Ford's Sporty Full-Sizer: The 1968 Ford XL GT Fastback

[@DanEBoyd]

Dark green looks good on a lot of cars.

[@WhittyPics]

My dad had a 67 Mercury Marquis in dark green

[@deanstevenson6527]

🥝✔️ Strong Cars make Strong friends.

[@seiph80]

My car is dark green

[@marko7843]

That's a big 10-4! God forbid they make any cars today with green or yellow or blue paint OR interiors...

[@Jjrmtv]

'68 was a GREAT year for American autos

[@TonyKuehler]

My favorite detail on the 1968 XL fastbacks is the wide v-shape at the base of the rear window. It not only looks good but I bet it sheds water and prevents rust much better than a straight edge. And the color is awesome, keep those dust rags handy!

[@markbehr88]

Very good looking cars. I like the 69 and 70 XL models too

[@LakeNipissing]

_"Ford's Sporty Full-Sizer"_ Interesting... as soon as you mentioned this, the 1969 Mercury Marauder X-100 was the first thing that came to mind!!

[@robertchristie9434]

In '69 I ordered a new '70 XL 429 loaded took delivery October 1st & exactly one year later got T-boned in front of (ironically) the Ford Glass house (World Headquarters) in Dearborn Michigan. The Ford was totaled. Replaced it with a '67 LTD, nice car. Bought a '68 metallic Aqua XL in '72 from the original owner for $1,500. It had only 42K miles. Good looking, very comfortable & reliable. Had it for 4 years & was one of the best cars I ever owned. Thanks for bringing back some great memories.

[@jamescalvin902]

It's among my earliest memories: My Dad had a beautiful gold '68 XL with that 390. It vanished amid post-divorce turmoil in the early 70s. I wish I had pictures of it. A different era.

[@garysarnowski3113]

Father, in NY State Police, had a 68 custom, white, tan cloth interior, 390 engine, dual exhaust sedan unmarked police car. Put 1960 Buick full wheel covers on it versus poverty caps. The lieutenant had a 68 also, his had 428 engine in it. The little engine size fender markers, always made sure my dad's 390 ones were clean. Lol

[@joes7968]

Thank you Adam for showcasing all of these beautiful Fords from the late 60’s! Absolutely a high water mark for the company. It is wonderful that there are local collectors that share these beautiful cars with us.

[@davet231]

Man makes me miss my Wimbledon White ‘68 Galaxy 2 door fastback. 390, 3 speed, and 3.90 rear ratio. Was in my family from new and was my first car. Had a nice gentleman give me a bunch of parts off his XL, was looking forward to putting on the hideaway headlights. Car was warmed over pretty good, disappointed some cars that should have ate the the land yacht’s lunch, including a 396 chevelle. Also beat myself up when I couldn’t buy a 68 galaxy 2 door fastback in that green with a 428 and 4 speed on a meecum auction that went for like $6k in ‘07 or so. Was a beauty and would have loved to have it to replace the 68 galaxy sized hole in my heart.

[@gregoryj.m.8985]

Very nice looking Galaxie XL , and convertable parked next to it...I've held onto my Grandparents 68 Galaxie 500 two door coupe , in Platinum Diamond Blue with Blue interior , and a strong running 390 ...it is a completely original and well kept automobile , and it is a pleasure to drive.

[@lonwaslien104]

That gold stripe really sets it off 👍

[@georgeharleydavidsonrider156]

Could have bought at 1968 XL Convertible . Beautiful car . I bought a 1971 Charger with a 440 cid instead . thank you for the memories .

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great looking Fastback!!!

[@wraithconscience]

Love these "Tony" episodes -- they contribute so much detail, both technical and observational. XL fastbacks are iconic. Great episode.

[@leightonfarms4962]

Amen

[@Slimjim260]

That’s just fabulous in every way

[@williamscoggin1509]

My first car back in the mid-1970s was a 67 Ford XL 390 cubic inch. Burnt umber with black interior. God I wish I still had it!!! 🤍

[@sergioleone3583]

Great looking ride!

[@jazzandbluesculturalherita2547]

My Father bought me a '71 Ford XL for my first car for use while away at university. It was a 390 c.i. 2V model with a 3-speed automatic trans. The 2-bbl. carb so restricted the 390 that it barely seemed to run at all; the 4V I'm sure would've let it run much stronger when getting into the secondaries, and still get better gas mileage when not. My car was the AC model, but the AC system had long before stopped working with the farmer my Dad bought the car from; we never did spend the money to get it fixed and running. Those long 2-door coupe doors were SO heavy; the driver door hinge and latch post were already well-worn when we received the car, it took a VERY determined slam to get it closed and latched! It was a large and safe vehicle from my Father's perspective, something to protect me well from injury if I ever was in a collision.

