Iconic 60s muscle car
The late 60s was the golden age for muscle cars. The Mustang started it off followed by the Camaro, Firebird, Javelin, Cougar, Challenger, and Barracuda. Big V8s were must haves to compete in what was called the Pony Car wars. Trans-Am racing was huge at the time as the manufacturers raced on Sunday and sold cars on Monday. A great example is this week’s car spot a 68 GT Fastback.
In 1968, the car’s first refresh since introduction, you could order one of seven engines, one 6-cylinder engine, and six V8 engines. Horsepower ranged from 120 in the 6-cylinder engine and all the way up to 335 horsepower and more in the 428 cubic-inch V8 engine. New to the engine lineup was the 302 engine which served as a replacement for the old 289 engines. The 302 bumped up horsepower to 230 hp, a 30 hp increase.
RELATED Spot: The Mustang’s closest competition, the Camaro.
The most powerful Mustang was the Cobra Jet with the 428 V8 engine with 335 hp. short block engine, the 428 featured an aluminum manifold, 427 low-riser cylinder heads, and a special camshaft. All 1968 Mustang GT, like this week’s spot, featured the new GT logos and emblems along with fog lamps, dual exhaust system, GT stripe, heavy-duty suspension, wide-oval tires, and special GT styled rims. For the 390 and 428 engines came power front disc brakes.
The 1968 Ford Mustang rocked the racing world and was versatile, powerful, and consistently reliable from endurance races to the drag strip. It made podiums at races like the 24 hours of Daytona, the 1968 season of Tran-Am Championship, SCCA regional championships and major European racing events such as the 6 Hours of Nurburgring, and several others. I remember watching it race at Road America.
RELATED Spot: Trans-Am racing on a budget.
RELATED Spot: See one of the pony cars that chased the Mustang, the Plymouth Barracuda.
68 was the year that surged the car’s popularity in pop culture, mainly because of the movie Bullet, and ultimately turning it into a classic car. Even though sales took a dip, because of a strike, more than 300,000 vehicles were sold in 68. The biggest sales years were 1965, 1966 and 1976 when the Mustang sold 559k, 607k and 472k units respectively, amazing numbers that were the peak for the Mustang.
A 68 can be a very affordable entry into car collecting with Excellent Condition ones selling for between $30,000 to $55,000. The highest prices were a 68 THE Bullet Mustang sold for a whopping $3.74 million, which makes it the most expensive Mustang ever sold at auction. A 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 took the title previously with a $2.2 million sale. I remember an episode of Blue Bloods where a family was feuding over the car and they showed it at the end. Even though it was on TV my jaw dropped. My wife, who was watching the episode with me, just looked at me and asked what the big deal was. I told her it was because it was THE Bullet Mustang. Yup, an AMC guy drooling over a Ford.
RELATED Spot: The Mustang battled the AMC Javelin for the Trans-Am title multiple season.
Today the sales numbers are nowhere near what they were in the boom years. Last year just under 50,000 were produced but enough to make Ford want to keep it around and not turn and not turn it into a silly EV like Chevy might be doing with the Camaro and Dodge with the Challenger. In 2024, it will be the last pony car left standing. For a car guy, it’s sad that government regulations will eliminated fun cars like this.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out this car spot. I have plenty others and while you’re here search Mark’s new car reviews. Come back next week for another spot along with some of its history and have a great weekend.
Savage On Wheels 
Power of Horse, mustang is my idol.
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My family was, in so many ways, a blue oval family, and the 67/68 fastback Mustang was my dad’s dream car. Consequently it became my dream car as well. My wife says if she wins the lottery, it will be the first thing she will buy me.
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You have a great wife!
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