Talk about the “Big-Mo”, here you go, full-sized Ford muscle from that halcyon year of 1968. This isn’t the first XL GT that we have covered but they’re not a common discovery, especially 54 years after the fact, and rarely does one turn up in this fine a condition. Located in Ballwin, Missouri, and discovered by Allan T, this beautiful Ford is available, here on craigslist for $28,000.
Legitimacy is always important with rare or uncommon cars and the seller, fortunately, has provided a Marti Report for authentication – as the seller claims, this is one of 1,855 XL GTs produced in ’68. Fullsize muscle was winding down by ’68 though there were still some hanger-oners besides this big Ford such as Chevrolet’s Impala SS/SS427 and Plymouth’s Fury GT. Ford’s XL GT package required either a 390 or 428 CI V8 engine and included bucket seats/center console, sports stripe, “mag style” wheel covers, power front disc brakes, wide oval belted tires, “maximum handling” suspension, low restriction exhaust, and a 3.25:1 differential ratio. It’s all the good stuff, it just happens to be enveloped in a 213-inch (17.75 feet) long, 4,100 lb. package.
This one is a two-owner car with 90K miles of experience under its belt. It has obviously been well cared for, with proper storage, as the very popular ’68 Lime Gold finish still has depth and luster. The same goes for the stainless trim and chrome, no complaints! The mag wheel covers are an interesting take on a popular wheel style, Chevrolet and ChryCo had their own similar versions. Some considered them to be hokey, or just cheap, fake wheels, but I always thought they added a bit of restrained pizazz to a full-sized car.
Powering this sled is a 340 gross HP, 428 CI “FE” V8 engine. Though this powerplant was rated five HP more than the new-for-’68 335 HP “Cobra-Jet” motor, the conventional wisdom being that this version of the 428 was rated correctly while the CJ version was likely underrated in an attempt to keep the peace with insurance companies. It was an especially important consideration when placing an engine of this size in something like a Mustang. It is claimed to be the original prime mover but there’s no description regarding current operations. It is stated that the big FE is backed up by a C6 three-speed automatic transmission and 4.10 rear gears. Why in the world one would want steep 4.10s is a head-scratcher. While they’ll get you up and going quickly, this big Ford is never going to be a quarter-mile stormer and that gear set absolutely kills cruisibilty – a facet one would want in a car of this nature.
Other than some vinyl upholstery discoloration, the bucket seat interior is in very nice condition. Noticed right away is Ford’s take on the “horseshoe” gear selector, a design also used by Chevrolet and Buick, at the least, maybe by others too. While the carpet is in like new shape, the plastic components of the center console are showing some peculiar discoloration – all minor stuff really. Also noticed is a strap-on tachometer, an excellent addition considering the steep rear gearing.
So, what’s not to like? Nothing in my book, I’m a fan of this era’s full-size car, regardless of marque and I think Ford just killed it with the slope back roof line, one of my favorite ’60s designs. Price? I’m not surprised by the $28K ask, I’d say it’s in a reasonable range considering this XL GT’s condition and rarity. I’d suggest this is one to consider, how about you?
All 3/4-ton trucks have 4.10 gears for towing trailers
Yes and trucks also have OD and really tall tires
Not all 3/4 ton trucks have 4.11 gears
Well, it does have a trailer hitch.
Very cool, very rare, and very desirable! I’d leave it as is. You definitely wouldn’t see yourself coming and going at the cruise in, or the drag strip.
Lol , thays right Dean, and this is a big beast. Maybe the owner rarely left the city ? in that case 4.10s probably were pretty entertaining. Seeing the big Ford jump off the line would surprise many.
I always liked the 68s over the 67s for some reason. This is bad@$$.
Had 3:25 gear set from the factory, someone wanted 2 tons of fun! Get it rolling and hang on, should get through the 1/4 mile but be pretty close to being wound out at the lights. Probably why a tach is in there. Nice old Ford.
My 68 LTD with 428 and C6 Transmission had 2:80 gears.
I have a 1970 F250 Ranger XLT, you could get .373 gear rear-diff. or .the .410. I owned Ford trucks with both. Seems the .410 came with the manual transmission. BTW. love the 68’s the best out of the decade, owned a few 64’s at least a couple 67’s and a whole lot of 69 and 70 Galaxies and XL’s including a factory 4 spd. 69 which were really rare (4**),last year you could get a 4 gear in a full si,e Ford.
That mill would be howling on highway,
3,672 rpm at 70 mph with those Coopers.
Tallest Cooper 70 series x 14 wheel is only 26.26 inches.
I have 3.91’s and it is me in right lane backing up traffic – if I have to use a short stretch of hwy.
4.10 is City only and original 3.25 was good match to that engine.
First car in ’77 was an auction bought ’67 Ford Custom police car with 428 and rear gears were 2.8 :1, ran fine with those cubes.
That gearset isn’t for highway, and I knew people back in the day that ran a 4:56 on the streets. Didn’t take that on the interstate but did drive that small block to the dragstrip and back. 4:10 with a big block sure should be able to get it done. Maybe I am a hick but drove to two strips and didn’t have to get on the interstate.
Noticed there’s a Cobra emblem on the right side but not the left. Also, those stripes were probably a dealer add on.
Probably missing due to the fenders being resprayed and stripes are shown in the 1968 catalog.
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1968/794600/ford_xl_fastback_428_thunderbird_v-8_cruise-o-matic.html#gsc.tab=0
The stripes are definitely factory but the Cobra emblem is likely not correct. The big Fords did not use the Cobra Jet 428.
Just love this one for another trip down memory lane. My Dad had one of these in black. He traded in his 66 Thunderbird on it and kept it longer than any other car except his Porsche 930. He was a Ford man from the time he got home from Korea and went to university. This is the first car of his I really remember, and how it rumbled when he picked me up from school. Not to mention how different it looked from all the other parental cars. No wonder my first two cars were Fords lol. Hope this one finds a great home!
I shouldn’t feel this way but I really don’t mind the stripes.
“Original paint in Lime Gold” except that the front fenders don’t match the rest of the body.
Another one who flipped the air cleaner lid to give it that “extra” 4-barrel sound when “dumping it.” Always comical to me when I see that; reminds me of the days (nights) of cruising back in the 70’s & 80’s. Still a nice survivor.
The stripes are correct for the GT.
My Mom had a beater 1968 Galaxie 500XL convertible when I was a kid. I don’t remember too many details other than it was a plain Jane 390 car with bench seat.
All my little buddies in cub scouts always wanted to ride in it because it was missing the floor in the back seat from rust & they thought it was cool watching the street go by under their feet lol.
It was reliable as all hell. When it got replaced by the 1973 Riviera, my parents sold it DIRT cheap out of the local paper & the buyer called them 8 or 9 months later thanking them for the “great” car lol.
Just left the GAA Classic car auction in Greensboro. Keep the car and take it there in late February to next one and get twice the money. Cars were selling for stupid money. A ’67 KR500 Mustang was a “No SALE” at 185,000 dollars and a basic ’66 Chevelle with a big block V8 sold for 102,000. There was no recession evident at the collector car market this past week.
My lifetime experience is about 75% of the vehicles professed to have 4:10s (4:11 more so) really don’t have. Kinda like the dynoed “500 HP”, Runs the 10s, beat my buddy’s hemi, put $100 on the dash etc.