1968 Ford Mustang 302 5.0 Litre J Code

Built in Dearborn, Michigan and registered on July 24 1968, this one-year-only J-Code Mustang ‘notchback’ was first out-shopped in Royal Maroon, and delivered to Jacksonville, Florida.

Supplied with a 2-door hardtop body (65) Royal Maroon paintwork (B) Black Crease Vinyl trim (2A) a ‘conventional’ 300:1 axle (S) and a C4 automatic transmission (W) this is an excellent example of the desirable Hardtop Mustang, of which only a couple of thousand were made during the J-Code period.

Alongside the above configuration, the car also has air-conditioning and power-steering fitted, both of which are a must for any Mustang.

Not a great deal is known about its life in the states, but it was subsequently imported into the UK during 2016, and has enjoyed the company of only two UK-based owners during this time, coming into the care of the current owner in mid-2021.

Upon arrival in the UK, the first keeper on this side of the pond elected to the have the Royal Maroon bodywork bare metal re-spray in gorgeous Candy Apple red, which we reckon suits the lines, era and ethos of this Mustang very, very well indeed.

Otherwise, the car is believed to be wonderfully original throughout, and has evidently been the pride-and-joy of all of its owners on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Interestingly, the car’s history and provenance has been confirmed by the Mustang Owners Club GB, with a full VIN decode having been carried out for peace-of-mind.

Finally, the low odometer reading can be confirmed by the fact that the car was MoT’d upon import (though it is now registered as a historic vehicle, making it exempt from mandatory testing) with the odometer showing 6,388 miles, confirming that the car has covered only around 2,000 miles during its time in the country.

Resplendent in Candy Apple Red, this Mustang is certainly not for the shy among us, as it is almost guaranteed to draw a crowd wherever you take it, such is the nature of its iconic design and fantastic paintwork.

The bodywork is straight throughout with no sign of any impact damage that we can see. The Candy Apple Red paintwork is generally in very good shape, and retains a wonderful shine, with the bare metal respray evidently having been completed to a good standard.

Looking closer, there is some wear visible on the bodywork - as expected for a car of this age - with some more prominent marks noted around the offside (passenger side in this instance) Mustang badge and front arch, some bubbling around the offside rear arch, and other light wear marks.

It also appears that the boot does not shut evenly, with the left-hand-side being significantly more protruding than the right-hand-side, which sits lower than its shut line. The vendor also notes that the driver’s door lock is inoperable, but suggests this should be an easy fix due to being a purely mechanical system.

The various chrome trim pieces and details are all present and correct, and were retained during the respray. As a result, this example blends relatively recent paintwork with lovely, original and patina’d trim pieces, giving the car a real sense of history.

All four wheels are wrapped in matching, nearly-new Maxxis whitewall tyres, and are in good condition, though there is some surface corrosion and patina showing to various degrees on each wheel.

Inside, the Black Crinkle Vinyl interior looks to be in wonderful condition, having evidently been well-kept throughout its lifetime.

Naturally, there is some wear-and-tear visible to the seats - such as a creases, light scuffs and other minor marks - but we can see no sign of any rips, tears or major damage to the covers, which is good news indeed.

Up above, the headliner is complete and in good shape, with no major sagging to speak of, but some wear noted to the rear C-pillar areas.

The carpets and mats all look to be in great shape - the latter being aftermarket items - with no major wear that we can see, even around high-traffic areas such as the inner edges of the doors and around the transmission tunnel.

The dashboard is in good order with no cracks or major sun-related wear, whilst the door cards are also in fantastic condition for their age. Naturally, the high-traffic areas such as the steering wheel, shifter and arm rests have some light usage wear, but this has been mitigated by the current owner using a cover on the steering wheel when not in use.

As with the exterior, the chrome details, dials and switches have been retained, and wear a fantastic patina that tells the history of the vehicle.

In the rear, the original Royal Maroon paintwork can be found underneath the carpets in the ‘trunk’ which our vendor states a fastidious owner would likely want to replace, though they are perfectly usable as they sit. The boot area itself looks to be solid, though - like most cars from southern states such as Florida - there is some corrosion noted, though it appears to be superficial and has not been flagged in either of the two MoT exams the car has received whilst in the UK.

According to the vendor, all systems are working correctly and there are no issues with any of the windows, gauges or switches.

Pop open the bonnet, and the 302 V8 engine is there in all its glory. As our vendor states “its a wonderfully simple engine” which means there may not be much to look at, but it is largely workable for any competent home mechanic that is used to working with nuts and bolts rather than complicated computer-based diagnostic systems and sensors.

The block itself is in decent visual shape, though no doubt a fastidious owner would systematically work their way through and fit numerous ‘dress up’ parts to transform its appearance, as one owner has already started with the fitment of a polished Edelbrock air cleaner.

Looking closer, it would appear that the air-conditioning compressor and system is not connected, though there are controls for the system in the cabin. The vendor is uncertain as to why the system is not connected, though it may simply need a new belt and a re-gas, but this cannot be confirmed.

According to our vendor, the car is in fantastic shape mechanically. It starts with ease, runs and stops as it should, and idles smoothly (or as smooth as a V8 of this era ever could) and - naturally - produces a wonderful soundtrack; Is there any better automotive noise than a burbling, large-displacement V8? We’d wager there isn’t…

Prior to the current owner, the car was regularly serviced by the first UK-based owner, and also benefitted from new belts, a new exhaust and a new fuel tank in recent years.

Underneath the car, the chassis looks to be in decent shape. There is the usual surface ‘bloom’ across most of the components, frames and suspension systems, though nothing that has been reported as a major concern. The exhaust system was given attention back in 2016 when the car was first imported, so is in better shape than the rest of the underside also at the same time the vendor informs us a new fuel tank was fitted..

The car is correctly registered as a historic vehicle, making it exempt from mandatory MoT testing. However, the most recent exam - dated from 2017 - shows no advisory items.

Included with the vehicle is the V5 showing one former keeper, the letter from the Mustang Owners Club decoding the VIN/Specification, the UK registration documents and an MoT certificate.

Iconic, timelessly cool and effortlessly stylish, there are few cars that can hold a candle to the sheer appeal and recognisability of the first-generation Ford Mustang, the car that really did start the ‘muscle car’ revolution.

This particular 1968 example benefits from being a desirable (and exceedingly rare) J-Code variant, boasting the enlarged engine among other desirable options.

With only two UK-based keepers, low mileage and in reportedly rude mechanical health, this is a fantastic Mustang that still has plenty of potential for the next owner to make their own mark and take this iconic pony car to the next level, making it very appealing indeed to collectors and enthusiasts based upon its provenance, and those looking for a light project thanks to its room for improvement.

Our estimate for this car is £22,500 - £28,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at our headquarters near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, so to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.