California Special Mustang Saved From a Life of Grime
YouTuber finds an extremely rare 1968 California Special on a farm in Washington state, fulfilling a childhood dream.
There’s been a ton of special edition Mustangs over the years. Some of our favorites come from the late 1960s, when regional special editions, like Kansas’ ’70 Twister Special and Colorado’s ’68 High Country Special, quietly lit up the showroom of Ford dealers in those areas.
Our favorite, however, is the Golden State’s very own 1968 Ford Mustang California Special, and YouTubers Ideal Cars were seriously lucky to have found one. With just more than 4,000 produced, they’re a rare find indeed. However, they must have made an impact on the collective consciousness of Mustang lovers everywhere. Since 2007, Ford has intermittently offered an updated version of the package, sharing the joy not just in California but from sea to shining sea.
Back in 1968, southern California Ford dealers were looking for creative ways to boost sales. With some help from Shelby Automotive, the California Special was born. All were coupes, with aggressive spoilers, hood pins, fog lights, and Shelby-style side scoops and taillights. Naturally, special graphics were part of the package.
The California Special had the power to back up those aggressive looks, too. While most were produced with the 289 V8, a limited number were ordered with the GT’s 390 cubic-inch and even the 428 Cobra Jet powerplant.
He takes us along for a ride as they track down, buy, and later sell an example of this rare machine. It’s got some rare options, like a roof console and deluxe seat belts.
The team’s mechanic, Travis, seems put off by a small spot of rust, suggesting that they install a battery and selling the car if it doesn’t start. Keep in mind, the car in question was purchased as a project after sitting for some time.
Amazingly, the pony roared to life after cleaning up some corroded electrical components. Reinvigorated, they stripped the filthy interior, cleaned it up, and repaired the non-functional brakes.
With the car running, driving, and stopping, Brad, the host, decided that it had too many issues for him and sold it for a profit. We hope that its new owner is prepared to give it the attention it deserves, restoring this rare Mustang to its former glory and enjoying every chance they get.
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