Beschreibung:

The extraordinary value of many 1960s muscle cars is built upon the presence of original factory-installed options. This fact has created a demand for very specific production information. At the same time, factory ‘build sheet’ records and equivalent electronic data have become available for quite a few muscle cars. These documents spell out the exact equipment originally installed on a specific vehicle at the plant. This information makes it possible for analysts to calculate how many cars were produced with a given option, or in a specified color, etc. The individual records can also document cars built with obscure powertrain/option combinations—and illuminate their scarcity. This 1968 Mustang Fastback with its unusual 390 2V V8 engine is an example. Reportedly, Ford built just 593 Mustangs equipped with the 390 2V X-code V8 during the spring of 1968, to test the market potential for the engine. The idea was that the big engine produced plenty of power to run accessories while cruising, while the 2-bbl. carb helped a bit on gas mileage. The engine’s large displacement assured there would be plenty of torque for all circumstances. Ford had offered a 335-hp 390 4V (4-bbl. carburetor; VIN code 'S') V8 in the intermediate Fairlane GT in 1966 and expanded it to Mustang GT availability during 1967. However, the 'big block' 390 4V didn’t catch on with muscle car buyers. When the 428 CJ became available in the Mustang GT on April 1, 1968, it effectively killed whatever lingering interest there was in the 390 4V as a true muscle car motor--and the 390 2V was also apparently a consequent victim as well. (Ironically, although the 390 4V never quite established street cred as a high-performance motor, the most famous Mustang performance car ever is a 390 4V-powered 1968 Mustang GT Fastback—we’re referring to, of course, the car driven by Steve McQueen in the most famous movie car chase ever filmed, the full-throttle duel-to-the-death road race between the Mustang and the Dodge Charger in the 1968 film, Bullitt.) The present owner of the GT X-code Fastback offered here obtained a ‘Marti Report’ from Ford historian Kevin Marti for this rare X-code 1968 Mustang GT Fastback, VIN 8R02X169848. The Marti Report tells us that, of the 42,582 1968 Mustang Fastbacks built, only 189 had the X-code 390 2-bbl. V8 engine—all with automatic transmission. Marti further indicates that 24 of the X-code Fastbacks, including this one, were painted Candy Apple red, and of them, three had the black Decor Bucket Seats. Two of the three red/black cars had the GT Equipment Group and only one of the two red/black GTs had Headrests and that one is the car being offered here; it is a documented 'one-off' in terms of its build combination. According to the offered car’s owner, the red X-code Mustang offered has undergone a complete frame-off rotisserie restoration since being discovered in a Washington State barn and is a ‘numbers matching’ car. In addition to the options mentioned in the Marti Report, this GT is also equipped with power steering, an AM radio and floor console.