HELP me Identify if this 1968 Mustang is a California Special or a ??

[mrhotrod78]

My friend has had this 1968 Mustang for a while now. He was planning on the longest time to restore it, but he has now realized that he will never get around to it. He told me he thought it was a Shelby, I highly doubt that it's a shelby. I told him I thought it might be a California Special or High Country Special. can anyone here confirm what it is? I know that it is a "J" code mustang. My friend got me to list this project mustang on ebay. Here are a few details about the car. Or check it out on ebay. It's item number 190001988143

VIN : 8R01J157974
Ford Warranty Plate: 65A I 2G I8D 71 5W

 

[Mustanglvr]

Here is the thread where this car is being discussed.
http://californiaspecial.com/forums/t3398-project-jcode-on-ebay.html

A Marti report will tell you for sure, but maybe someone can here find the car in the registry.

 

[mrhotrod78]

Yeah, I ordered a report on friday..... I just thought someone here could tell, justby looking at it or by decoding the vin and warranty info. I am supposed to get the report within a few days, but my friend is a little impatient..LOL.

 

[390cs68rcode]

not in either registry. Probably means it has not been registered.

Guaranteed it is NOT a Shelby, no coupes made as Shelbys.

 

[68gt390]

Definitely a different type of tail light bezel set-up. Looks like a little custom work done there. Will be interesting to see how the VIN comes back.

Don

 

[mrhotrod78]

Yeah, I dont care too much about the custom work on the tail lights. Once I get the results on the Marti report I will post them here.

 

[Stacey Enderle]

Here's what I found so far. Perhaps, this will help out until you get the report. The VIN # 8R01J157974 is decoded as: 8 => 68 model; R => car was built at the San Jose plant in California; J => it had a 302 engine in it; the number => 157974 is the sequencial number assigned to that car. The other set of letters and numbers (Ford Warranty Plate: 65A I 2G I8D 71 5W) the 65=> is the coupe or hard top, all CS cars were made that way; A=> standard bucket seats; I=> the exterior paint (originally) lime gold;2G=> Ivy gold colored standard bucket seats; 18D=> the car was built on April 18, 1967. (They started building the 68's almost a year before the year of 1968); 71=> is the DSO number or Domestic Special Order in Los Angeles, California (regional distributors to other car dealers in their districts or zones); 5=> Axle Ratio of 3.00:1; and the W=> automatic transmission.
Hope that helps!

 

[390cs68rcode]

Here's what I found so far. Perhaps, this will help out until you get the report. The VIN # 8R01J157974 is decoded as: 8 => 68 model; R => car was built at the San Jose plant in California; J => it had a 302 engine in it; the number => 157974 is the sequencial number assigned to that car. The other set of letters and numbers (Ford Warranty Plate: 65A I 2G I8D 71 5W) the 65=> is the coupe or hard top, all CS cars were made that way; A=> standard bucket seats; I=> the exterior paint (originally) lime gold;2G=> Ivy gold colored standard bucket seats; 18D=> the car was built on April 18, 1967. (They started building the 68's almost a year before the year of 1968); 71=> is the DSO number or Domestic Special Order in Los Angeles, California (regional distributors to other car dealers in their districts or zones); 5=> Axle Ratio of 3.00:1; and the W=> automatic transmission.
Hope that helps!

none of that proves it is a California Special. Only the Marti report will confirm it.

the car was built on April 18, 1967.(They started building the 68's almost a year before the year of 1968)

This is wrong, it could not have been built 4-18-67. It was most likely built 4-18-68. Don't know where you made up the "they started building the 68's almost a year before the year of 1968". This makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[Mustanglvr]

The earliest coupes used were built December 28th, 1967. According to Paul`s timeline.
http://www.californiaspecial.com/history.htm

 

[Stacey Enderle]

Date codes can be confusing,...

none of that proves it is a California Special. Only the Marti report will confirm it.


