Just curious what people paid for their cars originally. Obviously car condition and when it was purchased will have a huge impact on value, so this won't really help determine what they're worth. It's just a fun statistic to see what others have paid.

Feel free to elaborate on your purchase story if you like. :)

13,000 :o

$950.00

$4200.00

$3500 I guess I got a great deal since it has no rust and all the original parts, except hood-locks and grille which I was able to pick up original parts (front end accident). And all that with only 84,000 original miles.
I actually used this website to find my car, thanks Jon. But always looking for others sleeping in some barn or garage.

$5,600 with somewhere just over 80,000 miles, a new paint job, and rust free as well. Still don't have any rust issues but the paint is no longer fresh, the interior needs a fresh set of upholstery, and the miles aren't in the 80's anymore. Old man time just seems to take his toll on things. The important part is the car runs great and no matter what state the car gets in, it is still in my possesion and it's stored inside my garage out of the elements. All the time taking toll elements are pretty much reversable with a little tender loving care and the near future holds that for mine. It will be fresh again someday soon.

Cory

i paid $5700 for mine 3 yrs ago. all of the fiberglass was there and tail lights. had been hit on the L/F side ,so was missing the fender, grille was crunched, hood locks missing, no fog lamps, valance, stone shield. no rust at all!! underside still has original red oxide primer. was re-painted red (bad paint job). 86,000 miles on odometer. 8k tach. wish there was a way to find the original owners. sold in los angeles, found its way to arizona, now in michigan.

Hi
I paid $450.00 14 years ago. I did a title search and in Oklahoma on the old titles it shows the delivery price of $2687.41.

I have owned 6 GTCS cars over the last 14 years and have paid from US$1500 to US$12000 for them. The current one was most expensive but is a true factory GT car with no rust, a great thing for us here in Canada.

$3400.00 in 1984, cherry condition.

I paid $3500.00 3 years ago in Tacoma,Wa.. Ithas a little over 89K on her. It had the usual rust on top of the fender aprons and the battery box and one spot in front of the drivers side rear wheel. They were asking $6000 and I offered them $3500.00 and they took it. I;m restoring her to suit my likes and tastes. All stock with a few options.

I paid 20000, but she is a true GT and has options, I have the Marchals on her now. She's rust free and a constant show winner. Best investment I made. My family and I have alot of memories and still do alot of things in this car that keep giving us great memories.

Original California Car, Sold in California, and still resides in California.

I starting to feel like I paid to much. It's a good thing I like the car. I paid $5,000 a year ago, the car was complete but it had been hit in the back end and wasn't running (Sitting since 1981). No rust except battery apron and top of shock towers, 302-4V numbers matching, has air, AM/FM with deluxe door panels, console. I've stripped the front completely down and am restoring it now, fixing the rust, replacing or rebuilding the susp. and steering, then it gets an engine/tranny rebuild and off to the paint shop. I want it running by April 19th, this year.
Steve

Folks,

My brother Paul and I paid 3300 bucks, car was stripped, we have gotten some parts from previous owner. Expect to get more, its a 289 auto car, we have a 302 c4 to put in included in price. The previous owner is working with us to get the parts we need. will have to buy a hood, deck lid and rear fender extentions. Anybody got those??

have done from frame rail work, had rear quarters taken off today, will get rocker skins off tomorrow. In short, a real restoration.

Brian

I paid $10500. It is a 390 GT. Had been stored for 15 years. Missing console (anyone have a blue one they would like to get rid of ?). Did place in shows ,but after sitting for so long , has to be slowly brought back to life.70,000 miles. Has all parts except smog pump.

I guess I'll throw mine in there too. :)

In '96 I paid $2000 for my HCS as seen here (http://www.californiaspecial.com/photogallery/Jon-Hanna). Original owner car with all the "special" parts still untouched. Original, but very faded paint. Straight body, although quite a bit of rust in spots including surface rust over most of the hood and top. It's not a GT or a big block and doesn't have much in the way of options, but I was happy to find it. :)

I paid $995 for my Special in April 1974 (it's the cover car for my first book). It had some Dodge Charger magnum type wheels on it back then, and some funny round yellow foglights bolted to the grille brackets. The couple that owned it (second owners) wanted to pay off their '73 Torino. My Special had 30K miles on it then...(it now has 430,000 on it, still with the original maroon paint). It also had a '65 auto console in it, and one of those '66 A/C units in it, which was taken out in '76. It wasn't until about 1979 that I found out it was a 390 car! When I bought it, the first owner put a Cougar 2bbl 302, and C-4 in it (because of the gas shortage), and the 390 from it was put in a boat! :o

PNewitt,

Have you had to rebuild the engine many times? What has gone out on it in all those miles? I would think with that many miles you would have rebuilt the engine a couple times!

