M code California Special
 

I wish i'd taken up the habit of having a camera on me years earlier. In about 1980 I came across a Gulfstream Aqua 68 Mustang California Special at a used car lot (J Simons Securities on West Broadway in Vancouver)

It was Sunday so they weren't open but I noticed the VIN on the right side of the dash had 8R01M---- ...huh? M is a code for a 351 Windsor in 69... not anything in 68. So I popped the hood and it was a 351 Windsor in it. Not at all detailed, looked like the rad spewed rusty coolant all over it and nothing looked like it had been worked on recently. I planned to go back when they were open but it was gone the next time I was in the area.

I always wondered about that car... certainly it must still be around. It was expensive for the time so I wasn't about to buy it but just curious about the seemingly original 351 in a 68 car.

That would be a first.

If you had the complete VIN then you could get a Marti report on the car.

I am a Doubting Thomas.

For many years I had the number written down somewhere but can't find it now. It was an M, can't imagine how that could be mis-stamped and the original appearing engine too. It appeared the Gulfstream Aqua was the original paint.