1968 Mustang Series 135
One of the rarest, lightweight and fasted produced Ford.
Mila Lynne
8/30/20255 min read
the Ford Mustang "135 Series" refers to a specific batch of 50 ultra-rare, factory-built 1968 Mustang fastbacks designed and equipped for drag racing to homologate the new 428 Cobra Jet V8 for NHRA competition. Named for their consecutive VINs starting with "135", these Wimbledon White, 4-speed cars were lightweight, powerful, and highly successful on the track, establishing a legacy for the Cobra Jet engine even before its public release.
Purpose and Creation
Debut the 428 Cobra Jet:
Ford created these 50 cars to publicly introduce and test the new 428 Cobra Jet V8 engine in competition, particularly in NHRA stock classes.
Homologation:
The cars were built to fulfill NHRA requirements for a production-based race car, as described by performance-oriented dealer Bob Tasca.
Key Features
Engine:
Powered by the 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8 engine, which was conservatively rated but produced significantly more horsepower in reality.
Transmission:
All were equipped with a heavy-duty 4-speed manual transmission.
Color Scheme:
Exclusively painted in Wimbledon White with a black vinyl interior, a stark and functional combination.
Lightweight Construction:
"Lightweight" referred to the lack of sound insulation and seam sealer on 20 of the 50 cars to save weight for drag racing.
VINs:
The "135" designation came from their VINs, which started consecutively at 8F02R135007.
Performance and Success
Dominance on the Track:
The 135 Series Mustangs quickly proved their performance, winning at the Winter Nationals and setting records in their respective classes.
Public Awareness:
The car's success generated significant excitement and anticipation for the production Cobra Jet Mustang, which was released to the public shortly after the 135 Series debut.
Legendary Status:
The 135 Series cars are now considered highly desirable and legendary examples of early Ford drag racing history, with only a fraction of the original 50 still known to exist.
Inspiration for Others:
Revology Cars has created a special tribute model to the 135 Series, honoring its pioneering spirit by replicating its features in a modern interpretation.
Limited 428 Cobra Jet Mustang production began with a run of 50 (enough to qualify for NHRA stock racing classes) non-GT fastbacks (body style 63A) that were scheduled for assembly at the Dearborn assembly plant on December 30, 1967. The VINs were serialized consecutively starting with 8F02R135007 and ending with 8F02R135056. All were painted Wimbledon White and equipped with a black vinyl interior (code 2A), heavy duty 4-speed manual transmission (code 5), manual drum brakes, and (code 7 (3.25:1) door tag code notwithstanding) a 3.89:1 rear axle ratio. 30 of the vehicles were assembled with seam sealer and sound deadener (noted by DSO code 844660) and 20 were built without seam sealer and sound deadener (noted by DSO code 844661).
The program was announced to dealers in a telegram sent from Jacque Passino to regional and district sales managers on December 26, 1967. Note that the telegram describes the DSO option numbers as 84-5660 and 84-5661, not 84-4660 and 84-4661.
The cars were eventually distributed for sale to a small number of dealers in the US and Canada. Several made their way into the hands of race teams, and two (8F02R135050 and 8F02R135054) were part of the contingent of six cars that introduced the 428 Cobra Jet to the world at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals.
These vehicles are sometimes referred to as "lightweights", but as noted above only 20 of the vehicles were produced without seam sealer and sound deadener. There were no other "tricks" (like aluminum or fiberglass body panels, cardboard trim panels, etc) employed to make the vehicles lighter.
Collectors today tag these models as “135” series Cobra Jets by the common first three digits of the VIN’s consecutive unit numbers that began with 135107 and ended with 135156.
With the Muscle Car horsepower race escalating for the 1968 season, Ford Motor Company introduced its all-new 428-cubic inch Cobra Jet engine. With 335 hp, the potent 428 CJ offered a huge leap in power over the smaller 390-cube V8, which was the top Mustang engine for 1967.
Bob Tasca of Tasca Ford in Rhode Island is credited with creating the engine recipe by mixing high-flowing 427 cylinder heads with the stout bottom-end of a FE 428 to create “Cobra Jet”. Ford immediately saw the performance potential and built 50 lightweight 428 CJ Mustangs for drag racing to showcase its new powerhouse.
Prior to the ’68 NHRA Winternationals, Ford delivered six of these special Mustangs to Holman Moody and Bill Stroppe in California for preparation that included a wide-ratio four-speed transmission, a 4.89:1 rear gear, roll bar, and Goodyear Blue Streak slicks. The Pomona-bound Mustangs also got improved induction, headers and the battery moved to the trunk for better traction.
“It was late 1967 and I was happily racing my 427 SOHC, fuel injected, altered wheel base, funny car when I got a call from the then-new drag race coordinator Chuck Folger,” said Ford racer Al Joniec. “Since I was a member of the Ford factory team, he asked if I would run a new car that Ford was going to introduce at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals. I was curious and said it sounds good, but could you tell me more? He said it’s going to be a real Mustang, one anyone can drive on the street, but it will go like hell. He said Ford is going to put together a combination of hybrid performance parts of the 428 engine and it’s going to be called a Cobra Jet. I told him that was a great name and sign me up, and that’s how I became one of the drivers of the 6-car Ford team.”
Joniec and his team drove from the east coast, picked up the Cobra Jet Mustang, lettered it and were off to the races. But before heading to Pomona, Joniec made a camshaft swap that gave his Cobra Jet a horsepower advantage. At the Winternationals, Joniec’s Rice Holman Ford-sponsored entry won the SS/E class and then went on to claim the very first Super Stock national victory for a Cobra Jet Mustang with a run of 11.49 at 120 mph.
Fifty Wimbledon White 1968 NHRA Mustang GT Cobra Jet race cars were ordered for the 1968 National Hot Rod Association Winternationals in Los Angeles. VIN numbers range from 8F02R135007 to 8F02R135056 and the first batch of 18 were scheduled for assembly on December 30, 1967 with delete export brace, 428ci Cobra jet, GT option, steel wheels, aluminum intake, Wimbledon white, and no racing stripes. These cars were 135-series rated (VIN series). Gas Ronda, Jerry Harvey, Hubert Platt, Don Nicholson, Hubert Platt, and Al Joniec raced them for Ford at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals held February 2-4.1968 NHRA Mustang GT Cobra Jet