The '68 Cougar (same engine as the Mustang one) 302 ran until the block cracked one night when I lived in San Diego at 217,000. Sludge on the dipstick!! This was back in 1982. Being a "starving artist" back then, I got a junkyard used 289, and put it in all by myself at a friends house (they should make a patch for that), and that lasted for about 120,000. The current motor was a rebuild 1965 289 ci. from Jim's Mustangs I've had since about 1984. It has the same Cobra intake and Holley 600, and runs strong. I religiously change the oil at 3K miles and use Castrol 10-40.

I also once "fried" a C-4 tranny going up the grapevine (Hiway 5 going south to L.A.)--a 6% grade for miles....and when they opened it up in San Diego, they said that it only had 10 miles left on it. I HATE HATE HATE the smell of burnt tranny fluid!!

I tell people that I've been "everywhere twice" in my GT/CS, from Canada, to Mt. St. Helens, to Oregon, and ALL of California! From the snow of Donner Pass and Lake Tahoe to the beach at the Hotel Del in Coronado, to the Craters of the Moon Natl park and Yellowstone!

Paul.

I paid 3800.00 in Sept of 01, complete car [some assembly required] with the complete orig. 289 in the front seat, it had a Maverick 302 in place, with a tag along car tow included. Asking price was 4900.00 in a car trader mag.
I ran the 302 for most of her restoration, now have the 289 back in, and running sweet. I think 3800.00 was a good deal, but the cost of restoration as you know, can be large, Love those mustangs.

I've paid more than I should have, but thats life. Currently I have spent more money restoring it, than I originally shelled out for purchasing it. I'll be posting new pictures in the gallery, it's one of the finest GT/CS around. Bluto..... :P

I tell people that I've been "everywhere twice" in my GT/CS, from Canada, to Mt. St. Helens, to Oregon, and ALL of California! From the snow of Donner Pass and Lake Tahoe to the beach at the Hotel Del in Coronado, to the Craters of the Moon Natl park and Yellowstone!

Paul.


Craters of the Moon, now you're in my back yard. Drive through Craters pretty regularly to go Fly Fish Silver Creek near Sun Valley in Picabo Idaho. Picabo Streets home town. Wave next time you go through.

I paid $1200, non running with a trashed interior, incorrect 302 motor laying on the crossmember. 2 bbl intake laying between the heads, sans carb. No motor mounts, no exhaust, no brakes, no clutch pedal. Six cylinder 4 lug rearend, 3-spd manual tranny is the only remaining part of the original driveline. dash gutted with original wiring harness hacked off and destroyed at the gauge pod. Original paint, minimal rust, nothing hidden except for the blown heater core damage.

Of course this is a '66 HCS with HCS "status" questions, and not a '68 GT/CS. But I still think the car was worth it.

But you know....

Whether you spent $400 or $14,000, how do you put a price on having something so rare and truly 'special"? This is the best year ('68) of the first gen Mustang, had the most safety features, shares the roofline with the '56 Lincoln Mark II, and was made for the California car culture. It's the best of all Mustang worlds!

EVERY OWNER I've spoken to LOVES their car. I have never seen such an allegiance to a car like this. I know how you love to wash these cars...spray the hose up the spoiler..and know every nook and cranny of the body....and you LOVE to see that spoiler in your rear view mirror, right?? This is rolling sculpture, and it's STILL a head turner--after all these years (why do you think Ford is coming back to 1968 for 2005??)

You can't put a price on enjoyment, and appreciation. If you felt you spent too much, then enjoy it all that much more, because you'd lose more in depreciation in a late model Mustang than the diff in this car....

BTW--I went through Craters on a Geology field trip to Yellowstone (circa 1978). I lost a rear seal on the C-4, and went through about 10 cans of tranny fluid crossing Nevada back home. Ever see a thick layer of hot red fluid on the backside--with a layer of dirt??

Also--we drove through a dinky little town in eastern Nevada...I'm thinking "ah, I bet they've never seen a GT/CS here!! And sure enough, right in my mirror is this ratty red CS with two local kids right on my tail! Dang!

Paul.

