1968 Ford Mustang 'California Special' Coupe (RHD)

After the big restyle for 1967, Ford left the Mustang largely unchanged externally for 1968, with only minor changes like the deletion of the horizontal bar in the grille and the addition of chrome rocker panel moldings. The interior underwent some revision, with new bucket seats, sports steering wheel and loop-pile carpet as standard. However, the big news was under the bonnet where the 289-cid V8 had been stroked to 302-cid, with a new carburettor and horsepower was lifted to 230hp. Meanwhile, Shelby American had been contemplating a notchback version of the Mustang and built a prototype known as "Little Red" for the 1967 Los Angeles Auto Show. Word filtered back to Dearborn where ?Little Red? was evaluated and the result was the California Special GT/CS option available exclusively on hardtop coupes delivered in California. The package comprised a Shelby rear deck lid with built-in spoiler, Shelby side scoops, horizontal tail lights, styled steel wheels, fog lamps and side stripes. Only 4,025 California Special GT/CS Mustangs were built, all of them at the San Jose plant. Period advertising shouted "California made it happen!" and Mustangs equipped with the GT/CS option are desirable collector's items today.