1968 Ford Mustang GT/CS California Special in Aqua & Ride on My Car Story with Lou Costabile

[@derekantill3721]

A very rare and smart looking Mustang. Great that the owner enjoys his car and takes it out on the road daily. ❤

[@loucostabile]

Hi Derek, Happy to read you appreciate the rarity of this car :-) I agree, it's nice he drives it, Lou

[@TheGunfighter45acp]

Fantastic! It's another great (& rare) car in another great color. I love that Mr. Snelling daily drives it, too. All of us are definitely California dreamin' today. Thanks, Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi TheGunfighter45acp, Happy to read "Fantastic!" :-) I like he daily drives this car too. "definitely California dreamin' today." I agree. You're welcome, Lou

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

🙋‍♂️THANKS LOU,DAVE 🤗🥶 SUPER COOL CAR, A DREAM 💭 CAR , I LOVE ❤️ THE TAILLIGHTS AND THE COLOR, but I would have to make the lights sequential😁💚💚💚

[@loucostabile]

You're welcome Budget Audiophile Life-long. Sequential tail lights are cool :-)

[@danielulz1640]

That is a fun car, and I love the color.

[@loucostabile]

"That is a fun car, and I love the color." I agree.

[@mmartin2924]

Pretty nice 68 CS. I have something similar. 68 S-code, Acapulco Blue with black vinyl roof, black deluxe interior, and a bunch of rare option. Owned it since 89. Bought it from the original owner in SoCal. She is MINT!

[@loucostabile]

Hi M Martin, Happy to read you have a fun car too :-) NICE! Lou

[@JeffKing310]

What a beautiful Mustang - great colour! First I have heard of a California special. Very cool! Thanks Lou and Dave for letting see this beauty.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jeff, It's only the 2nd one I've had on the Channel and here is the 1st one 10 years ago. Enjoy, Lou kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqrGhZevn7xnebc

[@bighank796]

A rare, and blue beauty from B. lou and his buddy. 😅

[@loucostabile]

Hi Big Hank, Happy to share BLOUIE with youie :-) Lou

[@godsowndrunk1118]

A high school classmate back in the 70's had a California Special in the same color...his was a 302 J-Code 4spd. He still has it.... upgraded with 351 Cleveland and 5spd. He retired from the Ford Garage in town. Those tail lights on Shelby's and CS's are actually Thunderbird lights...which were sequential.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Gods own Drunk, Happy to read this car is like your High School Classmates car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@cesargarduno5959]

Mustangs are in a special place in my heart since the first car other than dodge in my family was an ‘81 fox body that my mother bought new. I still can remember the way it smell when I first got in it. Just loved that red in red car. A few years later, I learned to drive with it. This blue mustang is a beautiful and special example. I really want one! Thanks for your video Lou.

[@loucostabile]

Hi César, Happy to read "Mustangs are in a special place in my heart" :-) Nice. Hope you're behind the wheel of the right Mustang for you soon. You're welcome, Lou

[@Z7d3nR4]

Nice! 289/302 were my favorite Ford V8s. Excellent engines. And, of course, the 300 straight 6.

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read this one has one of your favorite Ford engines in it :-)

[@scotmiller4029]

Used to see one just like this driving around Santa Barbara in the 80's - Beautiful car!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Scot, Happy to read this car brings back memories of the car in Santa Barbara you remember :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@briancobb1304]

Sounds like a 289 Big Block! What a prize of a muscle car. Beautiful color... so much to like about this car even if you're not a Mustang guy.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Brian, Happy to read "so much to like about this car even if you're not a Mustang guy." NICE! Lou

[@413x398]

My first car was a GTCS. Bought August of '73 from the first owner. So so many stories about that car. Still have it.

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you still have your fun car :-)

[@classicmusclecarexhaust1988]

Wouldn't I love to go back in time and order this exact GT/CS in this color, and with a 428 Cobra Jet under the hood. Other than the Shelby, this is my ultimate Mustang. If you want to get even rarer, Colorado dealers had the 'High Country Special'. Same car, different decals! Hats off to Dave for using this as a good weather daily driver. Drive it, don't hide it!! Thanks Lou, you made my day.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tom (and JudyAnn), "Other than the Shelby, this is my ultimate Mustang." NICE! I'll keep an eye out for a "High Country Special". Happy to read this car made your day :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@JaimeSalcedoA_72]

