68 mustang GT

[82 GT]

Without looking at VIN #'s what should I look for to tell if a mustang is really a GT.
A guy wants to trade his '68 GT 289 hi-po for my '82 GT 351W. His car needs frame rails and paint. Interior is PERFECT!!
Is this a good trade? What is the value of a '68GT with the body in fair condition and a perfect interior?

'82GT

[Nos351C]

No its not a good trade, cuase they didn't amke a 289 hi-po in 68....
it died in early 67.
from what I can remember, the vin won't tell you much, GT's were offered with everything above a 289 2 barrel.
you need to look at the warranty plate ont he driver's side door. hceck it out nad come back with the vin and other info off the tag, we can decipher it then..
If you look at the vin, the fifth digit will be the engine code,
C 289 2 barrel
J 302 4 barrel
X 390 2 barrel (very rare, you won't find it)
and I will be damned since I can't remember the others...
but you can rest assured, they didn't even make a 4 barrel 289 in 68, let alone a real hi-po....

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Marcus
68 Mustang giggling 351C coming soon

[hehhehmule]

Not trying to step on any toes or anything, but the 390 was an S-code. There was no X-code, the rarest was the W-427-code. A true GT should have disc brakes. It's easy to tell because the brake pedal should have a small round "DiscBrakes" emblem in it. A 68 GT will be worth more than a 82 GT all things being equal.

[Nos351C]

Yeah there was, the 2 barrel 390 which was only like .01 of the production was an x code, Iahve sen the data plate iwth my veryo wn eyes <grin> the car was also very original...
I forgot the s code 4 barel though thanks


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Marcus
68 Mustang giggling 351C coming soon

[hehhehmule]

I have to admit, I'm not aware of the 2v 390 version. Bully for you 351! The question begs to be asked...WHY?

[82 GT]

I am not positive but I DO think the 289 was offered up until April of '68. I have seen some articles with 289 in them. I don't know if it was the 271hp version but I think they were offered for part of '68.
Thanks for the info though guys

'82GT

[hehhehmule]

That would be the 2v 289, GT. The engines that I'm AWARE of were the 6 (not sure buy I believe it was a 200) the 289 2v, the 302 both 2 and 4v, the 390, the 427 and the 428. I'm real curious about this 390 2v set up though, you learn something new every day. I remember for 68
Cobra
Jet
Stangs
Were
Released
C-289 2v
J-302 4v
S-390 4v
W-427
R-428CJ
I have to use little memory devices like that to help me. I don't remember the 6 for sure but I want to say U for some reason. The 302 2v, I don't remember at all.

[Rev]

The frame rail problem would scare me off almost no matter what engine it has.

Rev

[Nos351C]

I will admit to being amazed when I saw it, and I tohught it was a fake. Then I saw an article in Mustnags and Fords [back page by Jerry Heasley (sp)] a couple months back, I think it said they made 6 or 7 hundred of them. I don't know why you would want one, but its an interesting stat nevertheless.
I have heard of 68 302 2 barrels, but never saw one, both mine are c-code two barels with early prduction dates (2-16-68 and 1-31-68)
Another just for kicks, my data plate claims my car listed in the my .sig was born on 2-16, the day after the alleged production change on the rear markers, yet it still has the early style. This was a San Jose built BTW..

The books I have claim it was code 'F' and yeah the 6 cylinder was a code'T' and was a 200.
I will see if I can dig up the article on the x code motor...


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Marcus
68 Mustang giggling 351C coming soon

[Nos351C]

Found the issue of M&F I was looking for, september 99, (Rare finds by Jerry Heasley) pg 96 The inset titled "GT-X Mustang?"

some points from the article,

-What is an X-code 390? It was listed in the 68 Mustang Sales Catalog as the "Thunderbird V-8 280 HP"
Which kinda strange, since I am fairly sure that they never offered a 390 2 barrel the t-bird...

-How rare? 593 X-code Msutangs were built in 1968, there is an X code registry also...

-How many of those X-codes were GT's?
in the registry, they have 11 coupes, four convertibles, 2 fastbacks, 4 gt/cs cars, and 2 cougars. At least four fstbacks have been found, the white one was crushed, the green one has been "lost" the red one is the feature car of the inset, and the blue one is in a collection being stored.

They were only available with an auto tranny, and disappeared all together around April 1st 1968. Which still the best april's fool joke ever.... <grin>

Back to the topic at hand, the rusted frame rails are a very big deal, unless you don't mind major surgery. I would pass personally....


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Marcus
68 Mustang giggling 351C coming soon

[hehhehmule]

That's very interesting 351. Appreciate the information. My poor old S-Code 67 was born in Metuchen. Gonna do a gassed cleveland? I've got a couple in the basement and just can't decide what to do with them. Good luck and thanks for the trivia.

[Nos351C]

Yeah, originally it was going to be an opentracker and daily driver, but then I don't know I kinda gave up on it realizing that I have a drag strip like 20 minutes away. And I can drag once a week as opposed to three times a year.. So a sprayed cleveland it is, or will be actually, right now its just a pile of parts <grin>
Thanx

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Marcus
68 Mustang giggling 351C coming soon

[Gichigumi]

FYI, I am pretty sure indicators for true GT are heavy duty sway bar, GT stripes and emblems where required, GT pop off gas cap and disk brakes. However, I don't think disc brakes were part of the package for 68, but were an option. They came as part of the package on earlier ones. There is an article in one of the older Mustang monthly mags on this. Couldn't begin to tell you which one. I owned a 68 GT fastback 302 4V back in 75 and it DID NOT HAVE DISC BRAKES! It was a beater so I know that no one went thru the trouble to dummy it up.
MartiAutoWorks can tell you for a price. (623)935-2558/(624)935-2579 FAX. 12007 W. Peoria, El Mirage, AZ 85335. Also a History 999 report from Ford might help.
Dave