1968 Ford Mustang GT/CS
| December 1, 2007
California Special- rare '68 coupe that was made using Shelby exterior parts and was in part designed right next to the '68 shelby cars. Based off the "Little Red" coupe designed by Shelby Autos, Ford dealers in the west coast were looking for a regional special that might help spark sales. The idea was taken to Ford and discussed. The idea was then okayed and put into production. High Country Specials of the same year look very similar except the symbol is different on the fiberglass scoops. It has the T-bird taillights, Shelby fiberglass convertible rear decklid, fiberglass scoops, foglights and blacked out grille with no horse. Any engine and tranny combo could have been picked. This car is a J-code 302 with a Holley 4v carburetor and 3-speed manual transmission (rarer for the CS, where most were 289s). The only real option is the dealer-installed air. It was originally a "Lime Gold" exterior and "Ivy Gold" interior, but the original owner converted it to an "Acapulco Blue" exterior and a black interior. Everything underneath has been rebuilt along with the 302 v8 engine. The engine was rebuilt to factory specs and is a very clean car with 15 footer paint. It's my cruiser. :) It also has a dual exhaust now. Around 3,900 Cali Specials were built and another 290 or so High Country Specials were built. An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 are now gone due to wrecks and age. You will find that this is the only notchback that was produced with Shelby parts on it (except for the Green Hornet and Little Red prototypes of course).