[@aaronwilliams6989]

Dark green is pretty attractive.

[@votingcitizen]

Gotta like that chevron shape on the rear window. And those gold side stripes look fast sitting still. Nice oval gauge pod, like your undertaker LTD.

[@carlc5748]

Ah, my favorite of style of all of the big fords, stunningly beautiful!

[@christopherkraft1327]

Hey Adam, this Ford 68 XL is stunning!!! The dark green color is beautiful, my dad's 69 LTD Brougham was the same attractive color!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂

[@audieconrad8995]

Dark green and variations thereof were standard of the time. Good color.

[@terrencesimpson9113]

I knew a kid that got a 1969 fairlane from his parents in 1977. It had the 390 2V, and it had a surprising amount of power.

[@johnlandacre767]

This Ford is beautiful. Perfect color and impeccable paint and interior. Ford really was doing some great styling in later 60s and early 70s.

[@dmandman9]

I remember these XLs . You do a great job of taking us down memory lane.

[@MG-sj1em]

I had a 1970 XL. It had a 429 4V with a Police Pack it had been an Oklahoma state Police detective car, had a bench seat. I believe you could get a Winsor or a Cleveland engine luck of the draw. Most were Winsor. One of the fastest cars I ever had. Had over 400+ Hp and I'm not sure about torque it was a lot as I would constantly tear apart motor mounts and burn off tires. I would race Firebirds, Camaros, Mustangs, Vettes and beat them all. That said I forgot Fords had 428 and 429s, it was starge. 1965 thru 1970 were great times for Galaxy, LTD, XL lovers. (65 being one of the best) Great video thanks for sharing!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam, Even though you denied him a speaking part in this video, I will still say hello to Tony!!!😁

[@tonyscarcare5657]

I was talking the whole time. You just couldn't hear me! Thank you and hello! 😊

[@gordtulk]

Fantastic quality paint job.

[@bentrovato3082]

Adam you are so cool about integrating Tony's comments. Brings back a lot of memories. That 390 pulled our boat to the lake many times. Never a burp.

[@hackfabrication139]

I owned one back 'in the day'. Bought it used. Same color, but with the goldish/green interior. 428, 4spd. A/C, no PS (I added it later). Sold it to buy a new 1973 Pontiac GrandAm (LeMans based with new 'squishy nose" front), 400, auto, triple burgundy. The big XL was and is, the only car I wish I'd hung onto.

[@70sleftover]

Thank you for showing this beauty. My love for the fastbacks started as a little kid who noticed cars. Fords and Mercurys were the best-looking of that period, I think. Just plain cool. I just don't recall seeing a two-door LTD - seeing that formal roofline you glanced at here tells me why.

[@88SC]

Great looking car! Those years had to be the pinnacle of US styling, just prior to the 5 mph bumper regs.

[@billyjoejimbob56]

Sure is the Greenfield Village Motor Muster event a few weeks ago. I drove by these beauties many times in a Model T that day. Kudos to all who enjoy this great event!

[@country4lyfe365]

Never seen one of these. This is awsome.

[@jakespeed63]

What a fantastic personal luxury vehicle. Rarely seen at any shows, these days. Looks really good in that green. Same color as Dad’s 1968 Country Squire wagon

[@DSP1968]

It's just a beautiful car! And of course, I'm partial to that color, having a '68 Cougar in the same color, also with a black interior.

[@SportsKnowItAll11]

In HS in the late ‘70’s, I bought a ‘66 Galaxie 500 Coupe, in dark green with black interior. The ‘66 is cool because it had a swooping rear window but especially unique to ‘66 was it’s square tall lights. I believe that was the only year for those. Adam, am I correct?

[@damianbowyer2018]

Nice-Looking Ford XL GT Fastback, Adam😀🤘🏿

[@Troy_nov1965]

I have seen this car on Tonys channel . Its one of my favorite Fords on You Tube. The fastback roof and hidden head lights makes this a very good looking car. Never understood why the LTD did not have this roofline or at least have a XL LTD option like in previous year. This model would be grand with a LTD Brougham interior.

[@jrgrissinger]

Well done Sir!

[@NorlandBoxcar]

Gorgeous car with perfect colour. I can appreciate this car more now in mid life than my younger years. Very nice. Mopar attracted me more in younger years because the sporty cars often stayed unique and non conflicted with the family sedans. It seems GM and Ford often used the same tail lights and front ends on both sport cars and family cars. This was rather conflicting for a younger man to accept. However, today I can overlook this and this car is super sexy!

[@michaelhicks9735]

Love this car Adam. Tony, glad you got to share it with so many people.

[@tonyscarcare5657]

Thanks Michael!

[@Cmperry9]

Have a no option 68 xl 500 fastback. 302 fmx, bench seat car. Been in the family since new.

