My 68 California Special is; The first 428 CJ produced at the San Jose plant, one of 12 428cj's CS/HCS, one of 7 with C6 auto, one of 4 with 3.91 rear end gears, and the only one equipt this way and painted Brittany Blue. I am sure yours are much the same. Our Mustangs are much rarer than most Shelbys, and we should be proud. We need to claim the respect we are due. John

Wow John!!! I think not many will beat your Special!!! As you said: these cars are rare and all of them are specials.

My 68 California Special is; The first 428 CJ produced at the San Jose plant, one of 12 428cj's CS/HCS, one of 7 with C6 auto, one of 4 with 3.91 rear end gears, and the only one equipt this way and painted Brittany Blue. I am sure yours are much the same. Our Mustangs are much rarer than most Shelbys, and we should be proud. We need to claim the respect we are due. John
John, Kevin Marti tells me that one of our '68 HCS's (Highland Green/Std Gold Nugget interior) is the only X code (engine) HCS built (I'm just so tickled to have found and bought this car). Another one of our HCS's (Candy Apple Red/Red Std. interior) is a "R" code (428 engine) car which Kevin Marti says is 1 of 9 HCS built with this engine. I believe we've, (maybe CASEY? on this site), found that another 3 (428) cars were California Specials, yours, plus 2 already in Paul's '96 book. We have a previous thread here on this site addressing these 428 cars but I couldn't come up with it tonight. Thanks for stepping forward (what's your vin anyway?) How neat that we have located all 3 Cal Specs and I have 6 of the 9 HCS in the registry. HC Bob here.

John, Kevin Marti tells me that one of our '68 HCS's (Highland Green/Std Gold Nugget interior) is the only X code (engine) HCS built (I'm just so tickled to have found and bought this car). Another one of our HCS's (Candy Apple Red/Red Std. interior) is a "R" code (428 engine) car which Kevin Marti says is 1 of 9 HCS built with this engine. I believe we've, (maybe CASEY? on this site), found that another 3 (428) cars were California Specials, yours, plus 2 already in Paul's '96 book. We have a previous thread here on this site addressing these 428 cars but I couldn't come up with it tonight. Thanks for stepping forward (what's your vin anyway?) How neat that we have located all 3 Cal Specs and I have 6 of the 9 HCS in the registry. HC Bob here.
MY vin is {8R01R158074}. I think that many of our friends on this site don't realize how special thier cars are. I bought mine new when I was 18 and have owned it ever since. Today a guy stopped by and asked if I wanted to sell my old Mustang. Told me they were not very rare, and just wanted it to go with his collection of Shelbys. Told him NO thanks, I'll keep my old CS. My CS is in the new registry as is my Marti Report. John

My car is the only CS painted Acapulco Blue with Dark Red interior, and 1 of 10 '68 mustangs of all body styles (7 coupes & 3 convertibles) painted this way. Is it rare? Sure. Does it make more valuable? nope! Just wish it had a 428!

I believe we've, (maybe CASEY? on this site), found that another 3 (428) cars were California Specials, yours, plus 2 already in Paul's '96 book.

It was me who figured out the 428 CS engine/transmission info from Elite Marti reports. 2 of the 3 428 CS's owners are on the site (John and Scott).

here is Scott with his 428 CS
http://www.californiaspecial.com/forums/vbpicgallery.php?do=big&p=922

According to Marti, my car is 1 of 2 with the options that are on my car. Manual Steer, console, styled steel wheels, blue bucket seats, Acapulco Blue, automatic, 289 2V. Both cars were ordered by the same dealership here in Kansas City and considered identical twins.

Paul

Jason has it right. There are 12 428CJs: 3 GT/CS and 9 HCS.

Also, a bit of trivia - Kevin Marti told me the first 428CJ in the 428CJ registry is not the first 428CJ produced.

As for my GT/CS - she isn't rare (except for being only one of 3867), but she still gets a crowd around her at Shelby shows.

Casey

My car is a T-code, 1 of 148 GT/CS`s produced with a 6 cylinder engine. Sadly it does`nt have the original engine anymore, not many do. Anyone that has a numbers matching T-code has a rare car.
Mine is also 1 of 2 twins because of the options, ordered by the same dealer.

My 428 HCS may be the only 428 car with original paint (thanks again Bob Teets for finding it for me). I aslo have the original build sheet for the car (found under the front seat). Any other 428 guys have their build sheet?

Scott

I don't think mine was any more rare than any other GT/CS from the factory, but I bet it's the only one with a Holley 174 blower on it.

talk about rare, anyone else have a GTCS with a 347 stroker runnin under 12.50s?? mine is rare because it still has the functional swing away steering column and yeh it still works!

Is the tilt away steering wheel the same as a tilt wheel? Mine has a deluxe tilt wheel. It moves up and down.

Rhonda, I've wondered about that too.

Here is what the sales brochure says.

Tilt-Away Steering Wheel (8) Makes getting in and out of the car easier and so convenient. When you're ready to get out, just open the door and the steering wheel moves up and over, out of the way. Stays there until you get back in, ready to go again. After you're seated and pull the wheel back to driving position, you can tilt the wheel up or down to nine different positions. Available with all V-8 engines and transmission combinations.

It doesn't mention anything about a tilt-only option so, to repeat your question, does that mean that all tilt wheels are also tilt-away since they all have to door switch?

Rhonda, I've wondered about that too.

Here is what the sales brochure says.

