The problem with rising to the top quickly means that competitors will come along to grab market share. That’s what happened to the Ford Mustang with sales of nearly 1.3 million units in 1964-66. With a restyle in 1967, 472,000 Mustangs were sold while another 317,000 were built in 1968. By then, the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Mercury Cougar, and AMC Javelin had entered the scene. The seller’s Mustang looks like a beauty in all of the photos but one – when it was Grandma’s pride and joy and needed attention. Located near Corona, California, this sweet “pony” is available here on craigslist for $22,500. Kudos to Rocco B. for more great tip sleuthing!
Big news was in store for the Mustang in 1967 and 1968. Earlier models could only accommodate a 289 cubic inch V8 under the hood. But the engine compartment was reworked so that big block powerplants like the 390 could fit. Since the Mustang had been refreshed in ‘67, the only visible change to the ’68 was the addition of side marker lights (a DOT thing). During the model year, a 302 V8 came along and the 289 was phased out. Since the original 289 is in the seller’s car, we assume it was an earlier production edition.
Grandma’s Mustang has dirty and faded paint in one of the photos, so a repaint was done. But, we don’t know when that was, and the seller says it does have a couple of small scratches now. The Lime Gold paint is contrasted nicely by a black vinyl top and matching interior that looks quite inviting (that’s because it’s new). The odometer is said to read 32,000 miles, so either Grandma didn’t drive much, or it’s been around the block a full circle already.
This Mustang had plenty of options when new, including an automatic transmission, and power-assisted steering and brakes. The radial tires are new, but the original wheels are on board with factory dog dish hub caps (the match-up looks good!). The Ford sports its original “black” California license plates with a registration current until 2025. No trades will be considered, but this looks like a lot of nice Mustang for the asking price.
A 1968 Mustang coupe, Lime Gold, 289 automatic: in its day, would have been a bread-and-butter entrant in the expanding world of pony cars. But this one caught my eye. It took me a minute to put my finger on why….
Couple the period-correct Lime Gold with the contrasting black vinyl roof, then add the white-letter tires with the dog dish caps, and the result looks a bit different, and to me, very attractive. Sounds like Russ had a similar reaction.
Grandma must have turned a few heads driving that Mustang in 1968!
Probably not – most likely this car had whitewalls back then. & they were affordable & all over the place – unlike today, where i can go WEEKS w/o seeing even one! – what a disgrace, joke, & a world now.
& i’m still waiting for a non fastback hardtop version – since 1994!
What a sweetie. Seems a cool Grandma, hopefully the grandkids 👪 get to spend alot of time with her.
If the grandkids see this listing, Grandma will be REALLY popular, now that she has an additional $22.5K in her wallet…
Or, on the other hand, if one of them is 15.5 years old and just getting their license, she might be the most hated person on the planet because she sold it.
The ad reads like a flip, if the original owner listed the car you’d expect it to be written in the first person, it’s not. She likely sold it to the guy posting it on CL, he wouldn’t have paid her nearly as much. There is a seller from that area featured several time on this forum that posts similar ads, a picture of the elderly owner followed by the type of pictures and description seen in this ad.
Steve R
The posting has been deleted. The first pic is definitely not Corona, the second is. You can see in the second pic the type/style of homes here in Corona, not 100% but 80% so I wonder where this gem was hidden away.
Too bad grandma didn’t buy a GT500!
Found it!
Relisted for $20K without the picture of grandma.
Her photo is there, it’s just not the lead photo.
link?
I did post a link, but the admins removed my post. I think only paying members can post photos & links.
Come on BF. Let everyone share a darn link (and thumb up).
Sincerely,
-Members
Actually I think this is a later production 1968 model Mustang. Ford ran out of 302 motors in the spring of 1968 as a result of the UAW strike in the fall of 1967. The early model 1968 cars received the 302’s until they ran out and then Ford had to go with the 289’s that were still in inventory. The 289’s were put in the very basic models (low priced with few options) and the 302’s were saved for the more expensive models. At least with the Mercury Cougar the 1968 XR-7 models received the 302 motors.
The early 68’s used the rectangular painted bezel rear quarter reflectors, the later cars had the thinner, chrome bezel style.
My sister had a ‘68 convertible in this same color combo, 289 and automatic, in the early ‘70’s. One of the neighbors was selling it cheap, I liked convertibles (still do) and talked her into buying it. It wasn’t in great condition, had some lower body rust and it needed a new top. Luckily someone cut it one night when she was at the mall working in a futile attempt to steal the radio, so we got a new one courtesy of the insurance. She hardly ever dropped the top as she said it messed up her hair. I drove it frequently with top down however. It was a fun car, the soft top wasn’t practical for a car sitting outside in Chicago winters so she sold it a few years later for something warmer.
1967-68 Mustangs are my favorite. Listing is $20,000 firm now. Looks like Grandma’s car should find a new home soon. GLWTS.
Pretty nice car, especially if the mileage is accurate. Unfortunately it looks like a flip, so I wouldn’t believe much of anything without an inspection. A much, much better driver than the 390 version!! Hard to believe what adding several hundred lbs to the front end handling.
A reminder of a much simpler time that was fortunate to grow up in…
I’m no Ford expert, but my Hollander’s Junkyard Interchange manual says that the 302 was in cars from the fall of 1967 until 12/15/67. At that point on Hollanders says that they were all 289’s.
My Dad had a junkyard back in those days, and the subject came up about why the change late in the year. The story I was told by a local Ford “Expert” was that the 302 would not pass the new emissions laws that went into effect 1/1/68, but the 289 would. The “Air pump” stuff started in late 1967. I have no idea if that is correct or not, just what I was told by someone somewhere back in the 1980’s.
I’m not a Ford guy, six Chevys, a Mopar and one Ford. The Ford is a 1943 GPW military Jeep that my cousin had and I bought it after his death. I assumed it was a Willys, but it’s not. It was a body and chassis built from 1942 Willys parts and it has a SB Chevy motor, so it’s not much of a Ford.