[@andrewhigdon8346]

Tony is very informed on these old Fords. I’ve watched his channel too and his knowledge is very impressive. 1967-1968 full sized Fords are my favorite cars. Period.

[@janicegagnon6770]

From Jan's husband, 68 XL, LTD best looking front end Ford EVER made. Tony's XL is in my favorite color, maybe one day I'll have one too. The GT interior really looks good. Your black LTD looks so good, if I could find a two door in the future? For now it's just a dream.

[@MrPoppyDuck]

Nice ride!

[@petestaint8312]

Wow! Beautiful car. Wish Tony the best with the car. 👍

[@tonyscarcare5657]

Thank you. I've had it 18 years.

[@petestaint8312]

@@tonyscarcare5657 smoking hot car. 👍

[@DumPhuc]

I'm the 2nd owner of 1 of these, same colour but the formal roof. Best car in my fleet!

[@floydt2029]

Love this style of car! Thanks Adam!

[@kroge007]

I agree with the green color. My dad’s Bonneville had midnight green

[@scootergeorge7089]

In most cases, fastback styling does not work well in large, "full size" cars such as the AMC Marlin and early Dodge Chargers. But this car looks good. Well done, Ford! By the way, the famous Bullit Mustang was also Highland Green.

[@WhittyPics]

Nice looking car.

[@fearsomebeard4290]

That is the 1968 ford to own. Nice car.

[@kevinfestner6126]

I think Heston's red ford xl convertible in the opening credits of the Omega Man is boss. TY for this 68.

[@michaelmarks5012]

Highland green was the same color used on Steve McQueen's Bullitt Mustang.

[@christopherprince3250]

Gorgeous car.

[@EricLaughlin-y1c]

Another great video Adam, thank you!

[@jetsons101]

Thanks Adam, one of my favorite full-sized Fords, that and the 67 fastback....... Great watch and very nice car.

[@johnplovanich9564]

Beautiful

[@towertone]

Have to agree about the green on Fords back then. Friend had a 72 (?) Gran Torino that was gorgeous.

[@jonshellsr.7900]

Beautiful car!!! Thank you for posting. As a kid, I rode around in the backseat of one of those, inhaling copious amounts of second-hand smoke 😂.

[@marko7843]

Make that " 😤 "... lol

[@RobertKinchen]

I enjoy how many 1968 models you showcase. It’s the year I was born and I love to see the options my parents would have had at that time period. Another great episode…thanks for doing such a good job.

[@kellismith4329]

That is a sweet looking car for sure, years ago a friend of mine had a mercury marauder that looked very similar to that, I tnink I recall his having a 429 engine though it was a fast car

[@billyfoster3223]

Fastbacks are always a good thing! Remember the 65-66 Mustang fastback!😁👍🛠️

[@dave1956]

I think that this is really is a great looking car. The XL was not a very common vehicle when new. I remember the secretary at the local Ford dealer had one. She and her husband used to trade cars every year. After the XL she bought a 1969 Mustang Grande. Her XL was pretty basic in Sunlit Gold with a black vinyl bench seat interior. I saw the car around town for many years after. I agree the dark green looks great on this car.

[@HAL-dm1eh]

I had a 69 Mustang coupe that was absolutely loaded, just short of having the Grande name and it was kind of puzzling as to why it wasn't a Grande. It had the vinyl roof, 302 automatic, AC, power steering, etc, etc and a beautiful metallic Jade Green finish. I think the Grande also could come with the 351W though, and I did drop in a 351C. 💪

[@Slimjim260]

God it’s beautiful I wish I had one

[@tombrown1898]

Beautiful car! From the rear, that roofline is simply perfect. Jay Leno has a 1966 XL in deep red. Of all his cars, that's the one I'd pick.

[@houstontexas4658]

Very cool car!

[@leximatic]

I always wondered, which vintage car i should buy. Now i know.

[@eth39232]

Would be interesting if any XL's with the Big Six still survive. 1968 was the year when Ford started de-emphasizing the Galaxie 500 in favor of the LTD>

[@aaronwilliams6989]

Sharp car.

[@michaelwhite2823]

Nicely optioned

[@richkulowski840]

Very Clean car! The highland green looks great on this car. I’m a Ford guy but have never seen a 68 before with the hideaways! My brother had a 69 XL 390 2bbl green convertible green but not sure if it was called Highland green or not? Thanks for posting, great to see these rare cars.

[@dmandman9]

I believe the 390 was one of the most common options of that year for the full sized cars in that era. The 302 Was also fairly common. But I can only recall seeing one or two with the 240. It was a torquey engine at low rpm’s. So I guess it probably moved off the line ok. But if I recall correctly, it would run out of breath at higher rpm’s.

