1968 Mustang History

1968 Mustang History

The 1968 Ford Mustang introduces the optional 427 cid and 428 cid engines, and without saying, these rare big block Mustangs are now very collectible and fetch a pretty dollar.

The 302 cid engine is introduced replacing all of the 289 cid engines except the low compression 2 barrel model, which by late December was terminated also in favor of the 302 cid engine.

1968 brought slight changes to the looks of the Mustang. On the front grille the horizontal bars are removed. The letters "F O R D" are also removed from the hood panel. The front fenders and rear quarter panels now display marker lights.

In 1968 Ford takes control of the Shelby production and they are now made in Livonia, Michigan. It also decides to change the name from what is was known as the "Shelby Mustang" to the new "Shelby Cobra", and therefore the name Mustang does not appear anywhere on the car anymore. Models offered are the fastback and convertible.

The Shelby Cobra GT350 is now powered by the new 302 cid engine which replaced the 289 cid engine. This high performance motor is rated at 250 bhp and comes equipped with a 600 cfm Holley carburator mounted on a high rise aluminum intake, and dressed up with the oval Cobra aluminum air cleaner and Cobra valve covers.

The 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500 powered once again with the modified 428 cid Police Interceptor engine replaces last year's setup of two separate Holley carburators for a single 715 cfm Holley. Transmissions offered for both models are the Ford Top-Loader four-speed and the C6 automatic.

Later in the year the Shelby Cobra GT500 KR (King Of The Road) is introduced and and houses a 428 cid "Cobra Jet" engine which produces in the neighborhood of 400 horses/440 foot-pounds of torque. It comes equipped with better suspension and braking components in order to handle the extra horsepower.

Total production figure for the 1968 Shelby stands at 4,451 units sold.

Good technical imformation, pictures and lots more on the 1968 Mustang and Shelby models.

For everything you want to know about the 1968 Mustang California Special and the 1968 Mustang High Country Special.