The Ford Mustang was a huge sales success when introduced in the
spring of 1964. However, Lee Iacocca, Ford Division General
Manager, was concerned that the Mustang, while selling well, lacked
a performance image and did not fit into the Ford Division Total
Performance marketing program...enter Carroll Shelby. The Shelby
Mustang is a high-performance variant of the Ford Mustang, which
was built by Shelby American from 1965 to 1967, and from 1968 to
1970 by Ford Motor Company. When Ford assumed production of the
Shelby automobiles in 1968, the vehicles moved further away from
the sports car Shelby American envisioned. This didn't mean that
Ford moved away from performance.
In 1968 things changed a little bit from prior years in regards to
Shelby production. Cars were no longer supplied from the San Jose,
California facility, instead, as to not disrupt production, the
cars were allotted from the Metuchen, New Jersey plant. AO Smith
handled the fiberglass work to give the Shelby it's WOW factor. For
consignment we present to you a 1968 Shelby GT350 in Acapulco Blue.
The beneficiary of a top-notch older restoration with a numbers
matching engine, a copy of the window sticker from the Emminger
report, a Deluxe Marti report, and is now gracing our main showroom
in the ever growing, ever changing Hallowed Halls of the Classic
Auto Mall.
Exterior
This consignment has undergone a full blown, no expense spared, top
of the line restoration using only high-quality parts. Laser
straight steel and fiberglass panels with almost flawlessly minded
gaps are bathed in a respray of the factory correct Acapulco Blue,
and folks it's miles deep. A few chips are noted in the finish, but
those are about the only flaws. A menacing twin scooped hood sits
between flawless fenders sporting both the Shelby Cobra snake and
COBRA emblem. Up front, single headlights in their correct
fiberglass bucket assemblies flank the large grill opening which
contains a pair of correct Lucas fog lights. These lights were used
to replace the early run Marchal fog lighting that didn't meet
Federal standards. The standard fare hockey stick covesmove down
the sides of the car and end in a faux brake cooling scoop mounted
on the rear quarters. A white GT350 decal runs the length of the
rockers and reminds you who you're messing with. More scoops are
seen covering the rear quarter windows of the sloping fastback roof
line. A rear spoiler brings up the tail end and hovers over a pair
of correct, (non-pointed), tail lights within a silver filler
panel. Correct Shelby wheels adorn all 4 corners and are wrapped in
raised white letter Goodyear Eagle ST radials.
Interior
A swing of the door and we are greeted by a black steel textured
with a black vinyl insert in the center. A black vinyl armrest is
just below a door pull while a chrome door handle and window crank
float toward the front of the panel. A faux woodgrain strip
separates the vertically ribbed section of the panel from the
smooth lower. Down low a shiny ribbed chrome panel houses a
courtesy light. Large round gauges flank the steering column and
other smaller round gauges are scattered about in a field of
woodgrain. All gauges are black faced with white type and numbers
surrounded by shiny round bezels. This dash assembly is topped with
a crack free dash pad and shows wonderfully. Black comfort weave
vinyl upholstery wraps the bomber style bucket seats that sit
outboard of a long black and faux woodgrain console. This console
houses a padded top storage compartment then swoops down to the
chrome T handle automatic shifter which sits just behind a pair of
SW gauges that monitor amps and oil pressure. An original AM radio
sits dead center in the dash for your listening pleasure and a fold
down rear 2 plus 2 bench seat brings up the rear and can be a bit
difficult to get into due to the roll bar and seat belts attached
to said bar. With the seat folded down you have plenty of storage
space, but who does hauling in a Shelby unless you're hauling
ass!
Drivetrain
Restored to perfection is the term that comes to mind once the hood
is open. An original and correct C80A-6015-A casting numbered and
VIN number stamped 302ci V8 capable of 250hp sits in the flawless
satin black engine bay. This mill is bathed in Ford blue paint and
has been treated to a Ford service part upgrade in the form of a
dual 4-barrel Holley carburetor set up. All hoses are supple, and
all clamps and attachments appear to be factory correct. Attached
to the back of the engine is a correct and original C4 3-speed
automatic trans. This sends power back to a Ford 9" conventional
rear axle that holds 3.50 gears within.
Undercarriage
Miles of black painted steel with the factory red oxide primer is
showing underneath. All buttoned up and presenting very nicely from
stem to stern, it doesn't get much better than this. The only flaw
to be noted is some invasive rust in the rear unibody rails in the
area of the leaf spring hangers. Independent coil spring suspension
provides the ride for the front while leaf springs give the rear
its ride. We also note power steering, power disc brakes up front
and power drum brakes for the rear. Dual exhaust snakes its way
rearward and ends with a pair of chrome tips after passing through
a pair of Flowmaster mufflers.
Drivability
My crack decoder and I flipped a coin to see who would get to wheel
this muscle machine first, naturally I won, (a double headed coin
will do that). With a twist of the key and a little bit of warm up
time we were off to the test track. This car handled the track with
ease and took everything we could throw at it. Respectable
handling, (thanks in part to the radial tires), bias free braking,
and endless straight-line acceleration sums this car up nicely. All
functions save for the fog lights, reverse lights, and left turn
signals were operational and many a thumbs up were given during our
drive.
This car has all the right boxes checked, Acapulco Blue paint,
black interior, ironclad documentation, and after all...it's a
Shelby. With that documentation included a deluxe Marti report and
the Emminger copy of the window sticker there is no question about
this car's pedigree. A true piece of history here for the taking
that will bring many miles of pure smiles whether on the show
circuit or out for a leisurely cruise. Come see this show winner
right here at the Classic Auto Mall!
8T02J179565 2678
8-1968
T-Metuchen, NJ Assy Plant
02-Mustang Fastback
J-302ci V8 230hp 4bbl
179565-Sequential Unit Number
WARRANTY TAG
BODY 63B-Shelby 2 Door Fastback
PAINT D-Acapulco Blue
TRIM 5A-Black Knit Vinyl Buckets
DATE 08C-March 8th
DSO 8D2752-Home Office Ordering District, Domestic Special Order
2752
AXLE 8-Ford 9" 3.50 Conventional
TRANS W-C4 Automatic
BUCK TAG
159-Paint & Body Line #
34-Welding Bay #
01C-Date Bucked, March 1st
63B-Fastback Decor Interior
FDS-Folding Rear Seat
5A-Black Decor Interior
8T02J179565-Serial Number
D ACA MT-Acapulco Blue Metallic
PS-Power Steering
SHELBY-Shelby Automotive
PB-Power Brakes
DE-Dual Exhaust
IT-Intermittent Tail Lights (Sequential Tail Lights)
TC-Tilt Column
FD-Front Disc Brakes
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400
vehicl...for more information please contact the seller.
Vehicle Details
1968 Ford Mustang
Listing ID:CC-1743911
Price:$103,500
Location:Morgantown, Pennsylvania
Year:1968
Make:Ford
Model:Mustang
Exterior Color:Acapulco Blue
Interior Color:Black
Transmission:Automatic
Odometer:107200
Stock Number:5338
VIN:8T02J179565
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