West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely exceptional and beautiful example of this original southern California and still with its original highly coveted 'Black California License Plates' extremely rare and desirable 1968 Ford Mustang 'California Special' coupe with it's original and factory upgraded optional 302/220HP 4V V8 (J Code) engine and which was built in San Jose, California on February 9th, 1968 and delivered to Los Angeles, California where it was originally sold on January 3rd 1969 at 'Canoga Park Motors Ford' of Canago Park, California to its original southern California owner. A simply stunning and always obviously garaged example, loved and babied for it's entire life with numerous 'Best of Show' and '1st Place' trophys at local California prestigious events and boasting a thick and comprehensive file of service records documenting the car's service history and rare 'California Special' books including the rare and very collectible GT/CS Registry Book which lists this car and other GT/CS related brochures and collectibles!
This is one of the first 200 early production models, #25 as listed in the GT/CS Registry and one of the models requiring hand assembly of the speciality fiberglass. It is an absolutely stunningly original southern California car in its original 'Gulfstream Aqua' factory color paint, it has its original 'Black Standard Bucket seats vinyl' interior, original C4 Select Shift Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, original 1968 Deluxe styled steel wheelcovers, original 1968 Mustang steering wheel, original AM 'Philco' radio, tinted glass and its original factory spare wheel in the trunk. It also boasts factory power steering and air conditioning. The car has its original factory data plate in the door jam and the car will be sold with its 'Deluxe Marti Report'.
The car was recently purchased from the home garage of it's long time southern California 'collector' owner with the history of the car passed on from the car's previous owners. The car has its original factory power steering, factory 'Selectaire' air conditioning, tinted glass, deluxe seat belts and and its original working radio. The car's original spare wheel is still in the trunk as seen in the photos below.
The California Special is a very rare and desirable one year only Mustang built by Ford as a limited production vehicle as a promotional Mustang inspired by the Shelby GT and marketed and sold only by the southern California Ford dealers for sale in California. Only 4,118 were built and very few all original examples remain. It was only available in hardtop form and the base model was a 6 cylinder version. The V8 and other performance items were optional. California Special body features are as follows:
Blacked-out Grille - The California Special grille deletes the standard Mustang chrome running horse and corral.
Deluxe Styled Steel Wheels
Lucas or Marchal Fog Lamps - These lamps were mounted on brackets that position the lights in either side of the grille.
Fiberglass Side Scoops - Non-functional, mounted in the rear quarter panels in place of the standard Mustang ornamentation.
Fiberglass Rear Deck Lid and Quarter Panel Caps - Identical to the 1968 Shelby convertible, forming an integral spoiler. Mustang script lettering appears in the upper right hand corner of the spoiler.
Fiberglass rear panel with Shelby style rear end and spoiler and tail lights.
Side Stripes - The California Special side stripes extend down the center of the body from the leading edge of the front fender to the rear edge of the side scoop with simulated air scoops. The letters GT/CS (for GT/California Special) are cut out of the stripe on the side scoop.
Rear Deck Stripes - Extends around the top edge of the rear spoiler.
California Special script lettering on the rear quarter panel.
Twist Type Hood Locks - The Mustang optional louvered hood with integral turn signals is standard equipment on the California Special. It fastens via the standard Mustang latch mechanism and is secured by two twist type hood locks.
Pop-open Gas Cap
This particular car must be seen and driven to be fully appreciated - looks very similar and easily mistaken with the Shelby GT350, GT500 and even the Shelby fastback models - a seriously striking example which turns heads wherever she goes! The original 302 4BBL V8 engine has been extraordinarily well maintained as proven by its extensive service history and is extremely strong and responsive, the transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the engine temperature always remains cool.
This must be one of the finest show winning and mostly completely original examples available anywhere of this increasingly collectible and desirable of Mustangs, the 1968 Ford Mustang 'California Special' with its original upgraded 'J' code HiPo 302 4BBL V8 engine in this original and highly striking original color combination in turn-key ready daily driving, daily head-turning, and daily appreciating condition!
The car's data plate reads: 65A-F-2A-08B-71-5-W.
