Pick of the Day: 1968 Ford Mustang 428 CJ

Ford Motor Company was In the 1960s, with its “Total Performance” racing program, the program launched a full-scale attack on nearly every form of automotive competition around the world. However, FoMoCo’s lineup is missing something that can be found on the high street. Our pick of the day is a car that saved the manufacturer’s reputation, the 1968 Mustang GT 2+2 powered by the 428 Cobra Jet. A private seller in Hubbard, Ohio, listed the car for sale on ClassicCars.com. (Click this link to view the list)

Ford was experiencing performance problems in 1967 – its sports and performance cars were failing to gain traction in the market. When the Fairlane GT was introduced in 1966, it was discovered that this midsize performance car was no match for the GTO or many other models offered by the Detroit manufacturer. Ford even had the guts to downgrade the GT in 1967, replacing the standard 390 with the tepid 289, which also lost 15 horsepower. Of course, Ford introduced the 427 in 1966, but only 57 were built, all of the same cars being used in racing groups; the 427 returned in 1967, but only about 250 were built, plus a handful installed on the Mercury Comet . To make matters worse, Ford advertised the 427 but never installed one on the 1968 Fairlane.

The redesigned 1967 Mustang didn’t fare much better. Yes, 320 horsepower is a nice addition, but when up against something like the Camaro SS’s L78 396/375, the high-output Firebird 400, or anything with a 440 or Hemi, it falls flat. Things didn’t get better in 1968, especially with more competition from Chrysler (340, which far outperformed the 390) and AMC (Javelin and AMX). The 427 was also on the radar, but that didn’t happen – when it appeared on the 1968 Cougar, it was an upmarket GT-E model with a detuned engine (390 hp), only available with an automatic transmission .

390 isn’t Dearborn’s only problem. The issue also extends to available engines with performance potential. Just look at 1967 Chevrolet, which offered the Camaro with a 290-horsepower 302, a 275-horsepower 327, a 295-horsepower 350 and two styles of the 396 (expanded to three in 1968). What does Ford offer? Sturdy lifts Hi-Po 289 (discontinued after 1967) and 390. Ford’s parts division has a vibrant catalog, but fans are interested in buying performance cars from the showroom without having to rely on visiting the back end of a dealership.

Yet it was these parts catalogs that held the secret to reversing Ford’s unfortunate fortunes. Tasca Ford in Rhode Island built a solid 428 for the Mustang and found it stood out from the competition. It showed Ford what it could do, and Ford soon launched its own version of the same car in late December 1967. The 50 fastbacks didn’t have the same engine parts as the Tasca, but they were taken out of the parts bin. Several of these 50 cars made news at the Winternationals in early 1968, and in April, Ford officially released the 428 Cobra Jet to the public. This engine is suitable for Ford Mustang GT, Fairlane/Torino, Mercury Cougar and Comet/Montego/Cyclone. Perhaps Ford’s engine lineup was still lacking compared to the competition, but the 428 CJ helped repair FoMoCo’s street cred in a way that Total Performance couldn’t.

This Gulfstream Aqua 1968 Ford Mustang GT 2+2 is equipped with a 428 Cobra Jet engine. You can tell because it’s the only Mustang to sport a black stripe on the hood and a functional hood scoop (the latter was something the midsize CJ didn’t come with until 1969). The car features a floor mounted automatic transmission, 3.91 gears with limited slip, matching bucket seats, white “C” stripes, power disc brakes, Goodyear Polyglas F70-14 tires wrapped on Styled Steel wheels and AM/FM stereo options. “Collectible piece in excellent quality condition,” says the seller. “It’s a lot better now than it was in 1968 when it rolled out of Dearborn.”

In 1968, the 428 Cobra Jet Mustang only produced 1,299 Mustangs, 1,044 of which were fastbacks. Interestingly, this is even rarer than the Shelby GT500KR! While early Mustangs captured the public’s imagination, it was this car that captured the attention of fans. For just $132,500 (OBO) you can own a CJ that very well represents the car that saved Ford.

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