Go Bullitt if you must, but I’d rather see this potentially handsome 1968 Mustang Fastback restored to its showroom glory. Let other people chase faux movie fame. If you’re down with that, then perhaps check out this ad here on ebay for your starting point. You’ll have to send a shipper to Thousand Oaks, CA for hauling purposes.
Thousand Oaks? That’s my neck of the woods. But at a current bid of more than $20 grand, and four days to go in the auction, there’s no way I’m touching this one with a ten-foot pole, and especially not after it’s revealed that this car was originally and inline-six-cylinder that is only more recently converted to a V8. Nothing wrong with the six, and I’m all for authenticity, but that hurts the value in measurable ways. But wait! I have a friend with a 1968 Firebird, I think it is, and she has a lot of fun at shows when she “reveals” that it’s a six-banger from the factory. Everyone has seen the V8 version, so the smaller engine is actually an oddity that gets her a lot of play. The car presently under consideration would be a fun one to do the same with.
But what it it’s not fast? Who are you, Frank Bullitt? You’re not going to be crashing this thing around the streets of San Francisco. Like most collector cars, it’s going to make some Dairy Queen runs and make it to local cruise-ins and shows. Maybe if you do a high-dollar resto back to every inch original, you’ll accumulate only miles pushing if on and off a trailer to national shows. Then once it’s gotten its awards certifications, if you drive your collectible a thousand miles a year, that’s a lot, despite what most people’s dreams are before they buy their first classic. So what’s the six going to hurt you?
The benefits of choosing this California car are clear: no rust. You’ve got a clean slate, or nearly so, to build on, and a surprisingly good interior to boot. It appears that what’s happened here is a clear-coat paint job unraveled, and that this V8 conversion needs someone to reassemble it, though the presence of an engine, or not, is a bit obscure from the ad. “The car has been converted to a manual V8 drivetrain” kind of argues against, “There is no engine in the car currently,” but if you follow my rabbit trail, you won’t care about this, because you’ll be sourcing a six, and off you go!
A 6 cylinder, oh the horrors. For those that don’t have a FB account and can’t access the ads, the current bid is $20,800 and 340 viewers and 38 bids. The “Bullitt” hype is strong with this one, and rightly so, it was a really cool movie. It’s okay, I’d almost rather see that than this. Probably was a 3 speed, and there were actually quite a few 6 cylinder Mustangs, in fact, there was a Mustang ad campaign in Cal. that said “Six and Single Girl” a spoof on a popular book of a similar name at the time, that never made it to conservative Midwest, BTW, and I bet this was one. Guys didn’t buy 6 cylinder Mustangs in ’68, wasamatteryou?( laughing and pointing when the hood was raised). This was by no means a bare bones Mustang, Shelby wheel added later, and not sure if 6 cylinder suspension is compatible with 428 CJ. And for what? The 6 is a great motor, or even a small block, but temptation will be overwhelming to do the 390 thing, have at it. For me, these were the best Mustangs EVER!
Oops, never mind, I see it’s an eBay, but some of my comment can be salvaged. If you aren’t a FB member, and we see a lot of FB ads, not sure one can see them, unless the site here has some exemption for that.
Believe it or not Howard. My Father in law bought a brand new ’66 Mustang coupe. It was green and had a ***gasp*** 6 and a 3 speed. It was what he could afford. He had faster cars before that one, but he really liked it. He went off to Vietnam not long after, and if memory serves me correctly I think he said the Mustang went to one of his sisters ( so there you go Howard lol). I went to HS with a guy with a mid 60’s Mustang with a 6 and a stick, and he had no intention of changing it. If I had one with a six that is in beautiful condition, I’d leave it alone too and just enjoy it.
-Dave
Another customer for 6 cylinder Mustangs…. Nervous Dads.
Bare with me, a little off the beaten path here. But another family We grew up with in the area, the Dad Mr. “A” told his 3 kids…. You can get ANY Mustang Camaro or Firebird you want…. BUT…. It has to be a 6 cylinder. You can do anything you want to it. Body work, paint interior anything you want to fix it up, I’ll help you, BUT you have to keep it a 6. Oldest son who went to school with my older brother had a ’68 Camaro. Jacked up wide tires in the back Crager SS rims, beautiful. Straight 6 and a Powerglide. He used to brag he could light up the tires. No one believed him. One day my brother “borrowed” my Moms Kodak camera and took it to school. Him and a bunch of his buddies lifted up the back of the Camaro while Billy power braked it. Getting a billow of smoke. They all let go he took off, my brother took a few steps back and took a bunch of pictures. He ran to Fotomat ( remember them?) Had it developed and Billy proudly showed everyone in school what his 6 banger Camaro could do.
Their daughter had an equally as nice Mustang ( 6 cyl). And the youngest son I went to school with a beautiful early 70’s Camaro with a 250 and THM350 trans. It was yellow and fixed up beautiful as well…All 3 kids survived their first years of driving without getting themselves or anyone else hurt or
killed. And yet had some of the nicest cars in the school parking lot. Looking back, at the time all 3 kids were bummed a bit about the 6, but I think their Dad who I forgot to mentioned owned a transmission shop had a great idea. Sorry for the off topic post here, but Howard got my brain thinking and remembering again.
