Classic Cars & Restoration Parts | Classic Industries

1968 Mustang VIN Decoder - Data Plate and Build Sheet Insights

Written by D. Brian Smith | Sep 26, 2024 5:53:15 PM

For the 1968 Ford Mustang model year, the Ford Motor Company continued to improve upon the already outstanding significance of America's first pony car — the Ford Mustang. Saddle up your Mustangs and let's go for a ride to decipher several data tags and VIN codes. There are a few stunning examples ahead, so stay tuned. We hope this 1968 Mustang VIN decoder will help you learn more about your classic Mustang, or research a car you're planning to buy.

1968 Ford Mustang Convertible Decoded

Above and several below: The Marti Report here is for the 1968 Meadowlark Yellow (code W) convertible (code 76A) that is equipped with a 390-4V V8 engine (code S). The Mustang was built at the Metuchen, NJ (code T) Ford assembly line and is backed by a four-speed manual transmission (code 5). 

Above: There's black vinyl bucket seats in the front and a black vinyl bench seat in the rear (code 2A). All 1968 Mustang convertibles were equipped with a glass rear window, which is pretty cool. With age, the silicone glued seal will crack and will need to be re-glued (or replace the rear window). This convertible has a manual black top. Most Mustang convertibles had hydraulic power tops.

Deciphering a Typical Warranty Plate / Door Data Plate

What the heck is a warranty plate? Also known as the door data plate, the warranty plate is a stamped metal tag affixed to the end of the driver's door.

The warranty number listed on this plate may sound like it's irrelevant, since the factory warranty on every '68 Mustang expired decades ago. However, it actually contains some very useful information about the body type, color, interior trim, manufacturing date and location, and much more.

Vehicle Warranty Number

8 R 01 S 100001

Model Year Code 8
Assembly Plant Code R
Body Series Code 01
Engine Code S
Numerical Sequence 100001

Miscellaneous Vehicle Data

65B H 6U 22J 21 7 U

Body type code 65B
Exterior Color Code H

Interior Trim Code 6U
Production Date Code 22J
District Code 21
Axle Ratio Code 7
Transmission U

1968 Mustang GT/CS - GT/California Special VIN Decoded

Above and below: The 1968 Mustang GT/CS is painted Acapulco Blue (code D). All 1968 Mustang GT/CS vehicles were 2-Door Hardtops or Notchbacks or Coupes (code 65B - stands for a coupe with a Luxury Interior). The engine in this GT/CS is a 390-4V V-8 engine (code S) that is backed by the heavy-duty Ford C-6 Automatic Transmission (code U). She was built in the Dearborn, MI Ford assembly plant (code F). 

Model Year

8 1968

 

Assembly Plant

F Dearborn
R San Jose
T Metuchen

 

Body

Series Type Description
01 65A Coupe
01 65B Coupe (Luxury Interior)
01 65C Coupe (Bench Seat)
01 65D Coupe (Bench Seat, Luxury Interior)
02 63A Fastback
02 63B Fastback (Luxury Interior)
02 63C Fastback (Bench Seat)
02 63D Fastback (Bench Seat, Luxury Interior)
03 76A Convertible
03 76B Convertible (Luxury Interior)

 

Above: You can tell that this 1968 Mustang has a luxury interior from the two chrome vertical emblems in each of the four seat backs (series 1, code 65B - blue vinyl interior trim). Mustangs up through the 1967 model year that had the deluxe interior had pony interiors with embossed ponies running along the seat backs.

Engines

C 289 2v V8
F 302 2v V8
J 302 4v V8
R 428 CJ 4v V8
S 390 4v V8
T 200 1v I6

 

Above and below: This Wimbledon White (code M) with black center hood stripe 1968 Mustang fastback has the 1968 Mustang's most prodigious powerplant, a 428 Cobra Jet 4V V8 (code R), a red vinyl interior (code 6D), and a four-speed manual transmission (code 5). 

Rear Axles

1

2.75:1

2 2.79:1
4 2.83:1
5 or E* 3.00:1
6 or F* 3.20:1
7 or G* 3.25:1
8 or H* 3.50:1
9 3.10:1

* w/Traction Lock

Above: You'll notice that the 1968 Mustang GT/CS also is equipped with air conditioning. How cool is that (couldn't resist)?

Transmissions

1 3 speed manual
5 4 speed manual
U C-6 automatic
W C-4 automatic

 

Above: The Acapulco Blue GT/CS Mustang also sports a rare overhead map light console. This Mustang's loaded.

