a GT manuactured in Februrary of 86 would be an 86 1/2.

Class dismissed.

Since mustangs didnt come out in 64 theyWERE introduced half way through thre model yesr they are all 641/2 if they are a 64 model.

I have seen an 86.5 fastback with factory 4 speed. Obviously, not all 86.5 fastbacks had the Getrag.

Will: Bingo! You nailed it. Out of the 17,660 '86GTs(or '86.5, take your pick), 9,284 had auto, 6,105 had 4-speed, and 2,271 had 5-speed(Getrag). What stimpy says is true. Seems every several months we have to set the Getrag/.5 believers straight.

Sorry, didn't mean to get you guys all reved up! That was what was told to me back in 1986! I stand corrected!

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Jay
1986 Northstar GT
www.members.home.net/jaygrande

OK, I'll wade in here...
I've got an 86 GT 5-speed, and an 87 SE V6 5-speed, but what I want to know is, has anyone ever heard of or seen an 86 SE V6 5-speed???
Ryan
2-88 GTs
2-87 GTs
87 SE V6
86 GT

There were some made. But, since the 5-speed was introduced so late, there weren't many made.

Soooooo, I have an '86 SE coupe 2.5L with a 5-speed Isuzu. If Stimpy is correct this is a '86

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'84 SE 2.5l
'85 Coupe 2.5l now getting a 3800
'86 SE 2.5l

No. 2.5 5-speeds were available beginning beginning of '85.

Wha?! I don't think that is what he's getting at. Yes that would be considered an 86, not an 86.5.

So, let me get this straight, 86 came with a 4 speed and 86.5 came with either a 4 speed or a 5 speed? Because the 5 speed Getrag was introduced later in the year. Right? I thought that is what I said.

OK......I'll stick my nose in here. At the beginning of the 1986 model year (around Sept '85) the fastback was not ready yet. The available models were the 4-cyl. coupe, 4-cyl. SE & V-6 SE. The only trannies available were the auto., 4-sp. Muncie (V-6 only) and 5-sp. Isuzu (4-cyl. only).

In June 1986 (mid way through the model year) the fastback was finally ready. Initially it was only available with an auto or 4-sp. Muncie, because the Getrag was still being developed. By late July/early August all GT's (and SE's) had the 5-sp. Getrag (unless ordered with an auto, of course).

The ".5" moniker denotes the fact that the fastback model was a mid year model. This is because it was not available for the first half of the model year. The tranny availability has nothing to do with it.....otherwise the Getrag equipped GT's would be known as '86.75 models.

BTW....I did own a Getrag equipped '86 SE, so they were available at the same time the fastacks got the Getrag (very late in the production year). Since the SE model was available the entire model year there is no ".5" designation.

There were a TON of '86 SE's built because for much of the '86 model year it was the top of the line model.

I hope this helps clarify things a little better.

[This message has been edited by mrfiero (edited 05-28-2001).]

So then according to mrfiero, all GT's are 86.5?

I personally don't like the ".5" designation......I call all '86 fastbacks GT's. If someone says "I have an '86 GT" it should mean the same thing as "I have an '86.5 GT".

That said, as long as people don't say that '86.5 GT's had the Getrag and the '86 had the 4-sp. I'll be happy.

Got it!.....I think.