And totally agree with Bob too, a 6 cylinder Mustang would make a nice unique collector car for sure. Not all of these were fire breathing V8s.
-Dave
Right there with you.
As a teen, bought a Vintage Burgundy Poly ‘66 Mustang coupe with the I6 3spd. Split the exhaust at the manifold out to a pair of Cherry Bombs (or the JC Whitney version therein). Rigged up a pump for the tank full of Clorox in the trunk, valved lines with nozzles over the rear wheels.
Come Friday night the good rear rims & tires came off, the oversized bald rims and tires went on, pressurized the tank, go downtown to the main stoplight and let ‘er rip..Small town antics.
This one here would be a good one to put a warmed over I6 under the hood again.
Great stories, I too had a good friend just out of HS had a car like this, a 6, ( 200, I believe) and a 3 speed floor shift. At the time, I had my ’63 Valiant, Slanty, 3 speed, and we would race, and cars were dead even. There’s merit to the “^ cylinder, supposedly safer” thing. As a kid, the neighbor buddy, his older brother had a ’64 Ford Galaxie 500 XL R code, and after several tickets traded in on a ’66 Mustang fastback, WITH A 6!
Howard, was your 63 a 170 or 225? Rear end a 3.23 or 3.55? All that makes a big difference.
I seen several ’68 & even ’69 mustang fastbacks with a 6 cyl, but never a ’69 camaro RS with a 6. Go figure.
yup, but I’d go the i6 (4.1) I have in my 1st gen bronk (2 more on the shop floor). Probably AOD (or wcT-5, depending). May B efi and this head:
https://www.vintageinlines.com/product-page/deposit-only-aluminum-head-package?scrollToProduct=deposit-only-aluminum-head-package
No doubt abodid – the FB is the only one to have. This one could B affordable as it is DT-less..
Good write-up Brian K, your first sentence sums it up for me. If you want to go fast, or have the ability to go fast, or like the Bullitt look, that’s fine. But if you don’t care about those things, a restored six-cylinder makes for an unusual and unique collector car.
I always appreciate your input.
The sixes are best served w the manual transmission. Fords last six cylinder Mustang 2011-2017 was a dandy. They brought all the tricks to the table. Thanks for the write up Brian.
2011 Ford Mustang 3.7L V6 Engine https://share.google/iCJv6Srnxqc6iG92R
There is always “somebody” and I guess I’m it. I’d snatch it up and put a 400 series engine with a speed behind it and go have some fun.
Think 5 speed….
There are more than enough people out there that don’t care that it started life as a 6 cylinder that modifications including a V8 and manual conversion will actually increase its value over its stock configuration when finished. The modifications done so far will improve the driving experience.
Steve R
Steve is right conversion to V8 and manual will increase value. Chances are that being a six the unibody is in better shape than if it was a V8. Unibody is the same on the I6 vs V8.
Roger
Id put in a 2jz and build it to 4-500hp, now that would drive the Ford fans nuts while still keeping a straight six in it!
Cool! Dare to be different!
That was my thinking as well.
Lower it WAAAAAY low, make a killer canyon carver!
At 22,770 now. Needs at minimum $15,000 worth of body and paint work, and that doesn’t include the rust-munched trunk area. What else may be hiding? No engine and no transmission, no master cylinder; where is the engine harness?
Who knows if the modifications done are even right? I guess if one has enough money and time, go for it, but this guy’s apparently ran out. He wants you to pay for it, though.
It’s a Franken-Ford.
I have no idea what the current market value is for these cars BUT, it seems WAY overpriced to me.
A 200 or 250 6 with a manual transmission would make a nice cruiser. I wouldn’t be surprised if the car would handle better with the 6 as compared to the more nose-heavy big V8’s that most insist on. Fuel economy would be better, too. Not everybody needs to do burnouts, or win stoplight drag races! Give me a 6 by choice!
I had a 67′ FB 289/2 barrel,3 speed stick,single exhaust,sold it in 1992 and now i’m enjoying a 66′ Hardtop as Ford called them, with a 289 4/barrel auto,dual exhaust,it just sounds sweet.
I’m now old enough to just want a turn key car or something that needs a minimum of work rather than a full rotisserie restoration.. been there, done that.
But if I had the gumption to do a rescue restoration I’d install a 300 Six, Aussie cross flow head, throttle body EFI with either a turbo or supercharger and have fun embarrassing 289, 390 and 5.0 first generation Mustangs.
Having the hood up at shows would be a big portion of the fun as well.
And….
It would not only increase the value over the standard six but would realize a significant increase in value over a common V8 if not a Coyote installation.
A 289 with a 4-Speed would be great for this and really up the value
A 5.0 Coyote or a 5.2 supercharged coyote crate engine and 6 speed manual. Or a 427 stroked windsor. Either way a driver.