1968 Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang (Coupe/Convertible), 1965-1970

The Ford Mustang was in production from 1965 to 1970. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive coupe and convertible range seating up to two adults and two children.

The Mustang was the dawn of a new motoring age. Based on the Ford Falcon, it was targeted at children of the baby boom who wanted something new and exciting rather than to drive the car of their parents. With hundreds of options and permutations available across three body styles. Early cars are known as 64.5 model year cars, and attract a premium among collectors - but differ only in minor details from 65MY cars. The Mustang was modified heavily for 1967, with bigger engines and a new nose, but a more thorough revision for 1969 saw the whole car grow. By then, the fastback was known as the Sportsroof - and the range topping Mach 1 threatened to move the Mustang from the pony car class into the muscle car arena. A new and larger Mustang would follow from 1971 to 1973, when it in turn would be replaced by the Pinto-based Mustang II.

If the car's got four stud wheels, it started out as a six cylinder - all factory V8s used 5 stud fixings, and any V8 on four stud wheels will be worth less as a conversion. Specialists don't recommend the rack and pinion conversions as you lose steering lock. Check the rear chassis rails and rear quarters for rot, as well as the floorpans and the seams between those and the firewall. Pour water into the cents behind the bonnet - they should drain under the front wing, not into the cabin. Front chassis rails and battery trays rust, as do the sill braces on convertibles - but the sills themselves are galvanised.

Pony car fans could also have bought the Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge Challenger, Pontiac Firebird or Chevrolet Camaro, while for a little more money in period a Mustang buyer could have had a plusher Mercury Cougar. Today the Pontiac GTO might also be worth considering as an alternative, as might European classics such as the Jaguar E-type and Alfa Romeo Montreal. But there are enough Mustangs around that you shouldn't struggle to find one if you want one badly enough.