Why This Car Is Special

The 1968 Ford Mustang sits at an interesting crossroads in the model's history. Ford had just given the Mustang its first significant redesign since the original 1964-1/2 introduction — the body grew slightly in every direction, the front end received a wider grille opening with the headlights recessed into the grille surround, and the side sculpturing was refined. The result was a Mustang that looked more mature and substantial than the first-generation cars without losing the proportions that made the original so appealing in the first place.

What makes 1968 particularly notable from a collector standpoint is timing. It was the last full model year before the Mustang grew substantially larger for 1969 and 1971. It was also the final year the 289 cubic inch small block appeared as a regular production engine in the Mustang lineup — Ford replaced it with the 302 for 1969. That makes any 1968 Mustang with the 289 a distinctly end-of-an-era machine. The 289 had been the engine that defined the early Mustang experience since 1964, powering the car through its most culturally significant years. Owning a 1968 Ford Mustang with a 289 is owning the last chapter of that story.

Ford built just over 317,000 Mustang coupes for the 1968 model year, making the hardtop body style by far the most common of the three available configurations. The coupe's clean roofline and practical packaging have always made it the most recognizable Mustang silhouette, and the 1968 version benefits from the revised sequential tail light treatment that has become one of the most recognizable styling details on any first-generation car.

The VIN on this car encodes several meaningful details. The second character, W, confirms this was built at the Metuchen, New Jersey assembly plant. The fifth character, K, identifies the 289 cubic inch two-barrel V8. The sixth character, 9, confirms the 1969... correction — the 9 in position six of a 1968 Mustang VIN confirms the 1968 model year, and the body code 87 identifies this as a two-door hardtop coupe. These details align directly with the car as presented.

Features List

• 289 cubic inch V8 engine
• 3-speed automatic transmission
• Dual exhaust with dual mufflers
• Air conditioning compressor
• Black vinyl bucket seats front
• Black vinyl rear seat
• Black vinyl interior throughout
• Grant aftermarket steering wheel
• Updated alloy wheels
• Chrome front and rear bumpers
• Clean undercarriage
• Solid floors
• Drum brakes all four corners

Mechanical

The 289 cubic inch V8 under this Mustang's hood is a two-barrel carbureted unit, which was the standard V8 offering for 1968. In factory trim, the 289 two-barrel produced 195 horsepower. It is a compact, lightweight engine relative to the big-block alternatives of the era, and its free-revving character is part of what made early Mustangs enjoyable to drive in a way that heavier muscle cars were not. The engine bay on this car shows a clean, painted block with a chrome open-element air filter sitting atop the carburetor — a straightforward, functional presentation.

Backing the 289 is a 3-speed automatic transmission. For 1968, Ford offered the Cruise-O-Matic as the automatic option, which was a well-proven unit. The floor-mounted shifter visible in the cabin photos is a period-correct console-style selector that fits the bucket seat configuration properly.

The dual exhaust system on this car is a meaningful addition. The standard 289 two-barrel came from the factory with a single exhaust. The dual exhaust setup, which runs a true dual system back to individual mufflers visible in the undercarriage photos, gives the 289 better breathing and a more characterful exhaust note than the single-pipe original. The undercarriage photos show a floor that has been coated and is free of the rot that typically claims these cars — the floor pans are solid, the frame rails are straight and intact, and the suspension components are in usable condition. This is not a car that has been hiding rust with undercoating.

Brakes are drums at all four corners, which was standard equipment on the base 1968 Mustang. Four-wheel drum systems on these cars are entirely adequate for the driving conditions most owners use them in, and replacement parts remain widely available and inexpensive.

The air conditioning compressor is present and mounted in the engine bay, connected to the factory-style under-dash evaporator unit visible in the interior photos. The presence of factory-style A/C on a 1968 Mustang is worth noting — air conditioning was a dealer-installed or factory option that added meaningful cost in period, and it makes the car substantially more livable in Florida's climate.

