The seller of this 1968 Mustang Hardtop is its second owner. He states categorically that it is an original survivor and that it has never received any restoration work. He has decided that the time has come for it to find its way to a third owner, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. The Mustang is located in Lindenhurst, New York, and while bidding has reached $16,300, the reserve hasn’t been met.

The Mustang is finished in Lime Gold with a Black vinyl top. The paint appears to shine beautifully, with no signs of any significant scrapes or marks. The owner states that it isn’t perfect, but that is hardly surprising in a 52-year-old classic.  The vinyl top looks like it is also in good condition, with no signs of bubbling or other nasty problems. If the paint is original and in such good condition, then it should be no surprise to learn that the Mustang has remained rust-free. It has been garage-kept for its entire life, and this has undoubtedly helped its cause. I think that the thing that impresses me most is the consistency of the panel gaps. Mustang doors can begin to sag over time, but there are no signs of that on this car. Throw in glass, trim, and chrome that is in good condition, and this Mustang looks like it is a winner.

I am struggling to find much to be critical of inside the Mustang. This is especially true given the age and originality of the trim. There is some wrinkling of the vinyl on the front seats, but it is so minor that it is inconsequential. The carpet might be slightly faded, but it is hard to be completely sure. The rest of the trim and the dash look to be close to perfect. It looks like there is an FM converter mounted in front of the shifter. Otherwise, the original radio remains in the dash, and there have been no other aftermarket additions.

If you were hoping to find a V8 under the hood of the Mustang, then you will probably be slightly disappointed. What we get is a 200ci T-Code 6-cylinder engine, which is backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission. There is no power assistance for either the steering or brakes. Naturally, the Mustang isn’t going to be a high-performance classic in this guise. A ¼ mile ET of 19.8 seconds is adequate, but not earth shattering. However, around town or at freeway crusing speeds, this Mustang should acquit itself quite well. The owner claims that the Mustang is showing 30,000 original miles on its odometer. He doesn’t indicate whether he holds any evidence to verify this, but the overall condition does make the claim plausible. He says that apart from the tires, hoses, and other consumables, the vehicle is completely original. Even the original spare tire is still in the trunk. He says that the Mustang runs and drives nicely.

It was Mustangs like this 1968 model that were the volume-sellers for Ford when the car hit the market. It allowed potential buyers to adopt the Mustang lifestyle at an affordable price. During the late 1960s and through the early 1970s, many owners dropped something more potent into the engine bay. This was a straightforward task because all of the required parts were readily available. Today, these 6-cylinder models are gaining traction in the classic market. Given this car’s originality and condition, I hope that the next owner does what the current owner suggests. He says that you could wax it, drive it, and take it to shows. That sounds pretty good to me.