One of my jobs at work is to perform Ford research; create, proof read, edit our online catalog, ....and I get paid to spend time on several enthusiast forums. ( :cheesy: I actually get paid to cruise californiaspecial.com at work!) With those skills, coupled with OCD, I had time to crack this book and really digest it with my unique set of skills.
"Carcheology", thanks Tim, I now have a title for work. I will hence forth be known as the 'Carcheogist'.
Kudos first.
Tons of good information that will aid me in the restoration of my GT/CS. I am talking about the specific GT/CS stuff. Stripes, script, Lucas fog lights, hood and hood wiring, tail light installation, etc. This is the reason that I ordered the book. I really like the Kevin Marti production numbers on pages 80-81. Really nice to see the information from ACSCO, with the drawings and what not.
Good reference stuff on the late model CT/CS cars, it I ever chose buy one of those.
OK, now for the inaccuracies and mistakes that I see. You MCA judges please correct me if I make a mistake. Book errors, if not mentioned could be detrimental to folks coming in late or those trying to authenticate a 1968 GT/CS from this book.
Page 91. Second line of the VIN tag 1. the “Body Code” section. Add code 65D - ‘Hardtop Décor Bench Seat’. Marti confirms this on page 80 ...Knitted Décor Bench Seat.
Page 116. That 289/302 air cleaner snorkel with the vacuum fitting was only used up until early April-ish 1968. The overwhelming majority of our cars will not use this snorkel.
Page 116. Reversible or ‘double’ cut keys began in 1967. New front suspension “hockey stick” lower control arms for better ride. Substitute ‘strut rods’ for ‘lower control arms’.
Page 117. I am pretty sure that the word “Challenger” only referred to the 289 engine. As was mentioned prior, the specifications listed are for the F code 302-2V (which was not available on the Mustang in 1968). The 302-4V also has 4 venturis. Single exhaust only, unless the GT option was checked off. On the 289 engine section – I do not believe that the 289 V8 engine was available in a 1968 Torino GT.
Page 118. ‘Thunderbird V-8’? ‘Thunderbird Special V-8’? I don’t think so. The S code 390-GT engines came with a Holley carburetor with 4 venturis, not 1 venturi.
Page 119. Pet peeve of mine. The 1968 W code 427-4V engine, was only installed in Cougars, nothing else.
Page 137. Caption is incorrect. The Knott’s Berry Farm show is called “Fabulous Fords Forever”, it is an iconic show in SoCal.
Page 149. Engine compartment concours detailing – Brake parts. Master Cylinder and Cap – Gloss Black. I thought that the master cylinder was ‘natural cast’ and the cap was ‘gold cadmium’??
Page 157. The California Special side script pins, were secured in the trunk with flat “speed nuts”. The industry name for these fasteners is “Flat Nuts”. Speed nuts are stamped nuts that are self threading.
You want OCD stuff? I scanned through the registry pages and found lots of errors. Cars with standard body code 65A with Décor interior codes, Décor interior code cars (65B) with standard interior trim codes. There are 2 - S code cars with C4 transmissions, 7 – J code cars with C6 transmissions, 6 – C code cars with C6 transmissions, 3 cars that have a code “N” transmission, and 1 car that has a code “V” transmission.
Page 195. T150309 65A M 2K 13C 72 4 W
Page 195. C150309 65C I 8U 15C 72 2 W Paul Batto.
There are a bunch of cars listed on page 194, that have date code errors, or correct date codes with consecutive VIN number errors.
If someone doesn’t see their VIN number it is likely out of sequential order, there are a bunch of those. I lost track before the end.
Page 193. C143053 65A I 2G 16B 71 2 W Jim and Shirley Kelley
Page 193. C143053 65A Y 2Y 16B 71 2 W Unknown
Page 202. J169958 owned by Rober Coutches. It’s there, about 16 from the bottom on the left column.
Page 203. C169958 owned by Art Sahlstein.
Too many other minor errors to list, mostly simple key stroke errors on trim codes and maybe dates.
Some of the dates worry me, they fall into the VIN sequence of cars built in Dearborn. If the dates are correct, then OMG the sequential VIN numbers are wrong.