Interior

The cabin of this 1968 Ford Mustang is finished in black vinyl throughout, which pairs correctly with the exterior color and was one of the more popular interior combinations available in 1968. The front bucket seats show the characteristic vertical pleat pattern of the period and remain structurally intact — the seat foam holds its shape and the vinyl surfaces are presentable without being freshly redone. The rear seat presents similarly, with the divided back and bench cushion wearing the same ribbed vinyl pattern as the fronts.

Door panels are correct for the car, finished in black with the stamped aluminum trim strip that runs through the center of each panel and the chrome pull handle. These panels are in good condition and retain their shape without the warping or cracking that frequently affects these original plastic-backed units.

The dashboard is the revised 1968 design, which moved away from the 1967 Mustang's wood-look applique and introduced a more safety-conscious padded design. Five round gauges occupy the instrument cluster in front of the driver — the speedometer and fuel gauge are the two large dials, flanked by oil pressure and temperature on the outer positions and an alternator gauge on the right. The gauges appear intact and functional based on the photos. A Mustang badge with the running horse emblem is visible on the passenger side of the dash, which is correct for this year.

The Grant aftermarket steering wheel is installed in place of the original three-spoke factory unit. Grant wheels were extremely common on late 1960s and 1970s Mustangs and Fords — they are period-appropriate in character, if not factory original. The chrome three-spoke design visible here is among the more traditional Grant offerings and fits the car's overall look without being out of place. Buyers who prefer the original wheel can source a correct replacement from the robust 1968 Mustang parts market.

One detail worth noting in the passenger-side dash photo: the radio opening shows exposed wiring, indicating the radio has been removed at some point. This is a common situation on cars that have passed through multiple owners, and a period-correct AM or AM/FM radio can be sourced and installed without difficulty.

Exterior

This 1968 Ford Mustang wears a light yellow exterior — a color that reads as a pale, slightly creamy yellow in person and in the photos. Ford offered a color called Sunlit Gold for 1968, and the exterior on this car is consistent with that palette, though buyers who want to confirm the exact factory color code should inspect the door tag. The color contrasts well against the chrome bumpers and works naturally with the black interior.

The chrome front and rear bumpers are in solid condition. The front bumper carries the characteristic 1968 Mustang grille surround with the Mustang running horse emblem centered in the grille opening. The sequential tail lights in the rear panel are the 1968-specific design that carries three individual lenses per side — a detail that distinguishes the 1968 from the earlier cars. The tail panel and rear bumper are well-presented in the underside photos, showing paint that is consistent and bodywork that is straight.

The alloy wheels installed on this car are a multi-spoke aftermarket design that sits correctly within the wheel wells without being oversized or visually aggressive. They are a functional upgrade over the original steel wheels and hubcaps, and they accept the modern-profile tires that make these cars more predictable on today's roads. The tire size visible in the undercarriage photos is P205/65R16, which is a sensible size for this application.

The body overall presents as a driver-quality car — not a show restoration, but a solid, presentable example that has been maintained and enjoyed rather than left to deteriorate. The photos show consistent panel gaps, intact trim, and a car that drives the way it looks: ready to use.

Conclusion

The 1968 Ford Mustang coupe represents the final year of the early Mustang formula before the car began its growth period through the early 1970s. This particular example combines the last-year 289 small block with dual exhaust, a period-appropriate automatic transmission, factory-style air conditioning, and a clean, rust-free undercarriage that tells you this car has been treated well. The floors are solid, the body is straight, and the black vinyl interior is intact. It is an honest, usable 1968 Mustang that does not require significant remediation before it can be driven and enjoyed.

For buyers who want a first-generation Mustang that is ready to go, not a project requiring months of work before the first drive, this 1968 Ford Mustang coupe deserves a close look.

To schedule a viewing or ask specific questions about this 1968 Ford Mustang, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608. Our team is here to give you straight answers and let the car speak for itself.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.