1968 Ford Mustang GT 428 Cobra Jet

Pony car powered by Ford 428 Cobra Jet V8.

Stock-presenting 1968 Ford Mustang GT fastback identified as a 428 Cobra Jet

Introduction Regular production began in April 1968

Engine R-code 428 Cobra Jet FE V8, advertised at 335 hp

Transmissions Toploader four-speed or C6 automatic

Reported production 2,253 fastbacks and 564 hardtops

Story

1968 Ford Mustang GT 428 Cobra Jet

Ford released the regular-production 428 Cobra Jet Mustang in April 1968 after the engine's competition debut. The R-code package combined the 428-cubic-inch FE V8, functional ram-air hood scoop, GT equipment, heavy-duty chassis context, and mandatory power front disc brakes. Ford advertised 335 horsepower; period and later references treat the rating conservatively, so this page retains the factory number rather than presenting an estimated output as fact.

Regular-production cars used either a Toploader four-speed or C6 automatic and a Ford 9-inch rear axle. Transmission, axle ratio, Traction-Lok, tachometer, and staggered-shock details varied by order, so those claims must be checked against the individual car's door data plate, invoice, build sheet, drivetrain identifiers, and dates.

Reviewed sources report 2,253 fastbacks and 564 hardtops with the 428 Cobra Jet. The separate 50-car 135-series competition group is recorded as historical context, not merged into the street-car body totals. No reviewed source in this pass supports a regular-production convertible count.

The regular-production package's GT trim, scoop, stripe, badges, wheels, or an installed 428 do not prove factory identity by themselves. Authentication starts with the R engine character and factory documents, then reconciles the body, GT equipment, transmission and axle codes, engine and driveline identifiers, dates, paint, and interior.

**Stock-presenting 1968 Ford Mustang GT fastback identified as a 428 Cobra Jet, showing the GT trim, Ram Air hood scoop, and factory-style exterior details**Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Specs

Car type: Pony car
Body: GT fastback or hardtop; reviewed production sources do not support a regular-production convertible count
Engine: 428 cu in FE-series Cobra Jet V-8 with ram-air induction
Horsepower: 335 hp advertised at 5,200 rpm
Torque: 445 lb-ft advertised at 3,400 rpm
Carburetion: 4-barrel carburetion (4V), exact carburetor/date-code verification left to vehicle-specific documents

Equipment

GT Equipment Group required on regular-production CJ Mustangs
Functional hood scoop with black hood treatment/stripe context in cited references
Power front disc brakes required with Cobra Jet application in cited references
Ford 9-inch rear axle
F70-14 tire / styled steel wheel GT context

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Market Observations

Auction sale $99,000

May 19, 2023 · Mecum Indy 2023
Matching-numbers, concours-restored R-code GT fastback 8R02R159542 with Marti Report, window sticker, registry listing, and original smog equipment. · restored · excellent Mecum records a $99,000 sale for VIN 8R02R159542. The archive identifies a matching-numbers 428 Cobra Jet and four-speed, GT fastback body, Deluxe Marti Report, window sticker, Cobra Jet Registry listing, ownership and restoration records, NOS-supported concours rotisserie restoration, and restored factory-original smog equipment. Hagerty's VIN-specific archive independently grades the observed car #2 Excellent.
1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback 8R02R159542
High bid $110,000

Jan 11, 2020 · Mecum Kissimmee 2020
AACA award-winning, nut-and-bolt-restored R-code GT fastback 8F02R195976 with four-speed, 4.30 Traction-Lok, and Deluxe Marti Report. · restored · unknown The $110,000 amount is Mecum's Bid Goes On high bid, not a completed sale. The archive identifies VIN 8F02R195976, 428 Cobra Jet, four-speed, GT fastback body, 4.30 Traction-Lok, photo-documented bare-metal restoration, replicated factory markings, AACA Senior/Grand National awards, and Deluxe Marti Report. Its later 2022 sale is excluded to avoid counting this chassis twice.
1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback 8F02R195976
Auction sale $74,800

Apr 7, 2018 · RM Sotheby's Fort Lauderdale 2018
Largely original R-code GT fastback 8F02R187774 with Marti Report, original interior, cosmetic restoration as needed, and reversible aftermarket power steering. · survivor · unknown RM Sotheby's records a $74,800 sale for chassis 8F02R187774. The archive identifies the factory 428 Cobra Jet, four-speed, GT fastback body, 63,600 actual miles, three-owner history, original interior, Marti Report, 3.91 Traction-Lok, cosmetic restoration as needed, and aftermarket power steering with the original parts included. Survivor does not mean untouched in this record.
1968 Ford Mustang GT 428 Cobra Jet Fastback 8F02R187774

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

**Stock-presenting 1968 Ford Mustang GT 428 Cobra Jet with its Ram Air engine bay open**Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Advertised horsepower 335 hp at 5,200 rpm · 1968 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet · engine assembly / specification
Advertised torque 445 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm · 1968 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet · engine assembly / specification
Rear block sand-cast marker C · Typical 428 Cobra Jet FE block in cited detailing reference · block / other · Rear of engine block
Block casting date location Casting date next to oil-filter adapter · 428 Cobra Jet engine dating check in cited detailing reference · block / date code · Next to oil-filter adapter
Engine assembly date stamp location Stamped on flat pad above oil-filter adapter · 428 Cobra Jet engine dating check in cited detailing reference · engine assembly / date code · Flat pad above oil-filter adapter
Production Cobra Jet cylinder-head engineering number C8OE-6090-N · 428 Cobra Jet production cylinder heads in cited detailing reference · cylinder head / engineering number · Outside of cylinder head
Common Cobra Jet cast-iron intake engineering number C8OE-9425-C · 428 Cobra Jet cast-iron intake in cited detailing reference · intake manifold / engineering number · Behind carburetor mounting area
Intake manifold date-code location Rear date code · 428 Cobra Jet cast-iron intake in cited detailing reference · intake manifold / date code · Rear of intake manifold
Cobra Jet Holley carburetor airflow rating 735 cfm · 428 Cobra Jet engines in cited detailing reference · carburetor / specification
Carburetor application-number and date-code stamp location Air horn in front of choke plate · 428 Cobra Jet Holley carburetor in cited detailing reference · carburetor / stamp · Carburetor air horn in front of choke plate
Front metering-block stamping 5673 · 428 Cobra Jet Holley carburetor in cited detailing reference · carburetor / part number · Front metering block
Rear metering-block stamping 5671 · 428 Cobra Jet Holley carburetor in cited detailing reference · carburetor / part number · Rear metering block
1968 short Thermactor hose engineering number C8OE-9B466-C · 1968 Cobra Jet Thermactor hose in cited detailing reference · other / engineering number · Thermactor/smog hose marking
1968 long Thermactor hose engineering number C8OE-9B466-F · 1968 Cobra Jet Thermactor hose in cited detailing reference · other / engineering number · Thermactor/smog hose marking
1968 Thermactor S-hose engineering number C8AE-9F287-A · 1968 Cobra Jet Thermactor S hose in cited detailing reference · other / engineering number · Thermactor/smog hose marking

Transmission

Factory transmission Toploader 4-speed manual
Factory transmission C6 Cruise-O-Matic 3-speed automatic

Options

428 Cobra Jet reference for the 1968 Ford Mustang GT 428 Cobra JetClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

GT Equipment Group Mustang GT Equipment Group required · performance · Cited references state regular-production 1968 Cobra Jet Mustangs required GT equipment; GT content included fog lamps, striping, styled steel wheels/F70-14 tire context, dual exhaust/bright tips and heavy-duty suspension content depending on source wording.
R-code 428 Cobra Jet 428 Cobra Jet engine option optional · performance · Mid-year high-performance engine option; this record does not infer individual-car originality.
Interior Decor Group Interior Decor Group optional · interior · Cited as optional and not required for GT identity.
Toploader 4-speed manual transmission Ford Toploader 4-speed manual transmission option optional · performance · HOT ROD describes the Cobra Jet Mustang as available with either the Toploader 4-speed manual or C6 automatic and lists the 4-speed at $233 in its 1968 fastback pricing example.
Power-assisted front disc brakes Power-assisted front disc brake option required · safety · HOT ROD states power-assisted front disc brakes were a mandatory extra-cost option with a Cobra Jet and lists the price at $64.77.
High-ratio axle High-ratio rear axle option optional · chassis · HOT ROD lists a high-ratio axle at $6.51 in its 1968 Cobra Jet fastback pricing example; exact ratio and applicability still require order-guide follow-up.
Traction-Lok Differential Traction-Lok limited-slip differential option optional · chassis · HOT ROD lists Traction-Lok Differential at $63.51 in its 1968 Cobra Jet fastback pricing example; do not infer installation for an individual car.

Paint

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

Production

Transmission Choices reference for the 1968 Ford Mustang GT 428 Cobra JetClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

1968 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet fastbacks by engine · 2,253 · reported
1968 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet hardtops/coupes by engine · 564 · reported
1968 Mustang GT Equipment Group total by option · 17,458 · reported
Pre-production 135-series Cobra Jet fastbacks by option · 50 · reported

Authenticity

Ford 9-Inch Rear reference for the 1968 Ford Mustang GT 428 Cobra JetClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

