For much of the 1960s, if you wanted a full-size Ford but your budget didn’t call for a Galaxie or LTD, you opted for the Custom or Custom 500. With the former, you got things like an inline-6 engine, 3-on-the-tree, and rubber floor coverings, and the cars were quite popular for fleet purchases. But you didn’t have to settle for just basic transportation, and you could get any motor up to a bruising 428 V8, which is apparently how this ’68 Ford was ordered. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, the peaceful-looking beauty is available here on craigslist for $25,500. Thanks for the awesome tip, Gunter Kramer.
The Custom nameplate appeared on Ford cars between 1949-81, but not in every model year. If you wanted a slightly better-trimmed Custom (i.e., carpeting and some chrome trim), you ordered the Custom 500. We don’t know which version is the seller’s car, but between the Custom and Custom 500, Ford built 27,500 2-door sedans in 1968, the year of the seller’s car.
This ’68 Custom looks like it could have been a traveling salesman’s automobile when new, but I doubt anyone peddling Fuller brushes door-to-door would have wanted the 428 big-block V8. Two versions were available in 1968, the base engine at “just” 345 hp or the Police Interceptor at 425. We’re guessing the former engine applies here and we’re told the car has just 20,000 miles on it.
The seller doesn’t tell us a lot about this sleeper. The interior is “mostly” original, but can you say the same thing about the paint, or has it been redone? For that matter, is the 428 and 4-speed manual transmission original to the car as well? We don’t know if this Ford is the real deal or made up to be, but in either case for 25 large you can fool a lot of folks at the traffic light drag races.
I like the walk softly and carry a big stick approach to this car. She’s carrying some extra weight over a Mustang but still a bad a$$ ride I would love to own. If I ever won the lottery I would have the poor mans version of Jay Lenno’s garage. So many fun cars out there to own.
The VIN should tell us what engine it left the factory with…
It should have a Q or a P in the VIN if it came with a 428
Nope not even at half that price
If it’s numbers matching, it’s worth every penny.
These sleepers are so fun. I also like the 60-71, factoryordered powerhouses’ think there was a 66just listed here fac.ermine white 427/4spd and as ordered!!
Assuming the drivetrain is original, this is an oddball indeed. And fun.
As a teen car nut in the late 70s, I subscribed to two publications: Road & Track and the newspaper OId Cars Weekly. I distinctly remember some OCW pundit opining that the only 50s and 60s cars that would ever be collectible were the top trim levels, and anyone who bought, say, a base-model Buick convertible thinking it was a classic was kidding themselves.
Predicting the future isn’t easy, is it.
That Guy: I think I read and believed that OCW article. That’s how I ended up with a Corvair instead of another ’68 Mustang fastback.
The air cleaner cover says Police Interceptor. Might be a 425 horse…
The PI was rated at 360 hp, I believe. The author is wrong.
There was never ant 425-horsepower Police Interceptor, lol…the author is completely wrong.
Yes he is!
No such thing as 425 HP Police Interceptor; 360 HP!
At least it has a dual brake cylinder, and not a single. But, I bet it has drums all around, and not power drums. Should be fun to stop.
The dual chamber master cylinder became standard on Ford products for the 1967 model year.
As far as I know there is no such thing as a factory rated 425 hp 428 cu inch engine. And the 427 was 390 hp by 1968 and only available in the Cougar GTE
More of a sleeper than that 427 SS Impala listed earlier.
I worked with a older guy who had ordered a ’68 Custom 2-door new with the 428 single quad engine and four on the floor, straight from the factory. He swapped the stock intake for a Shelby dual quad aluminum version. The steel valve covers gave way to finned aluminums. I don’t recall if the car had been built with a dual exhaust system but if it hadn’t, it’s a safe bet our guy soon made an upgrade.
That’s a car I would love to own, same as this one.
A1 car. Great choice whoever ordered up this beauty. Love the plain Fords. Probably a 3.25 gearset. Perfect.
So cool. It’s not far from me, so if I had the garage space…
One request though. Can we stop using the word “sleeper” with cars like this? If you drove this thing around today, literally everybody on the road and on the sidewalk would be staring at you. Maybe in the in the ’70s it was a sleeper, but now, not so much.
Yeah, these days if you want a sleeper you’ll have to buy a Civic Type R and swap the body trim over to Civic LX parts yourself because Honda doesn’t do freestanding options let alone accept “secret menu” orders.
Individual options are all but extinct. It started with “quick order” packages in the ’70s. Today, you usually just buy a trim level that contains the options you need. And likely some you don’t. I have not ordered individual options on any new car I’ve purchased since 1998.
Bick Banter-
I didn’t think “sleeper” relates to how many people stare at a car. If I drove the Popemobile down Main St, everybody would stare at me (more than the already do) even though I assume that car would be unimpressive in terms of performance.
I thought “sleeper” meant a car which didn’t look fast actually being fast. Like, at a stoplight race, an unassuming car beats the snot out of a Mustang, etc.
Am I wrong?
Bobster
A “sleeper” that snores loudly ?