Just bought it this Dec. in Ca. It's now in Ga. 302 - 4 speed with factory air and a rust free body. Love the car and intend to sell it soon. Mike

I just bought a '68 HCS for $1000. At the time I didn't know exactly what I got because many of the distinguishing features had been replaced. She's in pretty bad shape - rusty body, original 289 motor with who-knows-how-many miles doesn't run, interior trashed, and was a home for mice for several years.

Only one of the side scoops remains, and the body striping has been painted over in something close to the original lime-gold. It apparently has been rear-ended as the trunk lid, tail lights have been replaced with standard mustang parts.

Will probably submit some pictures soon, and ask (beg) for help in finding parts to bring this car back from the dead.

In 1990, we paid $4,200.00 from a guy who bought it from the original owner (30 days earlier) and never titiled it. I guess that makes us the second owner. It's a 200 six cylinder and the only thing I am looking for is the small clip on top of the valve cover that holds the hard lines in place.

I paid $3000 in 1995. We found it included in a classified ad for a Model A. The "GTCS Mustang also for sale" was just an add in and it cought our eye. It was growing weeds in the back yard of a 25 year old guy who owned the car for 13 years and cried when we drove it away. He had really built up a 302 and the car was drivable (barely). My dad ended up driving it home for me, but the rest of it was stripped down pretty good. Dusty had all the parts (door handles, side scoops, lucas fog lights, all original stuff) but it just wasn't on the car. It took a few trips to get everything home, but over the years it's been put back together and I think the price I paid with all original parts was pretty good. (Not including the original motor).

I paid a whoppng 13,000 BUT it had just gotten a fresh paint job only about 2 years old. It has original engine and tranny. It also appears SO FAR to have all original parts. Minus the carb and distributor. Interior is in great condition also the only thing wrong is a small tear as long as your thumb and my dome light was shattered but thats fixed now (dome light is).

I PAID $700.00 IN 2001 FOR A 302 4SPD POSI GT/CS, BUT ALL I GOT WAS A ROLLING CHASSIS WITH MOST OF THE FIBERGLASS, NO INTERIOR , FRONT CLIP, OR DRIVETRAIN.

Paid about $2,700 for her in 1968. From Paul Johnson Ford in Fresno. Move to Hawaii in 1971 and she has lived her ever since. I have had her painted (Once) and the front seats re-covered, new rug and Headliner. everything else on her is original, she has never had her valve covers off. Yes She runs great. Abot 60,000 Miles give or take.

Recent purchase Feb 04 out of Seattle, WA. Paid $16,500. Car was completely stripped down in 97 with needed body work and new paint. Engine rebuilt even though odometer shows a little over 54,000 miles. Some may think I paid too much but, if it makes you happy than how can you pay too much. It's a true GT optioned car with 390 ("S" code) and 4 speed (code 5).
As evidenced by pictures I have posted to site, paint is in excellent condition along with exterior chrome. Interior needs some work (dash panles and carpet), and a few trim items are missing from engine area (Fan Shroud, Auxillary Air Inlet Vacume Motor, and original manifold). Other than that car has all original parts back on it. Plus, it looks great sitting next to my 68 GT 390 Coupe. Besides, I've wanted one from the day I first saw them in Calif in 1968 while a Junior in High School. ;D

The car was for sale for $1,600.00 but I thought that was a fortune so I said no. Then the guy said..okay $800.00. I still thought that was high, lol but my mom said okay and she bought it for me but she kept the pink slip til I paid her back.

I stumbled across the car accidently because we had taken a <gasp> Camaro to mom's mechanic to check it out for me. Lucky for me he said it was a bucket of bolts...and then "how about that Mustang over there?"

WOW!

I paid too much, but she has no rust (not even the battery tray). she has been hit in the front drivers fender. It will take about 2 years to complete the restoration. To be continued........

This will make folks happy here. I paid over $20K for mine. It basically exceeded all of my requirements. 50K miles on car at purchase, a true GT, rebuilt 302 motor, rebuilt C-4 tranny, 3.25 gears, new exhaust system, and as near as I can determine all original except for a new Holley carb. Interior looks great (no cutting ever done); exterior is very nice except for the requisite paint chip here/there. I spent more than I had planned but rationalized (don't we all?) that it needed no further $$ infusion. So there you have it. I'm thinking of of adding some "go-faster" equip but nothing that can't be reversed later.
I like Don's post up above!! I think you scored with your true GT 390 4-spd!!!

to give you a timeline perspective, I purchased my car in June '04.

CalPaul-

But a lot of people had to put 20k to make them look nice! So it all balances out huh!

