This 1968 Mustang Fastback has led a Jekyll-and-Hyde existence. It started life as a meek and miles white vehicle with a C-Code V8 under the hood. Its panels are now a vivid shade of orange, and there’s a storming big block hiding under the hood. The owners have decided to part with their project car, so their son is listing it on their behalf. You will find the Fastback located in Clinton Township, Michigan, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $28,500, but the reserve hasn’t been met.
The Mustang rolled off the production line finished in Wimbledon White, but that mustn’t have been vivid enough for the owners. The car now wears a shade called Tangerine, which was part of the Fox-Body color palette. Before the application of the fresh paint, the owners had plenty of sheetmetal replaced. The work included changing the rear quarter panels, doors, trunk lid, and floors. The seller says that there may still be an issue with the inner cowl, but he isn’t clear on that. The upshot of all of this hard work is a Mustang that presents nicely. The paint has a pleasing shine, while the panels are straight and true. A few minor chips and marks have occurred while the car has been parked in the garage, but these are too small to be visible in the supplied photos. All exterior chrome and alloy have been replaced or buffed to a high luster, while there are no issues with the glass.
Not only does the Mustang’s exterior look strikingly different from how it would have appeared in 1968, so does the engine bay. It originally housed a C-Code 289ci V8 that would have produced 200hp. In a vehicle as light as this, it would have offered acceptable performance. The owner has managed to boost it from acceptable to animal by fitting a 428ci V8 under the hood. This motor started its life in a 1966 Thunderbird and would have pumped out 345hp when it was new. Bolted to the back of the big block is a C6 automatic transmission, while the car also features power steering and front disc brakes. I mentioned the power that this V8 would have produced when new, but I’m sure that the figure would be far higher now. The owner had the engine rebuilt, and this process included boring it .030″ over to fit new pistons. They also had some Edelbrock components installed, including an aluminum intake, water pump, and carburetor. The heads have been ported and polished, larger valves have been installed, along with stainless valve seats. Throw in a set of adjustable roller rockers, and this sounds like it would be a bulletproof motor that produces tons of power. The engine has only accumulated a few miles since the work was completed, but the transmission has covered 500 miles since it was treated to a rebuild that showed a similar level of attention to detail. The Mustang has been sitting for an extended period, so it might need an inspection to verify that it is roadworthy. The seller doesn’t indicate how well the vehicle runs or drives, but he does use the word powerful in his description.
The Mustang’s interior is tidy, and it seems that the owner has retrimmed most of it in the 30-years that they have been working away on this refurbishment. The trim and upholstery are excellent, while the same is true of the dash, pad, carpet, and headliner. The factory radio has made way for an upgraded stereo, and speakers have been installed into the rear trims. Those and the wheel appear to be the only aftermarket additions, but there’s one aspect of the interior that jars with me. The owner has fitted a timber inlay into the top of the console. This looks for all the world like marine ply, and it is out of character with the rest of the interior. If I were to buy this car, I would probably do something about that ASAP. Sourcing a replacement console is easy and is the path that most potential buyers would decide to pursue. Some might choose to ditch the console entirely, and that would be a cheaper option.
The person who buys this 1968 Mustang Fastback will be getting a lot for their money. The color change has transformed this classic into something that looks quite stunning, and it won’t take a lot of time or money to bring the interior up to scratch. The drivetrain changes are interesting, and they should transform the car from mild to wild. With what you’ve seen, would you be tempted to join the bidding war on this classic?
Not a fan of the interior updates, but otherwise looks like a fun car with that beast under the hood. May just be the angle of the photos, but some of the gaps in the body seem off.
That steering wheel does look out of place, doesn’t it?
What place?
It also looks like the hood around the pins is dimpled.
Had I owned this car, I think that I would have left off the ” modifications” both inside and out.
The hood scoop kind of looks tacky and without it you could have a real sleeper vibe going. Same with the wheels. On the inside, I would have gone with a Shelby lookalike steering wheel and that console…? I am assuming that is what happens when you want to add a factory console but can’t source the ” correct ” parts for some reason?
More like didn’t want to pay for the correct parts rather than can’t find the correct parts. There is an undeniable vibe that multiple hands built this car, one was willing to spend money on higher end parts, the other focusing on getting the car finished for the least amount of money. It shows with the lack of continuity.
