1968 · Mercury · United States

1968 Mercury Cougar: The GT-E, the Mid-Year Cobra Jet, and the XR7-G

The year of the 427 GT-E, the mid-year 428 Cobra Jet, and the XR7-G, with production down to 113,741.

United States · researched through 2026-09-22

1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT-E in red Ford Motor Company Archives

The Cougar Club of America's Marti-derived production page gives 113,741 Cougars for 1968, this record's own overview states: 78,359 standard hardtops (65A), 32,709 XR-7 hardtops (65B) and 2,673 bench-seat standard hardtops (65C), with Over-Drive Magazine's fact sheet repeating the same three body figures and noting that the 78,359 standard-coupe count includes the GT-Es. The GT-E carried the 427 four-barrel, rated 390 hp, until the 428 Cobra Jet replaced it partway through the year as a $420.95 mid-year engine option introduced April 1, 1968, the key fact this record leads with.^1,2,3

The GT-E registry, quoting the Marti-licensed production database, counts 394 built, 357 with the W-code 427 and 37 with the R-code 428, split 116 on the standard hardtop and 278 on the XR-7. The XR7-G package, an $823.35 addition to the $3,231.91 XR-7 for a $4,055.26 total, reached 622 cars, 188 for Hertz and 434 retail, of which 440 had the electrically operated sunroof Over-Drive Magazine calls a Ford Motor Company first, and 14 carried the 428 Cobra Jet. This record's own production notes state the body-code rows sum to 113,741 and the GT-E and XR7-G sub-splits each partition their own totals exactly.^4,5,2

This record's own conflicts note documents two competing totals: the 113,741 club figure, which leads because its own body rows sum to it, against Wikipedia's 113,720; and 622 XR7-Gs, which leads on the same logic, against Wikipedia's 619, a figure two further publications also carry and that the conflicts note suspects may share Wikipedia's own lineage. A separate, self-contradicting Over-Drive table prints 65A at 81,014, 65B at 32,712 and 65C at 2,672 for a 116,398 total, even though the same publication's own fact-sheet text repeats the club's 78,359/32,709/2,673 figures, a discrepancy this record's conflicts note states outright leaves Over-Drive disagreeing with itself.^6,7,8

Six engines are documented, two with disputed ratings: the 289 two-barrel at 195 hp, the 302 two-barrel at 210 hp, the 302 four-barrel at 230 hp, the 390 two-barrel rated 280 hp by the fact sheet and the GT registry against 265 hp by the VIN decoder, the 390 GT four-barrel at 325 hp, the 427 four-barrel at 390 hp before its mid-year replacement, and the 428 Cobra Jet rated 335 hp by the fact sheet against a Ram Air 340 hp the GT-E registry states without giving its basis. This record's own conflicts note carries both figures in each case rather than choosing.^2,9,10,4

This record documents four 1968 base prices: $2,933 for the 65A hardtop, $3,232 for the 65B XR-7 hardtop, against the XR7-G registry's own $3,231.91 figure for the same car, a gap the price section attributes to rounding, and $2,910 for the 65C bench-seat hardtop. The GT package reached 955 standard hardtops and 1,845 XR-7s; the Dan Gurney Special reached 11,899 standard hardtops and a single XR-7, a combined 11,900 this record's own notes say matches a separate rarity table exactly; and 4,777 Cougars of every kind carried the four-speed manual that year.^8,5,1,7

What the record documents in full is a transitional year carrying a genuine mid-year engine change: three body styles resolving to 113,741 cars against a Wikipedia figure 21 cars lower, a GT-E whose 394-car run split nearly evenly between its outgoing 427 and incoming 428 Cobra Jet, an XR7-G send-off package this record's own sources disagree on by three cars, and an Over-Drive production table that this record's own conflicts note shows contradicting its own fact sheet on the very numbers both are meant to report.¹

Studio composition of a blue 1968 Mercury Cougar hardtop with a hood scoop behind a blue-painted 428 Cobra Jet V8 on a stand — 1968 Mercury Cougar with the 428 Cobra Jet V8 displayed in front of it Ford Motor Company Archives

Fact sheet · 1968 · United States

The numbers

1968 Mercury Cougar — The year of the 427 GT-E, the mid-year 428 Cobra Jet, and the XR7-G, with production down to 113,741.

Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.

Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.