How beautiful this rare 1968 Ford Mustang GT/CS model looked in that "Gulfstream Aqua" color in the sunshine! The front end is typical of the attractive Mustangs, but that stylized rear curve that forms part of the trunk, along with the beautiful "California Special" letters on the sides, its elongated guides and elegant fuel cap, make it look, from that perspective, really special. The combination of various shades of blue/turquoise in the interior upholstery combine perfectly; while the beautiful chrome on the dials, steering wheel and shifter, along with the beautiful wood detailing on the steering wheel spoke do the rest. How good that "High Performance" 289 CI V8 sounded when it accelerated (And you're right! Those exhaust pipes seemed to be belching smoke like a dragon's nostrils, haha). A very pleasant final drive! I particularly liked the shot at the beginning, where the road is slightly obscured by a large cloud, and then, as we move forward, everything shines all the way to the background. Lucky Mr. Snelling for having managed to get his hands on this unique Mustang! Best regards, Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Jaime, Happy to read you enjoy "How beautiful this rare 1968 Ford Mustang GT/CS model looked in that "Gulfstream Aqua" color in the sunshine! " :-) NICE! Always enjoy reading what you see, Lou

[@cjdesign5700]

Dave has a sweet Pony in a beautiful color...Thanks Lou

[@loucostabile]

I agree. You're welcome CJ Design

[@danam0228]

OMG, this is one beautiful Mustang. Love the color and taillights even though they aren't sequential. And sounds awesome. Sure is special! Thanks, Dave and Lou!

[@loucostabile]

High praise. You're welcome danam0228!

[@danam0228]

@loucostabile you're the man, Lou

[@licence1001011]

❤got to show my uncle this one🎉

[@loucostabile]

Nice :-)

[@leroycaudill96]

My first to see a very beautiful mustang from that era thanks Lou God Bless.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Leroy, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) Blessings received. God bless you too, Lou

[@OldRustySteele]

I miss the days when cars had a LARGE variety of colors. I had a 1967 Fairlane 2-door hardtop in “Clearwater Aqua”. It was a beautiful car in a beautiful color. Nowadays, it’s just black, white, gray, silver, and an occasional red. BO-rrrring! 🥱

[@loucostabile]

You're right OldRustySteele, not many colors today unless you're getting an exotic.

Those 68 CS Mustangs were so seen on the roads here in California. I rode in two of them as my friends mom's would drive us to school or back! I still see them in Fresno County!

[@loucostabile]

Hi José, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Friends Mom's car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@brianmoore6306]

Beautiful Mustang! I loved these California Special edition. It looks great in Aqua! Brings back memories of my plain jane, 6 cylinder not near as hot as this car Mustang! The 289 in this car sounds wonderful...Man that growl! I love this car!! THE BEST ENDING DRIVE AWAY OF ALL YOUR VIDS!!!!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Brian, High praise for the looks of this car :-) Glad to read this car brings back memories of your car. Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@canadaverydry]

Beautiful car

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)

[@stacyhazelwood4033]

Ah, it reminds me of my first car. I had a 68 Mustang coupe. It was not a California Special, it was just a plain coupe. Great video.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Stacy, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your 1st car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@ultraviolettp3446]

I believe that is called Gulfstream Aqua - my Dad had a 1968 Torino GT fastback in that color with a black c-stripe. I also believe that Mustang you have featured is built before January 1968 as it would have had to have had headrests. My Dad's Torino was built in December 1967 and did not have headrests; had it been built later than that in the model year, it would have been required by Federal law so to equip. Once again you have featured quite the vehicle. Lou is the best!

[@loucostabile]

Hi ultraviolet tp, Here is one for your Dad. Enjoy! Lou kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHSlkGeOiNCqkNk

[@garybishop4030]

I believe the headrests were mandatory in Jan. '69.

[@todddenio3200]

I have seen GR/CS in pictures but have never been fortunate enough to see one in person

[@loucostabile]

Here is one more for you to enjoy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqrGhZevn7xnebc

[@Gas_n_Gears]

You knew what it was on the road if you could get close enough to the tail lights. Those were the days, when you saw people driving cars like this to work and the grocery store. 😊 My only '68 was the Cougar XR-7.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mark, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@motorTranz]

Absolutely 😍😍😍😍😍 Thanks Lou!

