Vehicle Description
If you're a Mustang fan, you already know what the GT/CS stands for
on the C-scoop of this 1968 Ford Mustang GT coupe. No, it's not
Carroll Shelby, although his influence can be seen throughout the
car; it stands for "California Special," and indicates a series of
special models for the west coast. Today the CS is a prized
possession, and this one packs enough surprises under the skin to
make it a genuine threat to today's best performers.
The inspiration for the California Special did indeed come from
Shelby, whose "Little Red" coupe was the CS's immediate
predecessor. Shelby was studying the feasibility of a Shelby coupe,
and when Ford assumed production of Shelbys in 1968, building the
California Special was easy. Farmed out to A.O. Smith, the Specials
used Shelby rear clips, including the fiberglass trunk lid with
integral spoiler and those 1965 Thunderbird taillights. They also
got special badging, decals, and stripes, a custom gas cap, and a
Shelby-style blacked-out grille without a running pony and fitted
with Marchal fog lamps. So it's easy to see why someone might
mistake this for a Shelby. Fortunately, this one is the real deal
and has been very nicely restored with an eye towards making it
authentic, so no modifications were permitted. Finish quality is
excellent, with Wimbledon White paint and contrasting red stripes,
plus arrow-straight bodywork underneath. The chrome has been
restored and all the special California details are still
intact.
The interior is pretty standard Mustang fare, with bucket seats, a
deluxe steering wheel, and a long list of available options so you
could dress up your California Special any way you wanted. This one
is pretty basic, offering an aftermarket A/C unit under the dash
that still blows ice cold, a tach strapped to the steering column,
and an AM/FM/CD stereo system hidden in the glove box. The
upholstery is all new, so it looks fresh and is quite comfortable,
and yes, code 2D Dark Red is this car's original interior choice.
The details are excellent, with just the right texture on the
seats, plush carpets with matching embroidered mats, and nicely
finished door panels that look almost new. The back seat is
untouched and the trunk is correctly outfitted with a plaid mat and
spare tire with cover, and you'll note that the battery has been
relocated (we'll get to that in a moment).
Under the hood you'll find a correct 289 cubic inch V8, which was
the base engine in the GT. However, you'll quickly spot the big
"doghouse" intake box over the 4-barrel carburetor, which is part
of the supercharger system that makes this small block feel a lot
bigger out on the road. A Paxton Novi 2000 supercharger is a big
step up from the ancient Paxtons used in the '60s but it's a nice
link to tradition and works ever so much better. It's also got an
upgraded intake manifold to handle the additional flow and
long-tube headers and a Flowmaster dual exhaust system to give it
an awesome V8 bark. Some polished aluminum pieces and Ford Blue
paint look suitably hi-po and with the blower, the 3-speed
automatic transmission is hardly a handicap, snapping through the
gears without hesitation. Out back, 2.79 gears make it a
superlative highway cruiser and modern components in the A/C system
mean this is a car you can drive coast-to-coast. Standard chrome GT
wheels are part of the CS package and carry 205/70/14 BFGoodrich
T/A radials all around.
A very rare find with some very clever modifications, this
California Special is faster and rarer than any Shelby and still
costs less. Call today!