If you’re a car enthusiast, it’s always a fun time when a manufacturer develops a regional-specific example of your favorite auto, which is what happened for buyers of Ford’s pony car on the West Coast during the late sixties. An offering known as the GT/CS, or California Special, was a Mustang designed by Shelby American, a company founded by Carroll Shelby in 1962. During the Mustang’s first generation, the California Special package was available only on the 1968 hardtop coupe, with the name not appearing again until 2007. This 1968 Ford Mustang GT/CS here on eBay is a running project that is said to have remained in the Golden State its entire life, and is currently living in Costa Mesa. You can own it today for the buy-it-now price of $19,500, but the seller has also provided the opportunity to make him an offer.
While the California Special does share a few exterior similarities with the beloved Shelby Mustang, it’s mostly a trim package, which could have been equipped with any engine in the Mustang lineup. This one’s powered by the entry-level V8, and while the only lesser choice in ’68 was an inline-6, the 289 here is reportedly the original component. It’s said to still run smoothly and quietly, with the supplied video seeming to back up this claim. This CS also features an automatic transmission, but no details are provided regarding its condition.
Shelby American made it easy to identify a California Special, as special badging was included on the rear quarter panels, along with scoops behind the doors that read “GT/CS”. Other touches included fog lights up front, a spoiler in the rear, and those way-cool Shelby-inspired taillights. The seller describes the body as arrow-straight, with the only known corrosion being small rust spots on each door near the lower front corners. All of the sheet metal is stated as original, and beneath all that patina appears to be a mostly solid foundation to work with.
Though the interior could use refreshing, it appears to be mostly complete, plus the seller also provides a laundry list of new parts that will be included, such as a full reupholstery kit, headliner, and carpeting. Some additional good news comes from down below, as the rails and floors seem to remain strong and sturdy overall. This one’s not exactly eye candy as it sits, but the beauty here appears to be the solid nature of most of the metal, and I’m thinking this 1968 Ford Mustang California Special is probably excellent project material. What are your thoughts?
To rough and many better prospects are available. One can find a nice condition Cali Special with good paint and running condition in low 30s if you’re patient.
The emblems, hood locks , scoops and trunk are there at least.
Fyi
Running a car off just starting fluid is not smart for the engine. One putting a two cycle gas tank to siphon feed to carb is wiser when likely the fuel lines and tank is non functioning.
I own a blue Cali all original with the J code 302 engine.
I really like this Mustang and always thought these GT/CS were good looking cars. But $20k is out of the range I would pay considering you have another $20k to $30k, conservatively, to get the restoration completed. All that said I would still love to have this in my garage. Would go well with the 65 Sunbeam Tiger. Is that a Hurst/Olds in the garage in the eBay pictures?
Too much starting fluid will blow the rings or wash the cylinders clean, bye bye compression.
this horse was beat down hard
@Mike Stephen’s
Good write up. Those way cool Shelby inspired taillights are actually from a 1965 Ford Thunderbird.
But they certainly make the California Special stand out.
That’s correct and they were not sequential
It looks perfect as is.
Shine juice and drive it.
The California Special was an attractive trim package. This one is rough but might make for a viable project. Kudos to the seller for listing the included new parts and for the Marti Report.
Patina: interesting how over the past several years, it seems that “rust” (or maybe “corrosion”) now means “rust through,” while what I call “surface rust” is now described by the trendy word “patina.” When I was a teenager and had summer jobs painting oil field equipment, my foreman would have thought I was crazy if I said I was taking care of the patina on that old tank battery.
Im not a fan of Fords …..BUT for 20k AND it comes with a full interior kit . This is a deal with the added benefit of no cowl rot being from California . Paint it , add the interior and have fun .