This is wrong, it could not have been built 4-18-67. It was most likely built 4-18-68. Don't know where you made up the "they started building the 68's almost a year before the year of 1968". This makes no sense whatsoever.

I'm not going to argue with you, other than what I've found. And granted the date codes are confusing. I've never claimed that I'm an expert at it. However this is where I found it and if you can make better heads or tails out of it, more power to ya. Here's the website where I found the Mustang Decoding Information,...www.vintage-mustang.com/topics/decode/decode.html. You'll have to scroll down aways or if you printed it out it would be on page 8 of 11.

 

[Mosesatm]

There seem to be errors all through that site. For example, check out the engine codes.

 

[Mustanglvr]

I think that site is from one of the links in the vin reports/decoder section of this site.

 

[Stacey Enderle]

vin codes

I think that site is from one of the links in the vin reports/decoder section of this site.

That's where I found it,...

 

[RedGTvert]

Here's what I found so far. Perhaps, this will help out until you get the report. The VIN # 8R01J157974 is decoded as: 8 => 68 model; R => car was built at the San Jose plant in California; J => it had a 302 engine in it; the number => 157974 is the sequencial number assigned to that car. The other set of letters and numbers (Ford Warranty Plate: 65A I 2G I8D 71 5W) the 65=> is the coupe or hard top, all CS cars were made that way; A=> standard bucket seats; I=> the exterior paint (originally) lime gold;2G=> Ivy gold colored standard bucket seats; 18D=> the car was built on April 18, 1967. (They started building the 68's almost a year before the year of 1968); 71=> is the DSO number or Domestic Special Order in Los Angeles, California (regional distributors to other car dealers in their districts or zones); 5=> Axle Ratio of 3.00:1; and the W=> automatic transmission.
Hope that helps!

The car was born April 18, 1968, not 1967. Put codes in on this site http://www.mustangdecoder.com/decoder.html

 

[di81977]

This is wrong, it could not have been built 4-18-67. It was most likely built 4-18-68. Don't know where you made up the "they started building the 68's almost a year before the year of 1968". This makes no sense whatsoever.

Not sure anyone still cares, but the bottom of the following website lists Mustang build dates (from the scodemustang web site). Seems that the 1st '68 mustangs were built in July 1967. Not a year, but still 6 months early.

http://www.scodemustang.com/s_faq.php

David

 

[Mustanglvr]

I think there is confusion over the regular 68`s build date and the GT/CS`s build date.

 

[390cs68rcode]

Not sure anyone still cares, but the bottom of the following website lists Mustang build dates (from the scodemustang web site). Seems that the 1st '68 mustangs were built in July 1967. Not a year, but still 6 months early.

http://www.scodemustang.com/s_faq.php

David

It is common knowledge that the model year starts building in LATE July or early August. The Vin numbers would start out like this if they were built at the San Jose plant..............................

8R01C100001

the last 6 numbers would start counting up from 100000. With a VIN of 8R01J157974 it means this was the 57974th car built. Roughly 6000-7000 cars built per month makes this one built in April.

 

[Stacey Enderle]

I thought they started the next year abit sooner.

It is common knowledge that the model year starts building in LATE July or early August. The Vin numbers would start out like this if they were built at the San Jose plant..............................

8R01C100001

the last 6 numbers would start counting up from 100000. With a VIN of 8R01J157974 it means this was the 57974th car built. Roughly 6000-7000 cars built per month makes this one built in April.

Interesting,....they stopped the production of the CS's as of July 30th 1968for the 68 models, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[390cs68rcode]

Interesting,....they stopped the production of the CS's as of July 30th 1968for the 68 models, if I'm not mistaken.

july is the ending month for all models (vintage fords). they start the next year in late july or early august. they still do that to this day, for the most part.

 

[mrhotrod78]

MartiAutoWorks results are in....... It is confirmed by Kevin Marti that my friend's 68 mustang is a true California Special. I took pictures of the report so that you view it. Pics are posted below.