Looks like the sleeper has awoken
I was stationed at Kincheloe AFB in 1976. Bought a 1968 Ford Custom Police Interceptor as a winter car. 140k or so , paid $125, 4 door, rusted out quarters, but a real police car as it had a fitting off the fuel pump where you could hook up a hose to pump fuel to someone who had run out of gas.
Pop riveted new sheet metal to the lower quarters, fixed the sagging driver’s seat, got painted at Earl Scheib, $29.95, no ups, no buts.
Drove it for a 18 months. Based closed.
Sold it for $900.
My bud’s loved it when I floored it, but I didn’t want to PCS with two cars.
Sold it- kept my 68 327/350 Vette, which I still have.
But I loved that 428!
Clint Eastwood drove the 4 door version of this in “Dirty Harry”. Feel lucky punk?
I was thinking Burt Reynolds as Gator McCluskey..LOL His was brown, 4 door, but still running the 428 and a 4 speed.
Similar idea to the 427 Chevy Biscaynes you could buy back then.
Its a nice clean car, but I am pretty sure it was not born this way. The tach & under dash gauges are after-market, as well the shifter knob is from a ’68 Shelby. Even the CL advert makes no claims of originality. My guess is someone “customized” a nice clean base car by adding the 428 PI, 4 speed and gauges. That said it would be fun cruise around in.
I agree that it is probably a clone, but that shifter knob is correct for that year. The VIN tells you everything. I love 2 door post cars with big motors and 4 speeds This is mine
I have no idea if it is original or a made up car, but it doesn’t change my opinion. I think it is really a neat piece and if I was able , I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it at that price.
Same car??
https://bransonauction.com/auction-consignments/ford/2-door/1968-ford-custom-428/
Looks like it is…..
Also the same car??
https://ccpauctions.com/lot-details.php?RefNum=r180&EventID=87
Gator McClusky.
Yea i think the 425 hp was only for the 427, and i think the last run with the 427 came with a 600 cfm carb, Naturally i wish the dual quad 427 ran into 1971 like the Hemi, we did just see a 1968 galaxy 428 fastback go for sale in the 6000$ range needing resto , that was a low number car as well. Of couse i like this car with the 428 , saw a couple 428 tbirds go for 3 grand recently and they ran.
Reminiscent of this Burt Reynolds’ ride in “White Lightning.”
Evidently a Custom 500, considering carpet and side trim. My Dad bought both a ‘67 and ‘68 Ford Custom. Both ex police cars with 390 interceptors. Paid $680 and $530 respectively, when they were 3 years old. The ‘68 was cheaper because it had several bullet holes. Talk about Street Creds. Very competent cars.
This car is a Custom not Custom 500. Interior clues are seat covers, door panels and dash. Dash has no simulated wood trim. Exterior has no bright roof drip trim and there is no “500” following the “Custom” nameplate.
Total fake, but a neat car…it’d be fun, but it would have to be cheap.
I grew up just north of Chicago, our local police department used Fords for years. They had a two door like this with the 428 and an automatic trans, it was painted the same robin-egg blue as the 4 door cars, but was unmarked. We were well aware of it…
Growing up I remember our elderly neighbors in Yakima Washington had a white 1968 Ford Custom 4dr sedan. It was a former Washington State Patrol car with 428 (PI) badges on the front fenders.
An incredibly plain car, owner Ted spruced it up with aftermarket Western deep-dish rims (with white walls, of course).
Whether original or not, this is a whole lotta fun for the money. I would LOVE to own this!
Love The Big Girl. Only one way to drive it. After installing 4 WHEEL DISK
Had a friend in the 70’s that had a Custom with a 428 automatic. It was a former Virginia ABC Board car. Probably used for chasing moonshine runners.
It was an awesome ride.
My dad bought a 68?? black 4 door custom with 428, 4 spd from the local Sherif Dept. my sister hated it til she was old enough to enjoy the stoplight fun. My mom did shopping duty in lower gears.
Had a straight stretch west of Craig to “blow the cobs out”, my dad would say.
Fun ride.
I dont know if this Ford Was the “real deal” in 1968 but it sure is now. Real plain jane detectives car with a real 428 backed by a 4 speed transmission. I see it chasing ‘shine runners, crazy outlaw bikers, mobsters,,,undercover cop car all the way and what Lieutenant Bullit would have really chased that black Charger in.
Lovely looking car. If only more pics were taken.
This car is a Custom (not 500).
Inside there is no simulated wood on the dashboard and those are Custom door panels and seat coverings. (And I don’t think this interior color was available on 500s this year.)
Outside there is no chrome roof drip moulding and no “500” following the “Custom” nameplate.
Probably carpeting was an available factory option but the nap of that carpet doesn’t look stock to me and yes, manufacturers would make exceptions to their option restrictions (one guy got bucket seats and console in his Country Squire) but I don’t think this carpet color would come with this interior color, optionally or not.
Maybe the Fairlane line had different carpeting. I doubt it but IDK.
I had a ‘68 Torino GT ≈ 50 years ago when a jug of Wisk I was transporting (on the floor) fell over, opened and spilled all over that carpet. I had to remove it, hang it over a fence and hose it down. For a while! So I was pretty familiar with it.