Before purchasing, I’d want to see what’s under the plates covering the tops of the inner fenders, those areas are notorious for rust, both in front and behind the shock towers. If there are signs of poorly repaired rust, that is an indicator as to the quality of work performed on the rest of the car.
Steve R
Besides the rust issues, I think the seller wanted to have a car that is not your common mustang. Granted some of the choices are not spectacular but most of these cars look very similar. If done properly, different finishing’s would be a nice touch to this classic.
Remove the timber on the console and get rid of that gawd-awful steering wheel, and you’d have an interior to match the rest of the car.
Really liking the 428 in there, its a beast without question. The tangerine color just hits me wrong, especially with that black scoop, maybe if it had torque thrusts or magnums the paint would appeal to me more. Hate the steering wheel, could live with the wood console the upgraded radio will sound just fine. So, if they’d left it white it could of passed for an early original Cobra Jet ’68 Mustang, one of those that came ready for drag racing, ha.
A pair of vice grips would look better than that steering wheel.
Vice grips from Harbour Freight? They are on sale you know….
Steve R -you are The Man, love to read your comments. TA – Very funny about the vice grips. That steering wheel is probably the most hideous one I’ve ever had the misfortune of seeing. The small diameter chrome chain steering wheel (the one that allows you to drive with handcuffs on) would been an upgrade to the one currently installed. Ugg…Lee!
I would not say this car presents nicely. The third picture in the auction provides shows how poorly the driver’s door is aligned. The next image shows a poorly aligned hood. The paint is a quick and dirty respray. The fenders are missing the Federally-mandated marker lamps. The steering wheel and the top of the console are distracting. All the gee-whiz and chrome under the hood do not balance what the 30+ year ‘restoration’ has missed. Sometimes it’s necessary to call a spade a (pick an expletive or two) shovel. My opinion may be incorrect but so is the $33+K bid with my limited vision.
Both of the front side marker lights are in their proper location. You can see them in the photos. You just have to look a little closer as they are just below the wrap around of the front bumper.
Careful. Looks like rivets along the lower quarter panel rear section. The quarter installation in the door jambs looks real amateurs as well. Lots hiding on that car. It also looks like it has a smaller brake pedal like one that would come with a clutch, but the seller says it was a 289 auto car, so check VIN’s and title.
Is that wheel from an old mahogany boat ?
Also missing
is details of rear axle ratio ?
“8 inch axle 3.50:1 locking, limited slip pig built in 2007″….from the eBay listing.
Boss 429 hood scoop?
Hopefully the spark plugs are relatively new & at least platinum tipped, with that tight shock tower clearance.
The real question is ….. what’s reserve at, will lt sell & how much $$$$
What a way to destroy a potentially nice vintage Mustang. No way would I touch this thing!
Looks like it was a rebuild done in Bulgaria.
steering
wheel
In the eBay ad it says it’s “restored”. I wouldn’t even call it a restomod. The workmanship, though not professional, to call it amateurish, is to insult the amateur bodyman/mechanic classic car enthusiast, who takes pride in his work and tries to do it correctly. This was obviously hurried, with no thought given to the final product. The gaps are atrocious, the hood scoop adds nothing and just looks like an add-on, as does the steering wheel and the wood on the console. They didn’t even replace the strut rod bushings. Too many question marks on this car to bid on it without first inspecting it.
Nice shade of lipstick on this one. The bracing in engine bay needed if the cowl is rusty as it ties the car together from side to side. Looks like most panels are repo as seen by the fit. Standard passenger car 428 is just a step up from the 390. If it has an 8″ rear, probably won’t last long with that motor twisting it apart. Ford always installed a 9″ rear with any motor 351 and higher. All Shelbys had a 9″ regardless of engine size. Nice touch on the steering wheel and console cover. Must have majored in wood shop.
Mustang Jason….
Ya kidding me…
The best part of the car is the wood work….
LOL
This looks like every “tired” 20 year old 1960’s/1970’s that was on the road back when I was a teenager in the 1980s and guys would pick the cars up for less than $1000 and work on them the best they could while adding tacky items from JC Whitney catalog. This is simply a “survivor” (a term I despise but I will use here) of that era rather than of when it was new.