Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

Here is the real deal: a factory S-code 390 4-barrel large block and an original manufactory iv-speed. One of only 65 built in this paint and trim code: factory Acapulco Blue with black interior and the black-out hood treatment. This GT Mustang is verified with a Palatial Marti Report and the original Buck Tag. It has gone through a complete ground-up restoration, including the correct red oxide underbody and with performance and mod upgrades. Factory options include ability front end disc brakes, louvered hood with blackness-out handling, deluxe steering bike, power steering and 4-speed transmission transmission. The factory power steering setup has had a modernistic upgrade; past replacing the original components with an electronic assist ability steering system that includes a control module, information technology allows you lot to conform steering for condolement driving to track mode. During the restoration the engine performance upgrades included a balmy cam, aluminum quick flow heads, long tube headers, Magnaflow cross-flow exhaust and an aluminum intake.

SCM Analysis

Detailing

Vehicle: 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 Due south-Code fastback
Years Produced: 1967–69
Number Produced: 18,838 (1968 Mustang GTs)
Original List Cost: $3,500
SCM Valuation: $28,800–$34,800
Tune Up Cost: $300
Distributor Caps: $eleven
Chassis Number Location: Passenger's side dashboard (1968 only)
Engine Number Location: Back of engine block, right-mitt side above starter
Society Info: Mustang Order of America
Website: www.mustang.org
Alternatives: 1970–71 Dodge Challenger, 1967–69 Chevrolet Camaro, 1968–seventy AMC AMX
Investment Class: C

This machine, Lot 468, sold for $56,100, including buyer's premium, at Barrett-Jackson's Las Vegas sale on September 24–26, 2015.

The first-generation Ford Mustang is a gold-standard collectible. Even though the Mustang was never particularly rare and a whole lot of them survived middle age, it has become i of the cornerstones of American car collecting.

Last year, as function of the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Mustang, Lee Iacocca was quoted as saying, "I had a vision of an American-made four-seat sporty machine. Nosotros had no information, but I felt in that location was a marketplace to be driven by baby boomers." Iacocca was right — the boomers embraced the Mustang, and Ford dealers sold 22,000 of the new pony cars on the showtime day of sales.

Simply the projection wasn't done yet. Iacocca called Carroll Shelby and asked him to make the new car perform. Shelby recalled it like this: "In 1964, Lee Iacocca said, 'I want you to brand a sports car out of the Mustang.'" Shelby tried to beg off, famously calling the new Mustang a "secretarial assistant'south auto" and a "mule." But Iacocca insisted, and put the weight of Ford Motor Visitor on Shelby's arm. The balance, every bit they say, is history. Not even two years later, Shelby was bragging about "blowing off a Porsche with a $3,900 donkey."

A stiff package

By 1968, the Mustang had seven listed performance levels, ranging from the 200-ci Thriftpower 6-cylinder at 120 horsepower upward to the 427-ci V8 at 390 horsepower, which was listed as an pick but is rumored to have never been produced.

Nigh the meridian of the list was the 390-ci S-lawmaking package, rated by Ford at 325 (some models at 335) horsepower and 427 pound-anxiety of torque. When mated with the 4-speed manual manual, this was a potent pony automobile. The S-code engine added $263 to the 1968 Mustang fastback base of operations cost of $2,689, and the 4-speed transmission cost another $233. Buyers also ended up paying about $300 more for required options similar power brakes, ability steering and the GT equipment group.

Only what y'all got for your money was an astonishing machine. Weighing in at virtually ii,800 pounds fully dressed, you got a quarter-mile time in the 13-second range at 105 mph right off the exhibit flooring. The 1968 Mustang GT 390 fastback was the ground for the legendary "Bullitt" machine driven by Steve McQueen. When information technology comes to street cred, you tin can't do much better than that.

Unicorn or workhorse?

That brings us to this particular 1968 Mustang, and it's an impressive car. The list states that the car underwent a complete restoration with attention to details like the underbody oxide coating and correct C-stripe sweeping back along the chugalug line from the headlight and downwards effectually the side cove. Acapulco Blue is an attractive colour, and plenty of care was taken to put the interior back to dealer showroom condition.

This car was sold at Barrett-Jackson'south Las Vegas Auction for $56,100, including the 10% buyer's premium, which means the winning bid was $51,000. That's to a higher place our current rating for a good #2 auto at $28,800 to $34,800, but this car was nicer than your boilerplate good #2. The price paid was in line with what we've seen for like examples in this condition, so it's fair to say that both the buyer and seller got a fair bargain here.

Merely, depending on your point of view, a few of the restoration decisions on this car might be troubling. The seller updated the original power steering with a modern variable assistance electrical unit with a cockpit-mounted controller, and modified the engine with an aftermarket cam, intake, heads, headers and exhaust. That probably boosted the engine power a bit, and the ability steering will exist very nice, but did the car actually need information technology?

If you desire to buy a Mustang for track use, you'd be better off buying something roughly 10 years erstwhile for virtually 20% of the purchase price of this collectible. It's prophylactic to say no i'due south going to be flogging this vintage GT on a racetrack anytime soon. Further, will anyone observe a few extra horsepower out on the street? If y'all wanted to make a driver Mustang, why spend the money on a existent original Southward-lawmaking?

Rare, and volition exist original

According to the seller, but 65 Mustangs were made in this exact specification. Every bit Mustangs go, that'southward a pretty rare combination. In the collectible world, I have to believe that this motorcar would be just equally valuable — if not more valuable — with everything restored as the factory fabricated it. The good news is that nil was done hither that can't be easily undone, and my bet is that within 10 years, this motorcar will be dorsum to its stock configuration. As time goes by, this auto's originality will be likewise valuable to exercise otherwise.

(Introductory clarification courtesy of Barrett-Jackson.