[@2packs4sure]

Tony's got that XL close to perfect but he does need to fine tune those headlight doors...

[@tonyscarcare5657]

Maybe I should do a video on that. It's not as easy as it looks.

[@2packs4sure]

@@tonyscarcare5657 Please do,, I know it can be a pain.

[@arkhsm]

Love that V shape in the rear fastback window !!

[@moparguy37]

It's cool to see a Mustang or a Camaro at a car show but to see something like this?? Always gets my attention!!!

[@MARKB3946]

My first car was a '69 XL. Red with white interior.

[@erikswensen425]

Nice info on these cars Adam, I never knew there was a full size GT car. You should do an episode on the 67 Galaxie lineup

[@tonyscarcare5657]

They only offered an XL GT for 68 and 69.

[@kayeninetwo3585]

Beautiful car! I've liked these for a long time, in part because I just don't see that many of them in vintage car communities. Yes, the fastback roof looked great. Interesting about the color though. My '54 Ford Ranch Wagon was also originally painted a color called "Highland Green." I'm wondering if that color was changed a little between 1954 and 1968, because the parts of my car that still have the original paint - e.g. the engine bay - look slightly different than what this Galaxie is. The Galaxie has a slightly more olive tint to it, which I actually prefer. It might just be the aging of my paint or maybe the video camera changing the look a little bit. At some angles, however, it looks exactly like my old color.

[@Bbbbad724]

I love that color,the 65 Galaxie looks beautiful in that color too, you could buy it with a 427 and 4 speed.

[@dken4048]

Just imagine if Steve McQueen used this model instead of the Mustang for Bullitt

[@drno-xc1yt]

This is an interesting design - it's almost like an LTD and a Dodge Charger of the era had an offspring. It was interesting to learn that the hidden headlights on these cars had that single actuator, as later Fords and Lincolns with hidden headlights were notorious for having the headlight doors open/close not quite simultaneously.

[@Slimjim260]

Never knew or seen that beautiful shifter in ford products wow

[@tonyscarcare5657]

68-71 Ford XL and 69-70 Mercury Maruader only. (Bucket Seat cars)

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Was there a bad looking car in the 60's? I love them all

[@gentlegiants1974]

It's the going thing... Beautiful car.

[@markohara6855]

Awesome car!

[@doughelmle6575]

I had a 68 LTD , red, black vinyl roof ,390 ,4 speed ,bench seat ,no a/c ,back in 1983. LOVED that car. sadly the frame back by rear lower control arms rusted away. Always wanted another one.

[@angeloavanti2538]

I love dark greens too. I've owned 6 cars with shades of it. Classy. When cars had color. Now boring as hell.😢

[@themanwithnoname7576]

I never really liked Ford styling but damn this is a good looking car!

[@tonyscarcare5657]

You should probably take a closer look at a lot of Fords.

[@87PontiacGP]

The XL isnt too bad at all, being more of a GM/Buick guy. However, that Riviera next to it had me going as well. Gotta love the 60's and early 70's styling

[@craigbenz4835]

Agreed, I like the green. I hope we get to see the B-body two cars down.

[@WhittyPics]

It does look good

[@middleclassretiree]

Thanks for sharing Adam I’ve waited a long time for the 68 xl to be featured as I think it and the 67 were the best looking of the full size fords, my folks had one of each . Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t the 2 v 390 a 10.5-1 compression engine ? I know it actually performed very well and returned pretty good mpg for the day

[@robertmcsorley4001]

No, the 390 2 v was regular gas. The 4 barrel in 68 was premium fuel

[@HAL-dm1eh]

Since I've been recently subscribed to this channel and had the pleasure of watching the videos I've noticed lots of inaccuracies of other so called car history buffs. Not to fault them though, as some of this more detailed information is probably to be expected to be more accurate coming from someone who was on the inside so to speak.

[@mcsg_pelecan]

Where was this show? ... Should have waited till the end... Thanks for another video!

[@tonyscarcare5657]

It was here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKe7oXSpoLWfpLc

[@Dangerous_Drivers_of_CA]

Cars were so much better looking prior to 1990s..

[@jamesweddle184]

Beautiful car. I've always been a fan of the full-size "gentleman's" muscle cars. Impala SS, 7 Litre Galaxie, Wildcat, even Plymouth Fury III. It's a shame Chevrolet never offered an SS version of the most recent iteration of the Impala.

[@keeganandersson4281]

They offered the Chevy SS instead, which was a 6.2L powered RWD beast! They sold like shit tho so it was canned ☹️

[@nickbonvino]

Thanks Adam for the review. That’s a good looking car! Do you know if the 428 equipped cars were available with a 4 speed? That would be a sweet combination..

[@tonyscarcare5657]

It was definitely available, and I have the production numbers written down somewhere.