For Sale: 1968 Ford Mustang in Bradenton, Florida

1968 Ford Mustang Coupe �€" 289 V8, Solid Floors, Clean Undercarriage Why This Car Is Special The 1968 Ford Mustang occupies a specific and important place in the car's history. It was the first year Ford restyled the original 1964-and-a-half platform in any meaningful way, adding a longer body with more pronounced rear quarter panels, sequential turn signals on the fastback, revised front end styling with a wider grille opening, and side scoops that gave the car a more purposeful look than the 1967 model it replaced. The overall silhouette grew slightly in every direction, but Ford was careful to keep the weight manageable and the proportions honest. What often gets lost in the conversation about 1968 Mustangs is just how many of them were built. Ford produced over 317,000 Mustangs that model year, covering the hardtop coupe, fastback, and convertible body styles. The hardtop coupe, which is what you're looking at here, accounted for the majority of production. That high volume is exactly why finding one in this condition �€" with solid floors, a clean undercarriage, and no apparent structural rust �€" takes some patience. Time is not kind to unibody cars, and the floor pans on a first-generation Mustang are typically the first thing to go. The 1968 model year also introduced several federally mandated safety changes, including side marker lights, a dual-circuit hydraulic brake system, and energy-absorbing steering column. These weren't marketing features �€" they were government requirements �€" but they make the 1968 a more confidence-inspiring car to drive than its 1965 or 1966 predecessors. The VIN on this car decodes to a San Jose, California-assembled 1968 Mustang hardtop coupe with the 289ci V8 and automatic transmission, which aligns exactly with the car as presented. Features List - 289ci V8 Engine - 3-Speed Automatic Transmission - Dual Exhaust - Air Conditioning Compressor - Black Vinyl Bucket Seats - Grant Aftermarket Steering Wheel - Updated Alloy Wheels - Chrome Bumpers Front and Rear - Clean Undercarriage - Solid, Unpatched Floor Pans - Drum Brakes All Around Mechanical The engine under the hood is Ford's 289ci small-block V8, the same basic architecture that powered early Shelby GT350s and made the 289 one of the most respected small-displacement V8s of its era. By 1968, the two-barrel version was rated at 195 horsepower. It's a torquey, free-revving engine that responds well to basic maintenance and has an enormous parts supply behind it. This one has been dressed with a polished chrome air cleaner and a set of finned aluminum valve covers, giving the engine bay a clean, period-correct custom look that suits the car well. The A/C compressor is present and belt-driven off the front of the engine. Backing the 289 is a 3-speed automatic, which for most buyers is the right call. It makes the 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe a genuinely usable everyday classic �€" no clutch fatigue in traffic, no relearning a vintage manual gearbox that may or may not shift cleanly after decades of use. The dual exhaust exits through a pair of mufflers visible under the rear valance and gives the car an appropriate exhaust note without being obnoxious. Braking is handled by drums at all four corners, which is the stock configuration for this car. They work fine at the speeds and driving conditions most owners put these cars through, and brake hardware is one of the most affordable and well-supported upgrade paths in the classic Mustang hobby if a future owner wants to go that direction. The undercarriage photos tell the most important story here. The floors are solid with no patches, the unibody rails are intact, the suspension pickup points look clean, and the undercoating is in good shape. That's a significant finding on a 57-year-old car and substantially reduces the risk and cost for the next owner. Interior The cabin of this 1968 Ford Mustang Coupe is finished in black vinyl throughout �€" door panels, bucket seats, dash, headliner, a