Mine was bought in January 1974 and it was jacked up in the back with mismatched rims, lil chrome splash guards and tall hood pins with padlocks. Hmmm ..he had also cut holes in the kick panels to mount stereo speakers and added a wood steering wheel. But that was pretty much it, it was rust free. When I started to put it back to stock I went up to Burch Ford in La Habra, Ca. every paycheck and bought one part at a time with the discount from my employer. A lot of the stuff wasn't available yet so I had to buy a red and a blue kick panel and paint them green. Finally some suppliers came out with some green things! Not too bad a car for 800 bucks.
~~~~Donna

I paid #3500 in 1993. I've said it before but the guy I bought it from said his wife gave him the old "either the car goes or I go". I saw her and never understood that! Such a pretty car....

Hahahahahaaaaaaaa!! ;D Right on!

I've gotten the "either the car goes or I go" look B4, but nothing verbal yet.......Or maybe I need it in writing?? But then I'd probably just go stash it in a friends garage! ;D

:)I paid $7800.00 for mine in Feb. 2004. It had a fresh 289 4V,4 speed with AC and all new interior still in the boxes in the trunk. It came with 2 steering wheels, the original saddle wheel and a black tiltaway with the woodgrain. Someone had changed the saddle interior over to black sometime in the 80`s but left the exterior with a new Highland green paintjob. When I got it, I guess the owner was in the process of changing the interior back to original. The 80`s paintjob still looks great from 10 feet away but up close you can see chips, a scratch and tiny spots of rust on the doors. I think I got my money`s worth. I have only had to put a new alternator and a few small things here and there. It drives and runs great. I love my car. My family thinks I`m obsessed with it and they say I talk way too much about it. But they also love riding in it and all the attention it gets. Its a win-win situation as I see it. ;D
Rhonda

I paid 5,000 for mine.
25,000 miles and all original parts still on the car (except scoops and hubcaps in trunk). Sat next to a barn/shop for 20 years and was home to an unkown number of rodents for obviously quite a while.
Status, still working on it and never have driven it......

Recent purchase Feb 04 out of Seattle, WA. Paid $16,500. .........
1968 Mustang Fastback GT
Mustang Fastback GT . Beautiful, Highland Green, S-Code, is very original with all numbers matching. - GT S-Code 390 - C6-Auto transmission - 3.50 equa-lock differential (posi) - courtesy light - sport deck rear seat - deluxe interior - A/C - power steering - power disc brakes - upper and lower consoles! Solid underbody. Original Interior (new carpet), Paint is beautiful. All electrical works, rebuilt engine w/6k on it. New brakes and tires. Marti Report, Build Sheet, and documentaion included. More pics at: www.kanterperformance.com
Price - $ 35,000

Hey Don: I'd say you got a pretty good deal on your GT/CS based on what some of these big block GTs are going for.

CalPaul;
My feelings exactly. Even with what I've put into the car since purchase I figure I'm still ahead of the ball game. Granted, the fastback cars are pulling more money at the present time and even though I'm a Mustang fanatic, to me the fastbacks are a dime a dozen (Lots of them on the road). The GT Coupe's have a higher production but, step up to a GT Coupe with a big block and watch the production #'s drop. There are fewer big block GT Coupe's out there than the fastbacks. I know when I was a junior in high school, most of the folks at the drag strips were racing coupe's not fastbacks. They were quicker and lighter. My GT 390 Coupe was purchased for $10,000 four years ago. Everything has been gone through and either replaced or refurbished except for the paint (still factory Highland Green) and I'm only in it to to tune of $20,000. It's been appraised at $25,500. I know what people say about appraisal's but, to me it doesn't mean squat. Neither car is for sale. Besides, as far as I'm concerned, nothing else on the road looks as unique as a CS or a GT Coupe. Plus, both my cars turn heads were ever they go. Maybe that's why very shortly both car's will be out in diecast.

Don ;D

paid $500..and have about $4500 in it so far...and still climbing ;D

10,000+

Interesting story... I'm at a car show in Estes Park and a gent from KC offers me - straight up trade - his 2004 yellow, convertible GT with less than 2200 miles. I declined his offer stating that while I was flattered, I could go out today and buy his car... could he do the same? Point to the story - regardless of what I paid - it is invaluable to me.

Just my $.02

Craig

to tell the honest truth, i payed over 25 k for my car. maybe across the border things a cheaper but in canada these vehilce are worth their weight in gold if you have a cherry like mine. to find one up here your going to pay big bucks for something of quality.