[@loucostabile]

Hi motorTranz, Happy to read and see you enjoy the looks of this car :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@opera93]

Thanks, Dave & Lou: interestingly a quick overview of 68 Mustang, California S ! And, a nice touch on “ low numbers/Special/ ZONE/ Limited/Designer/😅Military/Dealer/Indy500,etc!! , Vehicles…

[@loucostabile]

Hi Opera, Happy to read you enjoy this overview of this car :-) Lou

[@darylkik777]

Beautiful car. First Denver had the "High Country", California obviously had, "California Special," and I remember seeing some "Twister Editions", here around Kansas City later. Now that is a daily driver we all dream of like Lou said.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Daryl, Hmmm, High Country....I'll have to keep an eye out for that one. Here is a Twister Edition for you to enjoy, Lou kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5Kkhp6FqK-Ha8k

[@darylkik777]

@@loucostabile Thank you as always Lou. Produced from 1966-’68 as a special promotion vehicle for Colorado-area Ford dealers. The California Special GT/CS´s story and the HCS´s are intertwined, and some historians will argue, begins not in the Golden State, but in the Rockies, where one of the first-if not the first-regional Mustang limited editions was created in 1966. Despite a strong national case of Mustang fever, sales slowdowns were occurring in certain markets during the line’s second full year of production. Whether the drop was due to over-saturation or a slowing economy wasn’t important to Thurlo Newell of the Denver-area district office, who took delivery in July of 333 High Country Specials from the San Jose Ford plant.

[@BrianJensen-hq5xj]

I like this car ALOT!

[@loucostabile]

NICE!

[@Rarerat]

Real nice looking 68

[@loucostabile]

Hi Rarerat, Chevy Guy likes this Ford....NICE! Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@johnjuarez8005]

289 2v, and 2.79 gears, and freeway troller for sure!

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

2:12 It’s so interesting to me at least, I used to drive past 5555 Manchester in Los Angeles on my way home in Playa del Rey from work almost every day. That’s the Ford dealership where this Mustang was first delivered to in 1968. I was only 9 years old when this car was delivered.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Mitchell, Happy to read this car brings back memories :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

You bet, Lou! I really enjoy your style.

[@barrycuda3769]

I knew of one of these in the south island of New Zealand, it was in non mettalic maroon.

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read this car brings back memories of the one you remember in the south island of New Zealand :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing.

[@automatedelectronics6062]

Being a native Californian, I remember when these cars were new and seeing them driving around. Most that I saw had the sequential turn signals. This must have been a dealer add-on. I believe that the system originated with the '64 T-bird and the Mercury Cougar often had them in their Cougar tail lights. It was just a long-narrow relay box in the trunk, bring electro-mechanical. Noting that the car originally came with a 302-2V, to do it right, when adding a 4-Bbl. carb and manifold(both available through Shelby), the 302-4V also had 4V-spec heads, which had 302-4V cast into the top of the heads, under the valve covers. The 289-4V had similar castings. From the slightly lumpy idle, it probably has a higher performance cam, too. Sadly, when equipped with an automatic these cars got the C-4 baby gearbox. From the sounds of the shifting, it's obvious that a shiftkit had been installed. This was a necessity behind a V8 to allow the transmission to live. In 1970, Ford came out with the small-case C-6 behind the 351C's. Some swapped the C-4's out with the new C-6's. We did a few. Shelby and Ford parted ways in 1968 when Bunkie Knudsen took over and after that the '68 Mustang Shelbys were built in-house at Ford. The '69 Mustang Shelby's were warmed-over '68's. Outside of California, not to be left out, Ford re-badged these '68 Mustang coupes(all were notch-back coupes) the GT/HS(for GT High Sierra Special). My wife's parents bought a new GT/HS in 1968. They were in SW Nebraska but normally bought their vehicles in Denver, CO or Cheyenne, WY because of better prices. These special Mustangs were merely just a trim package, adding the Shelby rear-end look to a Mustang GT, as Ford already had the parts. Most that I've encountered had the 302-2V V8's. I don't think that I've ever seen one with a factory 390 V8. It's great seeing one of these cars again, they are rare sights, as most are either languishing in garages or moved to another State. Thank you!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Automated Electronics, Happy to read this car brings back memories of when they were new :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome, Lou

[@tomblake3809]

Very nice CS Stang.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Tom, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Lou

[@gene978]

Beauty!!! You have to look close at the Marti Report. The car was Actually Built on 3/12/68 and it says and scheduled to Build on 3/13/68. Crazy 😅

[@loucostabile]

Hi gene978, Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-) I like it too! Thanks for viewing and sharing what you notice, Lou

[@stevenhwilcox2640]

What a looker Lou! Beautiful color and condition, but that sound……music to a feller’s ears! I do not remember this model, but I am over 20. Maybe a “poor” man’s Shelby?!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Steven, Happy to read you enjoy the looks and sounds from this car :-) Lou

[@СергійШамін]

Класний сілуєт! Гарний колір! Чудове авто! Дякую!

