By D. Brian Smith
Photography: Courtesy of Mecum Auctions
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:
- Ford Mustang History: Creating the First Pony Car
- 4th Gen SN95 Mustang History: Development & "Fox 4" Concept Cars
- Fox Body Mustang: Development, Concepts, and 1979-1993 Year Changes
- 1964-1973 Ford Mustang VIN Decoder & Pre-Purchase Buyer's Guide
- 1964.5 (Early 1965) Mustang VIN & Data Plate Decoder
- The Wild Horse Galloped Away - 1969 Shelby GT350 Mustang Fastback
Visiting the Segerstrom Shelby Event Center - Mr. Shelby is Smiling!
Building & Driving a Factory Five Racing Mk4 1965 427SC Cobra Replica
Decoding Your 1965 Ford Mustang's Data Plate & VIN
