Introduction: 1968 California Special Mustang

"California Made it Happen!" - That was the slogan used by Ford to promote the limited edition California Special (GT/CS) Mustang in 1968. And in a nutshell it perfectly describes the beginnings of this special Mustang. It was the California Ford dealerships, with clout built on high sales volume, that got the ball rolling on the GT/California Special package. Design inspiration came from "Little Red"; a prototype built to study the possibility of creating a Shelby coupe (which never happened). So with a combination of Shelby parts and unique GT/CS parts, the California Special Mustang was born.

The GT/CS was unveiled to CA dealers on February 15, 1968 at the Century Plaza Hotel in LA, where it received a very enthusiastic reception. Shortly afterward the media campaign began in earnest including full page newspaper ads, TV commercials and billboards; all designed to get the public to visit their local Ford dealer to see the new Mustang made just for California. The reality though was that the GT/CS expanded beyond CA state lines and was also sold in other markets including Kansas City, Dallas, Salt Lake, Seattle, Phoenix and Canada.

High Country Special - Before California got the GT/CS, Colorado already had it's own special regional edition Mustang; the High Country Special. The 1966 & 1967 HCS package consisted of special paint and fender badges. So after the GT/CS was built it was decided that some of those should head to CO and continue the HCS name. A total of 251 of the GT/CS cars were pulled off the assembly line and sent to Denver to recieve their own special treatment. The "California Special" script was deleted from the rear quarter panels and the side scoops recieved their own special HCS decal, complete with a CO mountain background.

Following is an outline of the special features found on California Specials and High Country Specials. For a more detailed explanation please select the HOW TO IDENTIFY link from the list on the left.