Last updated on August 17, 2022
Today’s car is a 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback. It is finished in Royal Maroon with a Black interior and Black Knitted Décor bucket seats. It is owned by Dann and Carole Allen. Carole’s father, the second owner, bought the car in 1969. The car was originally ordered on April 16, 1968 and was built at the San Jose, CA Ford plant. I saw the car at The Marina del Rey, CA Cars and Coffee held every Sunday between 7-9 AM at 4724 1/2 Admiralty Way at the Starbucks. It is powered by a 390 cu in, 6.4 liter, V8 with a Holley 4-bbl carburetor and produces 325 hp. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission and delivering that power to the rear wheels through an Equa-Loc 3.25 to 1 gear ratio rear end. Helping slow this baby down are Power Disc brakes. The front suspension is a ball- joint type with coil springs mount on top of upper arms with strut-stabilized lower arms. The rear suspension is longitudinal semi elliptical springs with diagonally mounted shock absorbers. It is an asymmetrical, variable-rate design with the rear axle located forward of the spring centers for those anti-squat takeoffs.
The original MSRP was $2,818.07 The total number of 1968 Mustangs produced was 317,423 of which 42,582 were fastbacks. To take this a little farther only 6,016 were built with 390-4v engines. 2,306 had automatic transmissions, 108 of them were painted Royal Maroon, 5 of those had Black Knitted Décor bucket seats. 3 were ordered with 3.25 locking rear axles, and 1 of them equipped with Oil and Ammeter Gages.
This is a great restoration that is a rare and unique car from the day Carole’s father picked it up and brought it home. As much as I am a convertible guy, when it comes to early Mustangs I love the look of the fastbacks best. This car is a hit at Ford events and always gets a crowd at Cars and Coffee events. Thanks for riding along. Frank
