I’m not sure I’ve ever had this happen in my decade of writing for The ClassicCars.com Journal, but the stars aligned, and I have the privilege of featuring a muscle car on its birthday. Featured on AutoHunter is a 1968 Ford Mustang Custom Hardtop listed for sale by a private seller in Brush Prairie, Washington. According to the data plate, it was manufactured on Thursday, March 28, 1968 (code “28C”).
About 15 years ago, the car went through a custom build, and it has been driven fewer than 5,000 miles since then. Exterior features include “SpectraMaster Green” paint, GT-style grille, chrome brightwork, fog lamps, driver-side mirror, dual exhaust outlets, and 14-inch wheels wrapped in Grand Am tires.
In 1968, the Mustang was starting to evolve from its original form and function. One of the magazine ads that year said, “Get hip to the great transformer. Mustang makes dull people interesting, and interesting people absolutely fascinating!”
The cockpit was reupholstered in black Italian leather. The bucket seats were sourced from a 1969-model-year Mustang, and features include a custom center console, JME dash with aluminum bezel, Grant steering wheel, power rack-and-pinion steering, AutoMeter gauges, and floor-mounted Hurst shifter. The interior is wired for an audio system (currently, there’s no radio installed). The odometer shows 4,749 miles, which the seller says is reflective of the mileage accrued since the build was completed back in 2011.
The main attraction of this pony car is found under its hood, where the original 289ci V-8 was replaced with a 351ci Windsor V-8 that has been stroked to 393ci. Equipment includes a Holley 750cfm four-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock intake manifold, AFR 202 aluminum heads, billet COMP Cams camshaft, March Performance serpentine belt conversion, Holley fuel pump, aluminum radiator, electric fan, Optima battery, and ceramic-coated headers. A TREMEC five-speed manual transmission sends power to the rear wheels.
Early Mustangs are perennial favorites at The ClassicCars.com Journal, and this hardtop has all the right parts to make it a strong performer. The seller has provided videos showing a cold start and an interior tour.
Happy 58th birthday, Mustang! I’m looking forward to seeing which lucky bidder ends up driving you home.
The auction for this 1968 Ford Mustang Custom Hardtop ends on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
