Mustang Round Up highlight – 1968 California Special
For Mustang owners in Victoria – and beyond – the Mustang Round Up is an annual institution. The 2024 edition was no exception, with literally hundreds of Mustangs making the journey to the Dandenong Showgrounds on Sunday, 27 October.
Hosted by the Mustang Owner’s Club of Australia’s Victorian chapter (MOCA Vic.) a Show ‘n’ Shine that’s open to all Mustang owners is the main component of the Round Up, while the MOCA Vic. State Concours and Shelby Nationals takes vehicle presentation to another level and is limited to MOCA members only.
The 2024 Mustang Round Up celebrated 60 years since the Mustang’s debut, as well as the 50th birthday for MOCA Vic., so there was twice the reason to celebrate, with more than 370 cars attending. As you’d expect, the popular first-generation Mustang made up a healthy proportion of that total, split across fastback, coupe and convertible bodies, in a bewildering array of colours and details, reflecting the vast amount of options that were available on these cars when new.
Although Ford had created the “pony car” category with the Mustang in 1964, the fight to stay ahead of rivals, mainly the Chevrolet Camaro, saw a number of limited-edition models released in the late 1960s, including the ‘GT California Special’.
By 1967, Southern California was accounting for one in every five Mustangs built, meaning that dealer network had clout with Ford HQ in Dearborn. As such, when Ford’s District Manager for Southern California, Lee Grey, proposed a Shelby coupe that would be exclusive to the state, he got his way – sort of.
Grey’s idea of offering the Shelby “Little Red” prototype notchback coupe (all Shelbys to that point had been fastbacks) to a larger market was knocked back. However, Ford did approve 5,500 units of a Mustang coupe with similar styling features, but using existing drivetrains, suspension, brakes, colours and interior trim – a Shelby look without the Shelby performance.
Launched in early 1968, the GT California Special (GT/CS) came with the rear spoiler, rear quarter panel extensions and sequential tail lights from a Shelby GT 500, as well as non-functional Shelby side scoops, foglamps, a blackout grille and twist-lock bonnet pins. Special striping on the flanks carried ‘GT/CS’ identification, with additional striping on the rear spoiler, while metal badges with ‘California Special’ script were fitted to the rear quarters.
Despite the GT prefix, the GT/CS could be ordered on non-GT cars and was available with any drivetrain and any colour in the 1968 Mustang palette. The only mandatory item was the notchback coupe body.
Grey’s expectations for the GT/CS proved to be ambitious, with around 4,100 units built (sources vary on the total) of the planned 5,500. It’s alleged these cars were sold well beyond California, too – as far east as Missouri and as far north as Canada!
While many other “regional special” Mustangs were produced during this period, like the Twister, High Country Special, Golden Nugget Special, Cardinal Edition and Lone Star Limited, the GT California Special remains the best known, as well as the most likely to be found in Australia.
The GT/CS featured looks fairly stock, with lowered suspension and wider rear wheels the only obvious differences, but it’s hiding a warm Ford V8 under the bonnet. Full drivetrain spec is unknown, but the presence of a large aftermarket tacho with shift light, plus temp and oil pressure gauges suggests it’s pretty potent.
Brittany Blue paint, a factory colour for 1968, is matched with white GT/CS stripes, while the two-tone seat trim – black with white inserts – is unusual and may be a personal modification. A three-spoke woodrim steering wheel replaces the padded two-spoke factory wheel and an aftermarket stereo has been fitted, too. Along with the aforementioned extra gauges, these are the only other notable variations from stock inside.
To see JUST CARS’ report from the 2024 Mustang Round Up, click HERE.