[@loucostabile]

Hi Сергій, Happy to read "Cool silhouette! Nice color! Great car! " :-) You're welcome, Lou

[@czechmate6916]

Nothing like a old school muscle car 💪💪🇺🇸🇺🇸🇨🇱🇨🇱 Thank you Lou keep doing what you do buddy 👍👍 I had heard that the the sequential taillights were exclusive to the Shelby’s only but I don’t know for sure.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Czech Mate, Thanks for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome. My pleasure sharing with you, Lou

[@brianstallard5446]

I thought the Cougars were also sequential.

[@czechmate6916]

This is not a cougar that’s the Mercury division. This is on the Ford Mustang

[@IAmAnAdowablePanto2190]

Cool how these were only made in California which is where I'm from

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you and this car are both from CA :-)

[@raysosebee8841]

Beautiful 68 Mustang! This Mustang guy is envious!

[@loucostabile]

Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this car :-)

[@raysosebee8841]

@@loucostabile I've loved Mustangs all my life! I'm 58. My dad had two 65's and a 67 when I was growing up. My first car was a 66 when I was in high school. I remember seeing my first California Special here in Texas when I was a kid.

[@arliemoses4272]

Beautiful car. Just a quick note that the trunk weatherstripping should be on the deck lid instead of on the body.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Arlie, Happy to read you appreciate the looks of this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this KZbin Channel, Lou

[@razvancalin6453]

Lou, hats off again! I have a question for both Dave and all Ford guys out there. The Marti says the engine is a 289-2V, which wasn't the High-Power variant. In 1968, the HiPo was not available anymore, and the 289 'Challenger' V8 only came with a two-barrel, and 195 hp is far from the 271-hp of the true HiPo.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Raz, I'm not sure. Hoping a Viewer with knowledge can share, Lou

[@davidphillips5395]

When I was 14, a buddy of mine's mom had a '68 Mustang. We discovered that if we turned on either turn signal and then held the 4-way flasher switch in - PART WAY - the "power" circuit would backfeed through the turn signal circuit and feed the "on" circuit. Then, we could listen to the radio! LOL Thanks for bring back that memory. Really great ride!

[@loucostabile]

Hi David, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Buddy's car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing, and you're welcome, Lou

[@Iraqkingdom1921]

At that time they called it a youth car,I wonder what they call it now....

[@loucostabile]

They call is "Cool" now :-)

[@randyhammett4467]

Nothing in the world compares to a Mustang small block at hard throttle.

[@loucostabile]

Hi Randy, Thanks for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@arliemoses4272]

They were eventually sold by dealers from Hawaii to Missouri.

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@TerryWeinhold-z7j]

and I thought I`d seen every car ever made.....

[@loucostabile]

Hi Terry, I think I've seen a lot of cars, and yet I keep finding ones that surprise me....which I think is a good thing :-) Glad you're along for the ride, Lou

[@freakindawgen]

Does it have the turn indicators in the hood? Also in-between the intrument cluster is a running horse. It lights up red when high beams are on.

[@loucostabile]

Hi freakindawgen, Hmmm, I'm not sure. I didn't try the high beams, so I'm not sure about that either. Lou

[@freakindawgen]

@@loucostabile try it out!

[@michaelstrafello7346]

I thought those originally came with 2bbl from the factory

[@loucostabile]

Hi Michael, Thanks for viewing and sharing, Lou

[@keith3970]

Is that Tahoe turquoise?

[@loucostabile]

Gulfstream Aqua Paint

[@keith3970]

Thanks, Lou!!

[@arliemoses4272]

Please contact me if you want the correct fog light posts.

[@loucostabile]

That's kind.

[@michaelcoffey7362]

😀

[@loucostabile]

:-)

[@arliemoses4272]

Beautiful car. Just a quick note that the trunk weatherstripping should be on the deck lid instead of on the body.

[@loucostabile]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.