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The 1968 Mustang received minor grille and trim modifications to set it off from the 1967. It also received some minor mechanical changes in order to comply with government safety rules. The most significant of these was a collapsible steering column. The most obvious visual changes were the deletion of the horizontal grille bars and of the simulated side scoops, and the use of side marker lights in the front and back. Ford gave the interior a new steering wheel design and different upholstery patterns, and for the first time the rear-view mirror was affixed directly on the windshield.
The Interior Decor Group was distinguished by the use of wood grain appliqués on the dash and doors and by the use of a wood grain steering wheel. More and more options were grouped together. The GT Equipment Group changed, the most prominent change being the addition of a C-stripe that followed the body side contour. This was an adaptation of the stripe that Ford had used on its long-distance racing Ford GT40s. However, side stripes like those offered in 1967 could be substituted. The familiar fog lights remained, but the light bar between them was deleted. The lights were mounted directly on the grille. GT emblems on each front fender, GT pop open gas cap and CT letters on the hubcaps identified the package visually. Engine selection was a bit more complicated than before. The standard engine was the 200 ci six-cylinder. Although both four barrel 289s were deleted, the two-barrel version, now rated at 195 hp, continued until it was replaced by a two-barrel 302 by midyear. The highest rated small-block was now a 302, basically a stroked 289, rated at 230 hp. It used a hydraulic cam and a smallish 470 cfm Autolite four-barrel carburetor. Interestingly, the four-barrel 302 lasted only one year, and if you wanted to buy a Mustang with a four-barrel 302 (excluding the Boss 302), you had to wait until 1983. The big 390 continued unchanged; however it was now rated at 325 hp. The largest engine available was a hydraulic cam 427 rated at 390 hp at 5600 rpm. The 427, however, was only available for a short time during the 1968 model run, and it was phased out in December 1967. Although the 427 was Ford's premier race engine, it had some disadvantages as installed in the Mustang. It was available only with an automatic transmission, and it could have used a larger carburetor than the stock 650 cfm Honey to take advantage of the engine's true potential. More important, its cost of $622 put the engine out of reach of most enthusiasts. Still, the 427 was Ford's best engine, and it had a tremendous race heritage |
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A member of the FE series, the 427 was first introduced in 1963, and it became an engine of many variations. The biggest difference between the 427 and other FE series engines was the cylinder block, The 427 block was superior for two reasons. It had stronger cross-bolt main caps and a much better oiling system, which incorporated an oil passage at the side of the block. For this reason, the 427 is sometimes referred to as the Sideoiler.
Several specialty Mustangs were sold during 1968. There was the Mustang Sprint, a special option package available on both six cylinder and V-8 Mustangs. On the sixes, the package included GT side stripes, a pop open gas cap and full wheel covers. The V-8s got in addition the Wide Oval tires on styled steel wheels and the GT fog lamps. More significant was the California Special. Available mostly in California, the GT/CS was a trim package for the hardtop Mustang which used many GT and Shelby Mustang styling features. The most obvious was the Shelby rear deck lid with integral spoiler and sequential taillights. Shelby side scoops were also used, but these were non-functional. A blacked-out front grille without any Mustang emblems used rectangular Lucas or Marchal fog lamps. The GT/CS also got a distinctive side stripe that began at the Front fender and terminated at the side scoop. Wheels were the styled steel wheels without the GT identification. The GT/CS could be had with any regular production Mustang engine. Production estimates are in the 5,000 range. Similar to the GT/CS was the High Country Special, another limited edition Mustang, this time sold by Colorado dealers. It was identical to the GT/CS, except that the California Special identification was deleted and the GT/CS on the side scoop was replaced by a High Country Special decal. High Country Specials had been available in Colorado since 1966, but the only thing "special" about them were the two badges located on the front fenders. Other Specials offered in 1968 included the Sunshine Special and the Nebraska Big Red. |
