1968 Ford Mustang GT/CS

First released in 1964 the iconic Ford Mustang created a storm when it hit the streets and it still does to this day. Ford wanted to make the Mustang affordable and therefore it needed to share much of it's engineering with an existing Ford product. They decided to base the Mustang on the smallest US Ford at the time, the Falcon.

The Mustang was initially offered as either a "notchback' coupe or convertible. It shared its front double-wishbone/coil spring and leaf spring rear suspension with the Falcon. Compared to the Falcon its cockpit sat further back on the chassis, resulting in a longer front end and shorter rear design, and it is those proportions and details, like the running horse in the grill, the cut away side panel and the three section rear lights that have resulted in the Mustang enjoying iconic status.

In February 1968 the Ford Mustang GT/CS was unveiled at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles to an enthusiastic reception. A group of Californian Ford dealers, who petitioned Ford for a promotional car to increase showroom traffic felt that a special regional edition of the Mustang was necessary and so the "California Special' was born. Available in 1968 only and in coupe form, the California Special had features that set it apart from a standard car. The rear comprised of a fibreglass "trunk' lid with an upswept "duck tail spoiler', rear lights from a Ford Cougar, a pop-open fuel filler cap, Shelby side-scoops, a blacked-out front grille without the usual Pony logo, Marchal fog lights, name scripts of the rear quarter panels and competition-style quarter turn bonnet locks. Many of these features and parts were present on the Shelby models of the same year, leading people to confuse the GT/CS with a Shelby. Although not all GT/CS cars were sold in California alone, they were certainly built in The Golden State, at the San Jose plant with some 3,867 being produced in 1968 - making the GT/CS variant a rare and highly collectable Mustang today.

Offered here from a private collection is a beautiful GT/CS, finished in red with a tan interior and black vinyl roof. The car was subject to a full nut & bolt "rotisserie' restoration in the US around 2005, and still looks delightful now showing no signs of ageing with the underside of the car presenting impeccably. A previous owner in the States, a Mr Andrew Salemi of Sycamore Illinois, won the 2006 "Carl F Benz Trophy' at the Geneva Concours D'Elegance, Illinois. Mr Salemi kept the car in a temperature and humidity controlled Carcoon, hence why it always remained in A1 condition.

Upon purchase of the car in 2013, our vendor "ran with the baton' and entered the car into the Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain concours at Brand Hatch winning his class in the 1967-68 category. In the summer of 2014 the car was again entered into the club's concours and became the Master Class & Overall Winner at Silverstone, confirming its pedigree.Always one to retain originality, our vendor has replaced the battery with a correct replacement shipped from USA and has fitted a new radiator and "transverse muffler' supplied by the Mustang Workshop in Hook.

We always champion "best of breed' cars here at Silverstone Auctions, and this Mustang GT/CS certainly fits that bill. This car is thought to be the only GT/CS in the UK and with an MoT until September '15 and an accompanying history file documenting the restoration photographically this GT/CS is ready to be shown this summer and win its next trophy!