1968 1/2  Ford Mustang GT Super Cobra Jet 428 Ram Air

One of the rarest and quickest pure production Ford Mustangs of the Muscle Car era is the 1968 1/2 Ford Mustang 428 Super Cobra Jet.

With Big-block Chevrolet Camaros , Pontiac Firebirds, 340-cid Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas kicking Mustang's butt on the street, the Ford Motor Company answered back by making its 427-cid V-8 a Mustang option in early '68 models. It was a detuned 390 hp version of the legendary near race-ready 427, but its slim availability and $755 cost were a letdown.

On April 1 though, they introduced the 1968 1/2 Ford Mustang 428 Super Cobra Jet. It was based on the 428-cid mill , but had larger valve heads and the race-brewed 427's intake manifold. It also had ram-air induction and a functional hood scoop. The scoop mated to a special air cleaner with a vacuum activated butterfly valve that funneled air directly into the 735-cfm Holley 4 barrel carb.  (It's output was around 410 horsepower, but Ford rated it at 335 horsepower in an effort to quell insurance agents nerves and snow all dragstrip rule makers. Shhh...)

The 428 SCJ was offered in Mustang fastbacks and coupes, as well as Ford Torino and Mercury's Cougar and Cyclone models. They came equipped with your choice of  a 4 speed manual or  3 speed automatic transmission.  All 1968 1/2  Ford Mustang 428 Super Cobra Jets had beefed-up front shock towers and Polyglas F70X14 tires.  4speed cars got staggered rear shocks.  Standard gearing was 3.50:1, with 3.91:1 and 4.30:1 ratios available.

All 1968 1/2 Ford Mustang 428 Super Cobra Jets came with GT level touches, such as front fog lamps and a side "C" stripe, but the only other external hint as to what lay within was the black scoop and hood stripe.  The entire package cost about $500, which included  front disc brakes.  The Equa-Loc differential ($79) and Competition Handling Package ($62) were extra for the serious buyer.

Meanwhile, with 11.5 second 1/4 mile times at 120 mph, the factory team of eight specially prepared 1968 1/2 Ford Mustang 428 SCJs obliterated everything in their Super Stock class at the '68 NHRA Winternationals.  The impact was no less forceful on the street.  At a base price of $3110.00, the street model had a 0 to 60 time of 5.5 seconds.  Data says that only 60 of these Mustangs were produced.  One thing is for certain though: finally, thanks to the 1968 1/2  Ford Mustang 428 Super Cobra Jet, the competition was now chasing Mustang's butt.  And they all lived happily ever after.  The end.  Haha...