Key facts

GT-E: 394 built (357 427 W-code, 37 428 CJ R-code) per the Marti-licensed database quoted by the club registry; Over-Drive Magazine gives the same split.^4,2
XR7-G: 622 built, 188 Hertz and 434 non-Hertz; 440 had sunroofs (all 188 Hertz cars and 252 others).^5,2

Production

Totals
What was counted	Count	Basis	Status
All 1968 Cougars¹ 2-door hardtop · as published Wikipedia gives 113,720; see conflicts.	113,741	built, model-year	Disputed

By body style and series
What was counted	Count	Basis	Status
Standard 2-door hardtop (65A)^1,2 Standard · 2-door hardtop, 65A · as published Over-Drive Magazine says this includes the GT-Es.	78,359	built, model-year	Reported
XR-7 2-door hardtop (65B)^1,2 XR-7 · 2-door hardtop, 65B · as published	32,709	built, model-year	Reported
Standard 2-door hardtop with bench seat (65C)^1,2 Standard · 2-door hardtop, 65C (bench seat) · as published	2,673	built, model-year	Reported

By package or option
What was counted	Count	Basis	Status
GT-E^4,1,2 GT-E · standard and XR-7 hardtop · 427 or 428 CJ · automatic · as published	394	built, model-year	Reported
GT-E on the standard hardtop⁴ GT-E · standard hardtop · as published	116	built, model-year	Reported
GT-E on the XR-7 hardtop⁴ GT-E · XR-7 hardtop · as published	278	built, model-year	Reported
XR7-G^5,1,2 XR7-G · XR-7 hardtop · as published Wikipedia gives 619; see conflicts.	622	built, model-year	Disputed
XR7-G, Hertz^5,1 XR7-G · XR-7 hardtop · Hertz fleet	188	built, model-year	Reported
XR7-G, non-Hertz^5,1 XR7-G · XR-7 hardtop · retail	434	built, model-year	Reported
XR7-G with sunroof⁵ XR7-G · as published	440	built, model-year	Reported
GT, standard hardtop¹ GT · standard hardtop · as published	955	built, model-year	Reported
GT, XR-7 hardtop¹ XR-7 GT · XR-7 hardtop · as published	1,845	built, model-year	Reported
Dan Gurney Special, standard hardtop¹ Dan Gurney Special · standard hardtop · as published	11,899	built, model-year	Reported
Dan Gurney Special, XR-7 hardtop¹ Dan Gurney Special · XR-7 hardtop · as published The club's Dan Gurney registry says the 1968 package was offered on standard Cougars only; the single XR-7 is as tabulated.	1	built, model-year	Reported
Dan Gurney Special, all 1968 Cougars^7,8 Dan Gurney Special · 2-door hardtop · as published Equals the club page's standard (11,899) plus XR-7 (1) rows.	11,900	built, model-year	Reported

By engine
What was counted	Count	Basis	Status
GT-E with 427 (W-code)^4,1 GT-E · 427 4V (W) · as published	357	built, model-year	Reported
GT-E with 428 Cobra Jet (R-code)^4,1 GT-E · 428 CJ (R) · as published	37	built, model-year	Reported
XR7-G with 428 Cobra Jet^5,2 XR7-G · 428 CJ (R) · as published	14	built, model-year	Reported

By transmission
What was counted	Count	Basis	Status
All 1968 Cougars with the 4-speed manual transmission⁷ 4-speed manual · as published Whole-year installation count; not split by body or engine.	4,777	built, model-year	Reported

Rows are separately scoped; do not add them unless a note says they partition a total.

The three body-code rows sum to the 113,741 total on the club page.

GT-E rows: 357 + 37 and 116 + 278 each partition the 394 total per the registry's database column. XR7-G: 188 + 434 = 622.

Prices when new

Model	Price	Basis
Base price, XR-7 hardtop^5,2	$3,231.91	as published by the registry (retail list), 1968 model year
XR-7 with XR7-G package⁵	$4,055.26	as published by the registry (retail list), 1968 model year
Cougar 2-door hardtop (65A)⁸	$2,933	factory price as tabulated by Over-Drive Magazine (Standard Catalog-style table; basis not stated), 1968 model year
Cougar XR-7 2-door hardtop (65B)⁸	$3,232	factory price as tabulated by Over-Drive Magazine (Standard Catalog-style table; basis not stated), 1968 model year
Cougar 2-door hardtop, bench seat (65C)⁸	$2,910	factory price as tabulated by Over-Drive Magazine (Standard Catalog-style table; basis not stated), 1968 model year

Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.

