1968 Ford Mustang GT/CS - Grandpa & Grandson Restoration

Thanks to a bit of some smart horse trading, a couple of vintage Mustangs are being kept all in the family. Seven years ago, Westminster, California resident, Rudy Doles, and his family were attending his Uncle Vic's funeral. Rudy noticed that Vic's 1967 Mustang convertible wasn't in his garage. Rudy asked a cousin attending the funeral where the drop top pony car might have wandered off to.

Two Ponies in the Doles' Paddock - What a Deal!

Above: A couple of pony cars rest in Rudy's cousin's garage in Carson, California not long before Rudy purchased the ponies for peanuts ('er not much cash).

As luck would have it, Rudy's cousin had the '67 Mustang in his garage in Carson, California. His cousin mentioned that he didn't have time to work on the convertible, so he was going to sell it along with his 1968 Mustang GT California Special (GT/CS). Rudy had no idea that his cousin owned one Mustang, let alone two! Not long after he found out about them, he bought 'em for $7,500 each. Even better, both were in running condition! 

'68 Mustang GT/CS Gets a Repaint

Rudy and his grandson Dominick stripped away the California Special's burgundy paintwork and took the Mustang down to bare metal. The grandfather and grandson team then constructed a carport paint booth using some blue and black tarps, with some duct tape and plywood sheets to hold everything in place. The team masked off the Mustang before Rudy set to spraying on some primer coats.

A Passel of CI Parts for Rudy's Pony Car

After the priming, sanding, base coats, sanding, block sanding, clear coats, wet sanding, and polishing of the arduous paintwork were accomplished, Rudy replaced a number of old parts with components procured from Classic Industries. Compared to all of that spraying, sanding, and polishing, installing shiny new components from Classic Industries was a breeze and a treat. All of Rudy's and Dominick's hard work was beginning to payoff. 

Above and below: Rudy prepares the CI-procured 22-gallon stainless steel fuel tank for installation in the Mustang. Mustangs originally had 16-gallon fuel tanks, so this California Special has an extended driving range.

Other parts from Classic Industries installed by Rudy and Dominick included:

• GT/CS emblem
• Front seat upholstery
• Cooling fan
• Shock absorbers
• GT/CS taillight kit
• Alternator
• Battery
• Front disc brake kit

Above and below: Rudy installed the CI-purchased black front bucket seat covers. The rebuilt carb atop the Mustang's original 289 cubic inch small block V8 looks fantastic.

'68 Mustang GT/CS Renewed - Another Pony Car Preserved

Rudy's build photos make the Mustang's transformation look like a walk in the park on a sunny Southern California day. Of course, those of us who have restored vintage American muscle know that there's plenty of toil and perhaps a fair bit of frustration that is part of the deal, when you're working on something that's more than 50 years old. But, that's when the sense of accomplishment comes into play with various projects along the way and as you cross the finish line. When the Mustang's all done (as if it ever is), and you fire her up for her first pony car shakedown trot and gallop, that's when you can't keep the smile off your face (unless some little or big issues arise). 

1968 Mustang GT/CS - Now in Candy Apple Red 

Above: The Lucas driving lights look and work great in Mr.Doles' 1968 Mustang GT/CS. 

Above: After installing the rebuilt carburetor and the customized air cleaner assembly (running horse on the snorkel), the Mustang's original 289 cubic inch Ford V8 still runs strong.

Above: The GT/CS quarter panel scoops were also purchased at Classic Industries.

Above: The renewed front bucket seats look much better without duct tape holding the old vinyl together and concealing tears in the seat covers.

Above and below: Rudy's restored Candy Apple Red (paint code T, M2008) 1968 Ford Mustang GT/CS has all the elements of an original California Special, with the GT 14-inch wheels, the California Special script emblem on the quarter panels, the GT/CS stripe that runs to the side scoop, and the Shelby and GT/CS brake scoops. The GT emblem on the rear spoiler is a customer installed extra.

Above: The photos of the 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR convertible and the 1968 Mustang GT/CS are courtesy of Mecum Auctions.