Peaking out from beneath this ocean of boxes and sundry items is a 1968 Mustang. It had occupied this spot for more than 30-years but has now been brought blinking into the light of day. It has been returned to a roadworthy state but needs a new owner to return it to its former glory. This would appear to be a straightforward task that should be well worth the effort. The Mustang is located in Wadsworth, Ohio, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding currently sits at $6,200, and the reserve has been met. I have to say thank you to Barn Finder John J for referring the Mustang to us.
The Mustang is finished in Flower Power Red with a White vinyl top. The panels themselves look extremely straight, while the paint does have a few visible flaws. Rust issues would appear to be minimal, with some visible in the lower corners of the doors, along with what looks to be a couple of spots on the leading edge of the hood. The owner is including a new skin for the driver’s door, but I think that the rust on the other side could be addressed with a patch. The rest of the Mustang’s exterior looks to be clean and solid. He does identify some rust in the trunk as requiring attention but doesn’t specify how extensive this is. He doesn’t mention any further problems, but there are a few spots visible under the hood at the top of the inner fenders. The vinyl top seems to be in good condition, and there are no significant problems with the trim, chrome, or glass. The wheels aren’t original, and it will be a matter of personal choice as to whether they stay or go.
I get the impression that the original owner might have ordered this Mustang on a budget but was a bit selective about creature comforts. Under the hood, we find a 200ci T-Code 6-cylinder engine, which produces 115hp. The relaxed theme is supported by the inclusion of a 3-speed automatic transmission and power steering. This is a combination that is focused firmly on comfort and not on outright performance. The Mustang would struggle in this guise to break 20-seconds for the ¼-mile journey. After sitting for three decades, the ’68 required some work to return it to its current roadworthy state. This included a new fuel tank, a new pump, and the carburetor was rebuilt. The brakes didn’t escape attention, and feature a new master cylinder, new wheel cylinder, while the linings and drums were replaced. When you add new plugs, plug wires, points, a rotor, condenser, and cap, you can see that the owner has lavished some attention on the vehicle. The result is a classic Mustang that now runs and drives perfectly, with no problems to report.
The Red interior of the Mustang is tidy for a survivor-grade car, but there are some problems that the next owner might want to address. The upholstery on the seats is free from any rips or tears, although the cover on the front bench seat is starting to look slightly tired. I would like to think that this could be revived because I hate the thought of replacing it. The carpet is showing some significant fading, and that is something that I would be inclined to replace. The wheel has a couple of cracks, but the dash and pad look quite good. Now we get to the glaring fault. There is an aftermarket radio/cassette player fitted into the dash, but I don’t think that the dash itself has been cut to install this. However, someone has cut the door trims to fit speakers, and the result could best be described as pretty ugly. I would be replacing the door trims ASAP. I would consider the same idea with the rear parcel tray, which has also been cut to fit speakers. Returning to the previous theme of comfort, the Mustang was ordered with factory air conditioning. The system is complete, but it doesn’t currently operate.
From a performance perspective, this 1968 Mustang is not a car that will slam you back in the seat when you launch it down the ¼ mile. It would seem to have been ordered as a comfortable and relaxed cruiser, and I believe that it would be successful in that role. There will be enthusiasts who will advocate the benefits of slotting something more potent under the hood. There will also be those who would argue strongly to retain the Mustang’s originality. Which camp will you fall into? More importantly, are you willing to consider bidding on this classic?
I’m not an expert on 1968 Mustangs, but weren’t there various local or regional promotion models (the California Special being the most prominent example). Was this color a special order color, or part of one of these promotions?
Not a bad example, the mechanicals have largely been sorted out, now time to work on the cosmetics. I’d even be fine with keeping the six cylinder. Spend the time to detail the engine, you’d have something not commonly seen, not too many detailed straight sixes.
Flower Power Red was part of the “Rainbow of Colors” promotion of 1968-1969, similar to Chrysler’s “High Impact” colors.
This could be a “Rainbow of Colors” special offered by West coast dealers in Feb. 1968 to June 1968 if it is indeed Power Flower Red.. It would be nice to see the door tag or a Marti Report to look up the color code. The VIN seems to be an early Metuchen build but not sure as only a partial VIn was provided in listing.
Not all cars were special ordered by buyers – the majority of new cars are purchased right off the lot . Ford dealerships would have a line of Mustangs on the lot , with all sorts of different options in them, and a prospective buyer would find the one they liked the best that would fit in their budget. Some dealer installed options could have been purchased during the sale to the customer. I’m sure most six cylinder Mustangs were lot purchases .
Looks really nice ,but odd that both doors rusted out and the fenders and quarters didn’t
Presents nicely in the pics but rust in the trunk is a giveaway that the ironworms have tested it. Look it over good. The carbuncles on the inner fender near the hood hinges mean this area is rotten. Good luck and stay safe!
Cheers
GPC
Regardless of anything else here, that white vinyl top looks out of place and needs to go.
Looks somewhat sanitary!!! I like the bench style front seat not seen to much on the mustang!! The color is cool with the white top thats kind of rare also!! It’s got more cool than bad!!!
There’s NOTHING BETTER than a set of REAL Cragar S/S mags, not the wanna-be clones, the likes of ET, Appliance & the rest easily spotted! They tried, but these Cragar rims will make any and every ‘classic muscle’ look their very best. IMO.
5 bolt wheels on a six cylinder 68 ford?
seller stated that he converted the car to 5 lug.
Sold for $8200.
Personally, that strikes me as a low price for that vintage