1968 1/2 Cobra Jet Fastback

To quote Hot Rod Magazine, March 1968; “The Cobra-Jet will be the utter delight of every Ford lover and the bane of the rest because, quite frankly, it is the fastest running PURE STOCK in the history if man.” Very powerful words indeed!!! The engine code on this BAD BOY is “R”; which is the ultimate code of BIG BLOCK FORDS. If you have never driven one of these MONSTERS the acceleration is absolutely incredible. When the Shelby’s come out with this Cobra-Jet motor in the 1968 ½, they were called KR’s or KING OF THE ROADS. That sums up these Cobra-Jets very well. Even the almighty Hemi’s DID NOT do well against these very fast Cobra-Jets. Obviously, Chevy’s 396 engine did not stand a chance!

Please note in the engine shots the Ram Air System (which was brand new at the time from Ford) with the flapper which is designed to open and close the engine vacuum. The hood, of course, has a real Hood Scoop that is accented by a Black Hood Stripe. All these cars were GT’s with power disc and this car has power steering and along the way has had air-conditioning added. And, for tunes you have a very nice stereo cassette radio with two speakers on the rear package shelf. NO cutting or damage anywhere. If you prefer, you can take out the speakers and radio and put in the FACTORY AM radio with out a problem. Yes, gentlemen, that may be the clincher. You can tell your wife you found a BIG BLOCK with 4-speed AND A/C!

THE HISTORY THAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CAR IS AS FOLLOWS.  THE GENTLEMAN THAT I PURCHASED THIS INCREDIBLE COBRA JET FROM HAD BOUGHT IT FROM WORLD WIDE MUSCLE CARS IN OKLAHOMA.  IF YOU GO TO THEIR WEBSITE YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY HANDLE VERY NICE CARS. HE IS A COLLECTOR IN HOUSTON AND HAS HAD QUITE A FEW RARE AND DESIREABLE CARS.

HE PROCEEDED TO START DOING SOME MINOR WORK ON THE CAR AND THEN ONE THING LEAD TO ANOTHER.   IF YOU HAVE EVER DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON A CAR OR A HOUSE YOU KNOW HOW THINGS CAN SNOWBALL.  I HAVE ABOUT 50 PAGES OF RECEIPTS FOR PARTS AND LABOR ON THE CAR THAT TOTAL OVER $21,650.  According to the previous owner that spent all the money on the car the engine that was put in the car is a completely date code correct engine; Heads, block, crank, fuel pump, intake, etc. The exhaust system is a Scott Fuller reproduction system that would pass in a true Concours judging. Cost for the exhaust system alone is around $3200. Also, please note the starter delay piece in the engine compartment that cost $1,450. THERE IS A MAJOR INVOICE THAT IS MISSING THAT WILL ADD TO THAT TOTAL.  THAT INVOICE IS FOR A 68 CJ BLOCK HE LOCATED THAT HAD JUST BEEN REBUILT AND PURCHASED THAT ENGINE SO HE COULD BE AS CORRECT AS POSSIBLE.  THE BLOCK THAT WAS IN THE CAR WAS NOT A CORRECT 68 CJ BLOCK. ACCORDING TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT INVOICE BY ITSELF TOTALS $7,000 TO $8,000. THAT WOULD BRING THE TOTAL OF THE INVOICES TO JUST UNDER $30,000.

BASICALLY, THIS CAR HAS ALMOST HAD A TOTAL RESTORATION EXCEPT FOR PAINT.  I WILL TRY AND HIGHLIGHT THE MAJOR ITEMS WITHOUT BORING YOU.  HE PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 2006 AND THAT IS WHEN THE FUN BEGAN.  HHERE IS A LIST OF ITEMS THAT HAVE HAD MAJOR WORK DONE TO THEM SINCE HE OWNED THE CAR:

• TRANSMISSION
• GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE TOTALLY REDONE WITH NEW BUSHINGS FORD GEAR SHIFT LEVER HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RESTORED TO AS NEW CONDITION.
• NEW RUBBER FOR ALL UPPER AND LOWER SHIFT BOOTS INCLUDING SOME NOS PARTS.
• BASICALLY ALL NEW DOORS, TRUNK, HOOD ETC , ETC. RUBBER FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THE WHOLE CAR
• ALL ITEMS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE DONE WITH MCA CONCOURSE APPROVED HOSES, DECALS ETC.  NEW SPARK PLUG WIRES AND  PETRONIC IGNITION.
• ALL NUTS, BOLTS ETC. WERE PURCHASED NEW FROM AMK AND INSTALLED IN ALL AREAS WERE WORK WAS DONE.
• OVERHAULED BRAKE SYSTEM INCLUDING NEW BOOSTER AND MASTERCYLINDER AND BRAKE LINES.
• UNDERDASH WIRING HARNESS AND NEW HARNESS FOR TACH.
• REBUILT COMPLETE FRONT  SUSPENSION AND NEW LEAF SPRINGS, NEW SHOCKS.
• CORRECT STYLE 68 ½ COBRA JET CARB FROM CARLS WITH CORRECT DATE CODED TAG FROM MARTI AUTO WORKS.
• NEW SCOTT FULLER EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH CORRECT STYLE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS.
• COMPLETE NEW A/C SYSTEM THAT WORKS GREAT WITH NEW 4 – CORE RADIATOR AND FAN SCHROUD WITH CONCOURS RADIATOR HOSES.
• NEW CARPET WITH THE HEAT AND SOUND DEADENER PUT UNDER THE CARPET TO KEEP THE TUNNEL HEAT AND EXHAUST HEAT FROM COMING IN THE COCKPIT.  
• NEW CHROME SLIDES AND CHROME FOR THE FOLD-DOWN REAR SEAT
• NEW FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS.
• NEW STARTER DELAY SWITCH

WHEN THE REBUILT ENGINE CAME IN WITH THE CORRECT 1968 YEAR CODE ON IT, THE OWNER DECIDED TO TAKE OFF THE FRONT FENDERS, ETC. AND COMPLETELY STRIP DOWN ALL THE ENGINE BAY TO BARE METAL AND RESPRAY IT WITH THE CORRECT DP-90 FOR SHOWS.  ALL NEW AMK FASTENERS WERE USED EVERYWHERE.  ALSO, A CORRECTLY DATE CODED SMOG SYSTEM, A COBRA JET HEAT SHIELD AND S TUBE WERE INSTALLED ALONG WITH  A NEW STARTER, FLYWHEEL AND  FAN CLUTCH OF THE PROPER STYLE FOR A 68 CJ. FOR RESTORATION PURPOSES ONLY, THE COMPANY THAT DID ALL THE WORK TO THE CAR STAMPED THE BLOCK TO MAKE IT LOOK ORIGINAL FOR THE RESORATION. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT AGAIN THAT THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL BLOCK HOWEVER ALL THE PARTS WE TALKED ABOUT ARE CORRECTLY DATE CODED.

ALSO ALL NEW SUSPENSION PIECES WERE TAKEN OFF AND STRIPPED TO BARE METAL AND SHOT JUST LIKE THE FACTORY DID.

SORRY THIS WAS SO LONG, BUT AS YOU WILL SEE I HAVE AROUND 50 RECEIPTS FOR THE WORK AND PARTS COMPLETED ON THE CAR.  THE ITEMS THAT I HAVE MENTIONED ARE JUST THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS COMPLETED.  THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PARTS AND LABOR ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE RECEIPTS THAT I HAVE NOT EVEN TOUCHED UPON.

ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICAL REPORT FROM MARTI AUTO WORKS, ONLY 96 OF THESE 68 CJ’S CAME WITH 4-SPEED TRANSMISSION AND WERE PAINTED RED; ONLY 8 HAD POWER STEERING; ONLY 3 HAD 3:50 TRACTION LOK REAR AXLES; AND THIS CAR IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD TINTED GLASS.

I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE INVOICES AND PUT THEM SIDE BY SIDE SO THEY COULD BE PHOTOGRAPHED EASIER.  IT SHOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW LARGE A COLLECTION OF INVOICES I HAVE THAT GO WITH THE CAR.   I ALSO HAVE THE MOST EXPENSIVE MARTI REPORT (ELITE) THAT LOOKS GREAT DISPLAYED AT CAR SHOWS ETC.

  Steve - 281-531-9090 or mustangman048@sbcglobal.net