The 1968 Mustang GT/CS California Special was Ford's way of giving West Coast buyers a Mustang with Shelby-inspired looks without the Shelby price tag. It was created for California Ford dealers and sold as a limited-edition coupe during the 1968 model year. The package was inspired partly by Shelby styling and Ford's regional special-edition success, including the earlier High Country Specials.
What made the California Special stand out was its unique appearance package: Shelby-style rear quarter extensions, a fiberglass decklid with built-in spoiler, side scoops, special striping, blacked-out grille, fog lamps, pop-open gas cap, and Thunderbird-style sequential taillights similar to Shelby pieces.
Ford planned to sell more, but only about 4,118 were produced, which is why original GT/CS cars are collectible today. They were not all actual ""GT"" performance cars despite the GT/CS name; engine and drivetrain options varied, so a Marti Report is important for verifying how a specific car was built.
This 1968 Ford Mustang California Special offers distinctive limited-production styling with classic small block performance. Powered by a 289 Small Block Ford V8 paired with a Ford C4 automatic transmission, it sends power to a Ford 9-inch rear end with 2.79 gears. Finished in pebble beige exterior paint with a red stripe and black leather interior, this Mustang has a clean, standout appearance. Features include 4-wheel drum brakes, 15-inch Shelby 10-spoke wheels, BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires, aluminum intake, Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, Flame Thrower coil, OEM-style ignition, OEM radiator, belt-driven cooling fan, and an included Marti Report.