Paided 5 k in 87 in SLC

Maybe put on 2-3 k in mileage since....on the S code 4 speed.


DR in Ottawa






to tell the honest truth, i payed over 25 k for my car. maybe across the border things a cheaper but in canada these vehilce are worth their weight in gold if you have a cherry like mine. to find one up here your going to pay big bucks for something of quality.

$18,000 in 2008 for the '68.

$20,000.00 (Canadian) in 2007. Last summer we spent a bunch more on parts and labour to get it to the point it is at now. We still have a bit more left to finish up on it for next year ...
This was our wedding car ten years ago, plus I bought it from my best friend that just passed away last summer, so the price was not really a big part of the equation.
This car is full of fond memories and is therefore priceless to me.
:wink:
PS: We were at a local car wash last summer preparing for a show and shine event and had a "bucks up" gent fresh out of the oil fields walk over and offer us a huge amount of money for the car on the spot!
:eek:
It was obviously an impulse offer, but he was totally serious. I explained the history of the car to him and then turned him down flat. He was very understanding about it ...

$3700.00 is what I paid for my CS/CJ, back in 1968.

I paid $13,000 in 2005 and knew it had a bad trans. so figure $14,000. I've been offered $20,000 for it (in better times) which I refused. This is for my retirement!!
Bruce

This thread is five years old! Some of those figures are cheap in today's market.
Paid more than 20K for mine in 2008

Randy

$3k in 1989. What a worn out car. Sitting outside on the street in Alki Beach in Seattle. Young kid was beating her to death. Tranny and brakes were crap. Had to replace both doors, left quarterpanel and wheel house. Right lower quarter and complete radiator suport and battery apron. One good thing was all orginal fiberglass except for the left side scoop. No rust in the frame and little in the floor pans.

She was a sad car..... Must have at least $25k in her now.... Ask my wife....

Rob

I think I originally quoted $5600 when this thread started but the more I think about it I think it was $3600. It was nothing in the big scheme of things now. I remember when I traded a 1979 Ford 4X4 short box straight across for a 1953 Ford F100 short box pickup in 1982. People thought I was crazy, 3 year old 4X4 for an old Ford pickup, wish I still had the 53 it was a blast.

Cory

$17,500 in 2007 for a done car. Prev owner restored it 1st class. I've added P/B & Shelby wheels. Don't think I'll ever sell it.

Neil

$1500 in 2008. :grin:

Car was mostly complete, but in boxes. Some assembly required.

Missing the 302-4V with C4, radiator, driveshaft, fog lights, and a few pieces of trim.

Came with a disc brake conversion, used black interior, all the GT/CS specific parts except the fog lights, box of window seals, felts, and gaskets. Had a brand new rear valance with GT exhaust, and repop fiberglass rear panel. 1 NOS 1965 Thunderbird tail light bezel, and 2 NOS 1965 tail light lenses.

The shell is basically rust free, the only rust was in the driver side floor pan.

There should be a couple of 'in-progress' pictures in our book.

Cougar,
In progress puictures. YES THERE ARE!!! For us lucky, first on the delivery schedule of Cory's book!!!

Rob

Cougar,
In progress puictures. YES THERE ARE!!! For us lucky, first on the delivery schedule of Cory's book!!!

Rob

How unselfish of the author not to keep the publishing a secret until he got his books first. Now he sits on his deck with his laptop reading all the wonderful comments in the posts and emails and dreaming of the day he'll get to see what others have already seen. ;-)

$4300 about eight years ago. It was straight, no rust, and in running condition, but with a bad paint job.

68 GTCS I paid 8,500 about 3 years ago, they were asking 16,000. Someone added 67 deluxe interior, tilt-away steering, upper and lower consoles, factory tachometer. 68HCS paid 2,800, came stuffed with extra parts, set of GT rims W/center caps, (2) 4 speed center consoles, new sheet metal, etc. didn't know it was a HCS until I got the Marti report in the mail. :grin:

Kevin

This thread is five years old! Some of those figures are cheap in today's market.
Paid more than 20K for mine in 2008

Randy

I KNOW I found it while doing some research on pricing.

I paid 10,500 ,not running. I had to rebuild motor, tranny, brakes. Slowly brougt back to life. Sat for almost 20 years in garage. I drive it as our special going out family car.

$26 title transfer fee :D

Free is good!!!!!

I noticed near the start of this thread that 66joej paid $12,000 for a true GT optioned car in 2004. I bought this car from Joe in 2005 completely finished and detailed to the nuts for $24,500 and it was money well spent.
BoB