68 Shelby Rear Side Market Lights

I know the early 68's had square marker lights with a rectangular indentation in the rear quaters, my 68 GT 500 has a bd of 12/23/67 and has this. I also have noticed that in April of 68 when the KR's came out they had gotten rid of the indentation and gone to a smooth rear quarters and the "more oval ones". i am sure to be corrected but to help in answering your question i think April of 68 when the KR's came out they changed to the "more oval ones". I hope this helps...

 

The generally accepted date is 2/15/68 but there are variations either way by several days (this is the Ford date not when assembled @ AO Smith) The cars were not built in strict sequencial order by the Shelby assigned # so there is no clear cut off #. For example my car, 1622, was built 1/26 has recessed reflectors. A car I am restoring, 1526, was built 2/22 has raised reflectors.

 

Was the change a financial one? Did Ford decide to it was cheaper to not stamp the indentations in the metal?

 

Howdy folks! This is one of the most asked questions and as already mentioned the change date is Feb 14 1968.It was definately due to financial reasons.Ford was hit hard by the uaw strike in the fall of 1967,and had to cut costs somehow,useing the cougar reflector,and eleminating the knee pad on the dash were the 2 easiest changes,both in parts cost and labor cost.Check out the coral snake website for all the details on 1968 Shelbys! If you really want to know which/what car number you must go by production date..not vin number.Many of us wonder how many cars would have been produced if it was a strike free year.1967 was excellent with over 472,000 mustangs produced . 1968 was much less. The other thing worth mentioning is that all Cobra jet cars use the cougar reflector.They were built after the change was in place...only the 50 drag cars built in dec 67 would not have the cougar type. cheers!

 

One of the lesser known deleted items was the rear chrome strip on the rear fold down panel in lieu of staples.