Hiding under this cover is a classic deserving of restoration. This 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback doesn’t run, but it is complete and appears to be free from major rust. Coaxing its V8 back to life may require little more than tracing an electrical gremlin, raising the possibility that this Fastback could potentially provide summer fun before becoming a restoration project to occupy next winter. The seller has listed the Mustang here on eBay in Moneta, Virginia. Two bids have pushed the price to $35,199 in a No Reserve auction.
The seller and his father became the custodians of this Mustang around twenty-five years ago. It only saw limited use before being struck down by an electrical gremlin that has remained elusive. Tracing the problem could be the first step in returning the car to active service, because it has only one other pressing need. Sure, the Meadowlark Yellow paint looks tired in a few places, and there are a couple of minor bumps that will eventually require attention, but it appears that this classic is pretty solid. The underside shots reveal a coating of surface corrosion, but no evidence of penetrating rust. However, water is finding its way inside, soaking the carpet in the process. That’s a perfect recipe for trouble, so locating the source of the leak falls within the “urgent” category. Some trim pieces will benefit from cleaning and polishing, but the glass looks good.
One significant change Ford made to the 1968 Mustang was the introduction of an optional 302ci V8. This car features that engine teamed with a three-speed automatic transmission. The engine would have produced 210hp and 300 ft/lbs of torque in its prime, but it doesn’t currently run. It quit without warning due to an electrical fault that remains untraced. The seller states that they replaced the battery, battery cables, and starter solenoid. However, no electrical systems appear to function. The issue could be relatively minor, or it may require something as dramatic as a complete rewire. However, wiring harnesses are readily available, and an auto electrician may have little trouble tracing the problem. Otherwise, the seller says that the Mustang ran and drove well before that gremlin took hold.
We must piece together several photos to gain a complete appreciation of this Mustang’s interior, but the impression is fairly positive. The seller believes that replacing the carpet will be necessary due to the water leak, and that a small split in the back seat requires attention before it grows. Otherwise, the Black vinyl looks quite nice, and there are no visible major issues with the dash or console. I would probably ditch the aftermarket wheel, and it is impossible to determine whether there are any other additions.
Many people will believe that over $35,000 is a lot to pay for a project candidate requiring restoration. However, the reality is that the ongoing popularity of First Generation Mustangs means that people are willing to pay handsomely to park one in their workshop. The listing statistics suggest that while there may have only been two bids so far, that total is likely to climb as the auction heads into its final hours. Are you tempted to join that party?
Really needs more pics and a Marti on this one. I assume it’s not a real GT because it’s missing the fog lights in the grille. Nice interior and console from what I can see
Agreed, and since it is an automatic, it would be a GTA. Someone just stuck some GT badges on the side and got a GT filler cap!
The emblem on the front fender says GT but it’s an automatic which would make it the GTA , also no standard GT fog lights, no vin to decode so who knows if this is just a mustang fast back/ sports roof or a GT/GTA the GTA had a red surrounding the A in a rectangle emblem. The underside looks fantastic, however the water leak could be coming from a rotted cowl, notice the extra covering over the cowl grill, that’s a red flag. Thankfully wiring should be pretty simple as these are very basic. Could be a very nice car not so sure 35k nice as it sits but nice nonetheless.
i could be mistaken but I don’t believe they badged the 1968 GT with an automatic transmission as a GTA. They did this in 1967 but I’ve never seen a 68 version with these badges.
I don’t think it’s supposed to have a GTA emblem, it should just say GT
Also, I just noticed this car has dual exhaust and the Quad chrome tips and the valence cutouts for them. I believe that only came on the Hi-Po versions of the GT, I think S and K or maybe J codes for ’68?. ’67 the choices would be Hi-Po 289 or a 390. I think when the 302 came out for ’68 they also had a Hi-po version. So if this is a GT with a Hi-Po 302 then it would make it a rare and high valued car. So $35k is starting to make a lot of sense.
JCA:
The 302 High Performance was a special order racing only option and only avail with a 4 speed manual transmission. It’s unknown if any were actually ever ordered, but it is on the 1968 sales flyer as a possibility. The fact that this car is an automatic though is enough to prove that it isn’t the 306 hp high performance option.