Interior Trim

Standard Deluxe Description
2A 6A Black vinyl
2B 6B Blue vinyl
2D 6D Red vinyl
2F 6F Saddle vinyl
2G 6G Ivy Gold vinyl
2K 6K Aqua vinyl
2U 6U Parchment vinyl
2Y 6Y Nugget Gold vinyl
7A 5A Black Comfortweave
7B 5B Light Blue Comfortweave
7D 5D Red Comfortweave
7U 5U Parchment Comfortweave
8A 9A Black Comfortweave (bench)
8B 9B Light Blue Comfortweave (bench)
8D 9D Red Comfortweave (bench)
8U 9U Parchment Comfortweave (bench)

 

Above: Acapulco Blue (code D) is a righteous hue on a 1968 Mustang GT/CS.

Paint Colors

A Raven Black
B Royal Maroon
D Acapulco Blue
F Gulfstream Aqua
I Lime Gold
M Wimbledon White
N Diamond Blue
O Seafoam Green
Q Brittany Blue
R Highland Green
T Candy Apple Red
U Tahoe Turquoise
W Meadowlark Yellow
X Presidential Blue
Y Sunlit Gold
6 Pebble Beige

5* Satin Black Trim

 

Date

The first 2 digits are the day of the month.

G July 1967
H August 1967
J September 1967
K October 1967
L November 1967
M December 1967
A January 1968
B February 1968
C March 1968
D April 1968
E May 1968
F June 1968
U July 1968

D.S.O. 1965-1973

The DSO (District Sales Office) code is a two-digit code that indicates the regional sales office that originally ordered the car. Special-ordered Mustangs also had a four-digit sequential order code after the DSO code, which represented the order number for a batch of similarly-optioned cars.

11 Boston 45 Davenport (65/68)
12 Buffalo (65/66) 45 Lansing (72/73)
12 Buffalo (72/73) 46 Indianapolis (69/73)
13 NewYork 47 Cincinnati (69/73)
14 Pittsburgh (65/66) 48 Detroit (72/73)
14 Pittsburgh (72/73) 51 Denver (65/71)
15 Newark 52 Des Moines (65/68)
16 Philadelphia (67/73) 52 Dallas (72/73)
17 Washington (67173) 53 Kansas City
21 Atlanta 54 Omaha
22 Charlotte 55 St Louis
23 Philadelphia (65/66) 56 Davenport (69/73)
23 Memphis (72/73) 57 Houston (72/73)
24 Jacksonville 58 Twin Cities (72/73)
25 Richmond 61 Dallas (65/71)
26 Washington (65/66) 62 Houston (65/71)
26 New Orleans (72/73) 63 Memphis (65/71)
27 Cincinnati (67/68) 64 New Orleans (65/71)
28 Louisville (67/3) 65 Oklahoma City (65/71)
31 Cincinnati (65/66) 71 Los Angeles
32 Cleveland (65/71) 72 San Jose
33 Detroit (65/71) 73 Salt Lake City
34 Indianapolis (65/68) 74 Seattle
35 Lansing (65/71) 75 Phoenix (67/73)
36 Louisville (65/66) 76 Denver (72/73)
37 Buffalo (67/71) 81 Ford of Canada (65/68)
38 Pittsburgh (67/71) 83 Government
41 Chicago 84 Home Office Reserve
42 Fargo (65/68) 85 American Red Cross.
42 Cleveland (72/73) 87 Body Company (71/73)
43 Rocktord (65/66) 89 Transportation Serv.
43 Milwaukee (67/73) 8D Shelby Unit (68)
44 Twin Cities (65/70) 90-99 Export

 

Above: The photo of this 1968 Shelby (code 8D) GT350 Mustang in Candy Apple Red (code T) is provided courtesy of the Ford Heritage Library. If it's a press photo from back in 1967 or 1968, that means you're looking at a brand new Shelby just off the assembly line. The fitment of those fiberglass parts - the hood, the front fascia (nose), etc. is not that good. These American muscle cars we're restoring these days are typically restored better than they rolled off their respective assembly lines, and the above photo is proof.

Get Your Ford Mustang & Shelby Parts @ Classic Industries

Whether you have a Ford Mustang or you're restoring a Shelby Mustang, there's a wonderful chance that Classic Industries can help you find those must-have components. In that instance, you can initiate your search for Ford Mustang parts online. You can also supplement your online parts search by also obtaining the Classic Industries' Mustang Parts & Accessories Catalog. By clicking the button just below, you'll be asked to fill in some shipping information. You can download a PDF version and/or have a printed catalog mailed to you. Happy hunting, shopping, building, driving, and enjoying your Ford Mustang and/or Shelby Mustang!

Classic Industries' Ford Mustang History Articles

We have a growing library of Ford Mustang and Shelby Mustang history articles available for your entertainment, education, and inspiration. Have fun in the CI library:

Above: Mustang photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions.