You've probably seen a vintage Mustang at a local car show that looked a little... off. Not in a bad way, but different. It had the Thunderbird tail lights, a pop-open gas cap, and some aggressive side scoops. You might have walked up to the owner and asked if it was a Shelby clone. If they gave you a slightly annoyed look and pointed to a small script on the rear quarter panel, you were likely looking at a California Special. But here is the thing: if it was a 1967 model, someone is telling tall tales.
There is no such thing as a factory-produced 1967 California Special Mustang.
I know, I know. You'll find forums where people swear they saw one. You might even see a Craigslist ad claiming to have a "rare '67 prototype." Don't buy it. The GT/CS—the official California Special—was a 1968 mid-year production run. However, the story of why people think there’s a 1967 version, and the secret Shelby-led history that birthed the car in late '67 for the '68 market, is actually way more interesting than the car itself. It involves a "Little Red" experimental car, a desperate group of California dealers, and a direct collaboration with Carroll Shelby that most enthusiasts still don't fully grasp.
Why the 1967 California Special Mustang is a Myth (Mostly)
Let's get the facts straight. The Ford Mustang was a hit from day one, but by 1967, the competition was finally catching up. The Camaro was out. The Firebird was breathing down Ford’s neck. In California, which accounted for about 20% of all Mustang sales, dealers were starting to sweat. They needed something exclusive to keep the momentum going.
Lee Grey, the district sales manager for Ford in Los Angeles, was the guy who pushed the button. He saw a prototype Shelby called "Little Red"—a 1967 notchback coupe with a supercharged engine and some very specific body mods—and thought, "We can sell that." He convinced Ford to take the aesthetic of that '67 Shelby prototype and turn it into a production package for the 1968 model year.
So, while the inspiration was a 1967 car, the production lines didn't start rolling for the public until February 1968. If you see a "1967 California Special Mustang" today, it is either a custom build where someone slapped a 1968 kit on a 1967 body, or it's a very confused seller. Honestly, people get this mixed up because the '67 and '68 coupes look so similar to the untrained eye. But the vin numbers never lie. A real GT/CS will always start with an 8, for 1968.
The Shelby Connection That Everyone Overlooks
Most people think the California Special was just a bunch of stickers. It wasn't. Because the car was based on the "Little Red" '67 prototype, Ford actually had Shelby Automotive in Ionia, Michigan, handle the design of the fiberglass parts.
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Think about that. You're getting a factory Ford Mustang with genuine Shelby-designed DNA. We are talking about:
- A fiberglass decklid with an integrated spoiler.
- Fiberglass rear end caps.
- The iconic 1965 Thunderbird tail lights (non-sequential, unlike the actual T-Birds).
- Side scoops that actually looked like they belonged on a race track.
Basically, the GT/CS was a Shelby for people who couldn't afford a Shelby. It was a "West Coast" branding exercise that used the '67 Shelby's homework to pass the '68 test. It’s funny how marketing works. Ford took a notchback—the "secretary’s car"—and gave it the aggressive rear end of a trans-am racer. It worked. They sold 4,118 of them in a matter of months.
Spotting a Fake in the Wild
Since the 1967 California Special Mustang doesn't officially exist, people who want that look often "clone" them. If you are looking at a car that claims to be a survivor or a rare variant, you have to be a bit of a detective.
First, check the side scoops. On a real '68 GT/CS, those scoops are fiberglass and they are functional-looking, though they don't actually cool the brakes. They are riveted or bonded on. If it's a 1967 car with these scoops, it’s a tribute. Period.
Next, look at the tail light panel. The GT/CS used a specific fiberglass panel to house those horizontal Thunderbird lights. In 1967, the Mustang's rear was concave. In 1968, it stayed mostly the same, but the GT/CS flattened it out with that fiberglass overlay. If you see a 1967 with these lights, someone spent a lot of time with a body kit and a fiberglass resin kit.
The "Little Red" Factor
The reason the myth of the 1967 version persists is largely due to "Little Red." This was a 1967 Mustang notchback that Carroll Shelby used as a rolling laboratory. It had a black vinyl roof, red paint, and a massive 428 big block. For decades, people thought this car was crushed. It was the "Holy Grail."
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Then, in 2018, it was found rotting in a field in Texas by Craig Jackson (of Barrett-Jackson fame). Because that car—a 1967 model—looks exactly like a California Special, people assume Ford made more of them. They didn't. Little Red was a one-of-one experiment. Every other car with that look is a 1968 production model or a later tribute.
What Under the Hood Actually Matters?
You might think every California Special came with a massive V8. Nope. That is a huge misconception. Since it was a regional appearance package (Option Code 612, for the nerds), you could technically order it with any engine Ford offered in the Mustang that year.
You want a 289 two-barrel? You got it.
A 302? Sure.
The stump-pulling 390? Rare, but they exist.
The 428 Cobra Jet? Only three are known to have been built.
Most of these cars were cruisers. They were meant for driving down the Pacific Coast Highway, not necessarily for drag racing. If you find a "California Special" with a straight-six, don't laugh. It’s actually factory correct, even if it feels a bit like wearing a tuxedo to a fast-food joint.
The Collector’s Dilemma: 1967 Style vs. 1968 Reality
If you are in the market for a vintage Mustang, the confusion between the 1967 and 1968 years is your biggest hurdle. 1967 was the first year of the "bigger" Mustang. It had a wider track and a more aggressive mouth. 1968 added side marker lights (due to new federal laws) and changed the interior slightly—specifically the steering wheel and the dash knobs for safety.
Collectors often prefer the '67 because it’s "cleaner" without the side markers. But they want the '68 California Special's tail lights. This leads to the "Restomod" culture where people build what Ford should have built: a 1967 California Special Mustang.
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If you're building one, here is what you need to know. The parts are interchangeable. You can buy the GT/CS fiberglass kit and put it on a '67. It fits perfectly. Just don't try to sell it as an "R-code" or a factory original. The Mustang community is small, and the Marti Report (the "birth certificate" for Fords) will expose a fake in five seconds. Kevin Marti has the original production logs. If your VIN isn't in his database as a GT/CS, it’s just a cool-looking Mustang. And honestly? There is nothing wrong with that.
Why Does This Car Still Matter?
We live in an era of mass-produced, identical SUVs. The California Special represents a time when Ford actually listened to a local guy (Lee Grey) and built a car specifically for one part of the country. It was the ultimate "Limited Edition" before that term became a meaningless marketing buzzword.
It also solidified the relationship between Shelby and Ford's production line. Without the '67 prototype and the '68 CS, we might not have seen the same evolution of the "performance look" for the average buyer. It proved that people would pay a premium for style and a bit of a story.
Actionable Advice for Buyers and Enthusiasts
If you’re hunting for a GT/CS or trying to build a '67 "California style" tribute, keep these points in your pocket:
- Verify the VIN: If the first digit isn't an 8, it isn't a factory California Special. If the third and fourth digits aren't 01 (for the Hardtop/Coupe), it’s not real. They never made a factory GT/CS Fastback or Convertible.
- Check the Marti Report: Seriously. Spend the money. It's the only way to know if the car started life as a GT/CS or if it was a plain-Jane coupe that got a facelift in the 90s.
- Inspect the Fiberglass: Original 1968 fiberglass is heavy and often has small stress cracks. Modern reproduction fiberglass is lighter and smoother. This tells you a lot about the car's history.
- Look for the Script: The "California Special" chrome script on the rear quarters should be precise. On many clones, they are crooked or spaced incorrectly.
- Embrace the Tribute: If you own a 1967 and love the CS look, build it. Just be honest about it. A "tribute" car is often more fun to drive because you aren't terrified of ruining a $60,000 piece of history.
The 1967 California Special Mustang may be a phantom, a ghost of a prototype that never hit the showrooms, but its influence is everywhere in the classic car world. It’s a reminder that sometimes the coolest cars aren't the ones the factory made in the thousands, but the ones that started as a "what if" in a designer's garage.
If you are looking at one today, check those markers, look at the VIN, and enjoy the ride. Just don't call it a 1967 factory original unless you want to start a fight at the next cars and coffee.
Next Steps for Your Research
To get the most out of your Mustang journey, your next move should be to secure a Marti Report for any vehicle you are considering. This document is the gold standard in the Ford community, utilizing original factory production records to verify every single option your car had when it rolled off the assembly line. Additionally, join the GT/CS Registry. It is one of the most dedicated niche car communities online, and the members there can help you identify period-correct hardware, from the specific dzus fasteners on the side scoops to the correct Lucas or Marchal fog lights used on the front grille.