VIN engine code R as fifth VIN character for 428 Cobra Jet Mustang in cited references · Vehicle VIN plate and title/registration records; confirm against factory invoice/Marti-style documentation · fraud detection
GT Equipment Group relationship Regular-production 1968 Cobra Jet Mustangs required GT Equipment Group in cited references · Factory invoice, order documentation, data plate context, and surviving GT equipment · trim correctness
Transmission code 5 for 4-speed manual or U for C6 automatic in the Ford 1968 data-plate code table · Door data plate transmission field · numbers matching
Paint code 1968 Ford paint code from door data plate should match factory color documentation · Door data plate paint field and paint-layer evidence · trim correctness
Cobra Jet block casting marker A typical Cobra Jet FE block has a sand-cast C on the rear of the block; an A rear mark indicates a standard 428 passenger-car block and no mark points away from a 428 CJ block in the cited detailing reference. · Rear of the engine block; normally requires engine-out or difficult installed-engine inspection. · numbers matching
Engine block and assembly date sequence Block casting date is next to the oil-filter adapter and should precede the vehicle build date by no more than a few months; engine assembly date is stamped on a flat pad and should fall after the casting date. · Block casting date near the oil-filter adapter, engine assembly stamp commonly above the oil-filter adapter, and the vehicle build date on factory paperwork or data plate context. · date correctness
Cylinder-head engineering number Cobra Jet production heads are identified in the cited reference by C8OE-6090-N engineering numbers and Thermactor inlet ports at each cylinder. · Outside of the cylinder heads; confirm with engine-bay or component inspection where visible. · numbers matching
Engine VIN derivative stamp The cited reference reports the VIN is typically stamped on the rear of the engine block or rear of the cylinder head on 1968-up Ford engines; it should reconcile with the car's VIN and factory documents when present and legible. · Back of the engine block or back of the cylinder head; compare to VIN plate, title, invoice, or build documentation. · numbers matching
Intake manifold engineering number and date The common Cobra Jet cast-iron intake engineering number cited is C8OE-9425-C, with a rear date code that should precede the vehicle build date. · Behind the carburetor mounting area for the engineering number and at the rear of the intake for the date code. · date correctness
Cobra Jet carburetor identification and date coding The cited reference states Cobra Jet engines used a 735-cfm Holley carburetor; application numbers and date code are stamped in the air horn, and the front and rear metering blocks are identified as 5673 and 5671 respectively. · Carburetor air horn in front of the choke plate, aluminum ID tag on the choke assembly when present, and metering-block stampings. · numbers matching
1968 emissions-hose engineering numbers For 1968 Cobra Jet Thermactor hoses, the cited reference identifies the short smog hose as C8OE-9B466-C, the long smog hose as C8OE-9B466-F, and the S hose as C8AE-9F287-A; the hoses are date-coded. · Thermactor/smog hose markings in the engine compartment, when original hoses survive. · date correctness

Still Researching

engine The 428 Cobra Jet identity, advertised output, selected block/date locations, cylinder-head and intake engineering numbers, carburetor airflow and metering-block identifiers, and 1968 Thermactor-hose engineering numbers are documented; the complete casting, carburetor-list, distributor, exhaust, fuel-pump, oil-pan, harmonic-balancer, water-pump, and full date-code matrix is not.
transmission Toploader and C6 paths are documented, but complete tag, ratio, and date-window tables are not.
rear axle The 9-inch axle family, standard 3.50:1 ratio, optional 3.50:1 Traction-Lok state, and optional 3.91:1/4.30:1 Traction-Lok high-ratio combinations are documented, but the complete factory axle-code/body/transmission matrix and production splits are not.
brakes Mandatory power front discs are documented, but exact rear brake dimensions and service part applications are not.
suspension GT heavy-duty suspension, four-speed staggered shocks, front shock tower reinforcements, front sway bar spacer plates, 15/16-inch stabilizer bar, and 4M/1Q front coil spring codes are documented; rear leaf spring color codes, spring rates, and shock absorber engineering numbers/date-windows are not fully normalized.
option packages GT and R-code package relationships are recorded, and this pass added HOT ROD-sourced prices/availability for the GT Equipment Group, 428 Cobra Jet engine, Toploader 4-speed option, mandatory power front disc brakes, high-ratio axle, and Traction-Lok Differential; the complete factory compatibility and price matrix for all body, transmission, axle, tire, comfort, appearance, and interior combinations is still not normalized.
production Body totals and the 135-series group are recorded, but transmission, axle, color, plant, and build-date splits are not.
paint colors The 16-color model-year palette is recorded, but CJ-specific frequencies and individual-car combinations are not.
trim and appearance Major GT/CJ cues are recorded, but every stripe, wheel, tire, glass, and molding combination is not.
interior Seat, console, tachometer, and Decor Group paths are recorded, but the complete upholstery-code matrix is not.
authenticity markers Major VIN, GT, transmission, and paint checks are recorded, and this pass added sourced block, head, intake, engine-date, carburetor, and 1968 Thermactor-hose markers; complete component-number and date-window guidance for all CJ parts is still not resolved.