GTA was 67 only
Ahh I had a 67 GT I remember the different emblem on the automatic. The quad exhaust tips were standard on the 390 and one other but optional for the base GT
Mark;
I think they just dropped the “Hi-Po” name from the performance version like they had with the 289, probably to use the branding for the special order racing engine as you mentioned. I think there was still a higher and highest performance 302 for the Mustang GT in ’68, maybe a 4V vs a 2V. I believe that’s the J code and might be that what this car is.
No there really was a 302 High Performance in the brochure. But it was listed as special order sedan racing. It was intended for trans am series racing. The j-code was an extremely common 302.
By common I don’t mean they are everywhere. I mean it’s pretty easy to find one. If you look it up the numbers don’t agree and they only ever list the number of coupes not convertible or fastback for some reason. But there were somewhere between 15,000-22,000 j-code coupes in 1968.
I can’t post a picture or I’d show you. But do a Google image search for 1968 mustang sales brochure 302 high performance. There are a couple images online of that page in the brochure.
Yes, there was a special order 302 that was a separate thing. I’m saying the new 302 in ’68 became one of the new high performance engines now in the ’68 Mustang lineup. There was no base 302 in the Mustang yet.This 302 had high compression, required premium fuel, and required you to get the GT package. So Ford marketed this 302 as a higher performance engine. The base Mustang V8 was still the 289. HP wise, the 390 engines really replaced the Hi-Po 289 and upped the ante in the cubic inch wars going on. Thats why they redesigned this newer Mustang with wider shock towers to accommodate the bigger blocks to compete with GM big blocks and Chrysler Wedges and Hemis, etc
What is even more interesting is that the same brochure lists the top engine option for 1968 as the 427. Now according to Kevin Marti there is no evidence that they actually built any with a 427, but it is listed, and listed as only available with an automatic transmission. The brochure is from early 1968 so it doesn’t list the actual top engine for 1968 which was the 428CJ in a few late production fastbacks that were built as factory backed drag cars
35,000 seems high for a car that doesn’t run. You are really taking a chance that the engine is ok when you can’t test it out. Also water inside is a clear sign of a rusted out inner cowl. Not a quick or easy fix.
Water on the floors is a sure giveaway that the inner cowl is rusted out. That is neither a cheap or easy repair. Requires drilling out a whole bunch of spot welds, welding in a new inner cowl and welding the outer cowl panel back on. Any you can bet that if it sat with wet floors then it needs floorboard repairs too.
$35,000—SOMEONE HAS SOME EASY MONEY TO WASTE ON THIS CAR AND IT DOESN,T EVEN RUN. Well if they get burnt—I don,t feel sorry for them. Alot of work to do hear. . You can look around and find alot better cars for alot less in alot better shape. Some think because its a mustang–its worth alot. Look under the floor on this car. I looked at one .That looked nice on top—underneith it was all rusted out. Check all of it out really good.Before you buy.
$35k for this? Close the auction now take your money and run sitting outside under a tarp or so called car cover is the absolute worst thing you can do to a car
way up in the price! No chance love it but i will pass ! At least 40.000 to restore !
And it needs TLC… ? Truck Load of Cash.
Agree with all the comments so far. Too much money for a car that doesn’t run. Also, looks like the resonator in picture 16 is distorted, indicating a huge backfire in the exhaust at some point.
There are too few pictures (and no VIN) on this one, and needs to have several of the underside. I get wary when I see the plugs are pulled out of the floor. The pictures seem to have been taken to minimize the ability to see the interior; what is there is not too impressive (what is on the passenger seat?). Between the probable cowl leak and the humidity inside the vehicle for years, there could be a lot more rust hiding under the carpet. Looks like a lot of water inside from either washing or the car cover leaks. Car covers are bad anyway.
Advertising how well the engine runs and how everything works on one hand and saying that they don’t on the other doesn’t inspire much confidence. Also, a broken odometer means that there could be 75K, 175K, or 275K on the clock.
Not one picture of the right side, why? Also, there is an issue with hood alignment at the back, maybe because the hood hinges are likely nearly seized with rust?