Tilt-Away Steering Wheel (8) Makes getting in and out of the car easier and so convenient. When you're ready to get out, just open the door and the steering wheel moves up and over, out of the way. Stays there until you get back in, ready to go again. After you're seated and pull the wheel back to driving position, you can tilt the wheel up or down to nine different positions. Available with all V-8 engines and transmission combinations.

It doesn't mention anything about a tilt-only option so, to repeat your question, does that mean that all tilt wheels are also tilt-away since they all have to door switch?

Maybe "somethingspecial" can shed some light on this because if my memory serves; his is a factory "tilt only" wheel that doesn't swing out of the way.

previous owner of my 390 CS put a tilt only (up and down only) column in it, pretty sure it is a Mustang column.

My gold 68 coupe came with Tilt Away and it tilted up and down AND when you opened the door it tilted up AND to the right. You have to pull it down and left to be able to start the car.

Today a guy stopped by and asked if I wanted to sell my old Mustang. Told me they were not very rare, and just wanted it to go with his collection of Shelbys.I don't suppose you mentioned to him that your "old CS" was likely more rare then the Shelbys he had? :grin:

As for the rarity of my car, I don't think it's any more rare then other HCS's. My Marti report doesn't even say it's 1 of 251 High Country Specials, even though it is. :undecided

My 428 HCS may be the only 428 car with original paint (thanks again Bob Teets for finding it for me). I aslo have the original build sheet for the car (found under the front seat). Any other 428 guys have their build sheet?

Scott

Scott, If I remember right, you found your 428 HCS in South Dakota right? I thought I heard there was one in my neck of the woods here in Minnesota too.

Yep, mine came from South Dakota. I'd take another though...you know where it is?

I read here on the site it had been mentioned. It was Hicountrybob`s post number 9.
http://www.californiaspecial.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1823&highlight=minnesota+hcs

Scott, If I remember right, you found your 428 HCS in South Dakota right? I thought I heard there was one in my neck of the woods here in Minnesota too.
Rhonda, re. 428 HCS'S. One in St Paul, one in Torrington, Wyo.,one in Calif. (Scott Fuller), one in Craig,Co., one in Littleton, Co., and mine in Arvada, Co. That's 6 cars and missing the other 3. HC Bob here.

Thanks Bob, I knew my memory was`nt failing me. :)

According to all my shop manuals, literature, etc. the steering wheel can be adjusted up and down in a total of nine positions. When the ignition is turned off, or the driver door is opened, this triggers a solenoid, which moves the steering wheel up and away from the driver toward the right. If your wheel only goes up and down, the solenoid probably is not working correctly to swing the wheel up and to the right. On cars with Tilt Away Wheels, there should be a second door jamb button intalled in the left door jamb. This triggers the solenoid when the door is opened. Hope this helps. Mike
ps. Midnight Special remembers the wheel only going up and down because someone stripped all the hardware from the column long before he owned it. It has everything now. Not tested yet. Hope it works now.

I don't suppose you mentioned to him that your "old CS" was likely more rare then the Shelbys he had? :grin:

As for the rarity of my car, I don't think it's any more rare then other HCS's. My Marti report doesn't even say it's 1 of 251 High Country Specials, even though it is. :undecided
No I didn't say anything to him, but I 'm sure he could tell by the smile on my face that I knew my CS was not just an old Mustang to me. John

According to all my shop manuals, literature, etc. the steering wheel can be adjusted up and down in a total of nine positions. When the ignition is turned off, or the driver door is opened, this triggers a solenoid, which moves the steering wheel up and away from the driver toward the right. If your wheel only goes up and down, the solenoid probably is not working correctly to swing the wheel up and to the right. On cars with Tilt Away Wheels, there should be a second door jamb button intalled in the left door jamb. This triggers the solenoid when the door is opened. Hope this helps. Mike
ps. Midnight Special remembers the wheel only going up and down because someone stripped all the hardware from the column long before he owned it. It has everything now. Not tested yet. Hope it works now.

Thanks Mike. This is all news to me. 'Funny, but back then at 17 - it was quite a while before I knew it even had tilt steering. "What's with the redundant turn signals?" SNAP! "ohh..."

I can't tell you how much in awe I am of it today, however. 'Still looking for old pictures here to add to your "then & now" portfolio. It is SO not the same car!

'Can't wait for everyone to see it :-)

Yep, mine came from South Dakota. I'd take another though...you know where it is?

HEY! I thought I was next in line for a 428 CS/HCS...........


:tongue:

According to all my shop manuals, literature, etc. the steering wheel can be adjusted up and down in a total of nine positions. When the ignition is turned off, or the driver door is opened, this triggers a solenoid, which moves the steering wheel up and away from the driver toward the right. If your wheel only goes up and down, the solenoid probably is not working correctly to swing the wheel up and to the right. On cars with Tilt Away Wheels, there should be a second door jamb button intalled in the left door jamb. This triggers the solenoid when the door is opened. Hope this helps. Mike
ps. Midnight Special remembers the wheel only going up and down because someone stripped all the hardware from the column long before he owned it. It has everything now. Not tested yet. Hope it works now.

Here`s a pic of mine.

Hi all

My CS is a preproduction car 1 of 8 ( Marti Autoworks report) ordered as BASIC OFF - STANDARD EQUIPMENT, which means orderd for promotional.
Serialised 02/01/68
Built 02/13/68
Air Con
Power Steer
Power Breaks
Both Consols
Rear Demister
Tachometer Dash
AM Radio - still works
Tinted Glass
Delux belts
289 C code

Now In New Zealand

Very cool CJ 56!!!