Engines

Engine	Factory rating	Availability	Built
C · 289 V8 2-bbl^2,9 289 cu in · 2-barrel	195 hp @ 4,600, 288 lb-ft @ 2,600 (SAE gross)	standard early; replaced by the 302 2V (the decoder notes some non-XR-7s after 1967-12-15 received it)	Not yet sourced
F · 302 V8 2-bbl^2,9 302 cu in · 2-barrel	210 hp @ 4,600, 300 lb-ft @ 2,600 (SAE gross)	standard	Not yet sourced
J · 302 V8 4-bbl^2,9 302 cu in · 4-barrel	230 hp @ 4,800, 310 lb-ft @ 2,800 (SAE gross)	optional	Not yet sourced
X · 390 V8 2-bbl^2,10 390 cu in · 2-barrel	280 hp @ 4,400, 403 lb-ft @ 2,600 (SAE gross)	optional	Not yet sourced
S · 390 GT V8 4-bbl^2,9,10 390 cu in · 4-barrel	325 hp @ 4,800, 427 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE gross)	optional; GT	Not yet sourced
W · 427 V8 4-bbl^2,9,4 427 cu in · 4-barrel	390 hp @ 5,600, 460 lb-ft @ 3,200 (SAE gross)	GT-E; replaced mid-year by the 428 CJ	357⁴ Reported
R · 428 Cobra Jet V8 4-bbl (Ram Air)^2,3,9 428 cu in · 4-barrel	335 hp @ 5,400, 440 lb-ft @ 3,400 (SAE gross)	optional from 1968-04-01; GT-E after the 427	Not yet sourced

Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.

Transmissions

Transmission	Availability	Built
1 · 3-speed manual (heavy-duty with 390, $79.00 per the GT registry)^9,2,10	standard; 289/302 ratios 2.99, 1.75, 1.00	Not yet sourced
5 · 4-speed manual ($184.02 with the GT)^9,2,10	optional; 289/302 ratios 2.78, 1.93, 1.36, 1.00	Not yet sourced
W / U · Select-Shift automatic (W = C-4, U = C-6; heavy-duty C-6 $215.99 with the GT)^9,10	optional	Not yet sourced

Options and packages

Code	Option	Price	Installed
package	XR7-G package (power steering and AM radio required)^5,2	$823.35	622⁵ Disputed
`R`order code	428 Cobra Jet engine option³	$420.95	Not yet sourced
order code	Competition handling package³	$30.64	Not yet sourced
order code	Goodyear Polyglass F70-14 tires³	$73.40	Not yet sourced
package	Dan Gurney Special (standard Cougar)^11,2	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Air conditioner²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	AM radio / Stereo-Sonic tape system combination²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Courtesy light group²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Decor group²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Headrests²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Heavy-duty battery²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Oxford roof (black or ivory)²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Power front disc brakes²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Power steering²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Power transfer axle²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Radio, AM with antenna²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Radio, AM-FM stereo with antenna²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Remote-control side-view mirror²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Select-Shift Cruise-O-Matic transmission²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Speed control²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Sports console²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Sports console, XR-7, with clock and elapsed-time indicator²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Styled steel wheels²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Tilt-Away steering wheel²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Tinted glass²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Tinted windshield²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Wheel covers, deluxe²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Wheel covers, deluxe with recessed spinners²	—	Not yet sourced
order code	Wheel covers, wire²	—	Not yet sourced

Paint

Code	Color	Built
`6`	Fawn²	Not yet sourced
`A`	Onyx²	Not yet sourced
`B`	Black Cherry²	Not yet sourced
`D`	Nordic Blue²	Not yet sourced
`F`	Madras Blue²	Not yet sourced
`I`	Lime Frost²	Not yet sourced
`M`	Polar White²	Not yet sourced
`N`	Diamond Blue²	Not yet sourced
`O`	Seafoam Green²	Not yet sourced
`Q`	Glacier Blue²	Not yet sourced
`R`	Augusta Green²	Not yet sourced
`T`	Cardinal Red²	Not yet sourced
`U`	Caribbean Blue²	Not yet sourced
`W`	Saxony²	Not yet sourced
`X`	Wellington Blue²	Not yet sourced
`Y`	Grecian Gold²	Not yet sourced

Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.

Interiors

Code	Trim	Built
`6A-6Y, 8A-8D`	XR7-G interiors: Levant-grain vinyl with leather, or crinkle vinyl with Clarion knit (code range as given by the registry)⁵	Not yet sourced
`1A`	Charcoal Black Crinkle -- All Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`1B`	Lt Blue Crinkle -- All Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`1D`	Dk. Red Crinkle -- All Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`1F`	Med. Saddle Crinkle -- All Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`1G`	Lt. Ivy Gold Crinkle -- All Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`1K`	Lt. Aqua Crinkle -- All Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`1Y`	Lt. Nugget Gold Crinkle -- All Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`2A`	Charcoal Black Crinkle Vinyl & Charcoal Black Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`2B`	Lt. Blue Crinkle Vinyl & Lt Blue Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`2D`	Dk. Red Crinkle Vinyl & Dk. Red Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`2F`	Med. Saddle Crinkle Vinyl & Med. Saddle Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`2G`	Lt Ivy Gold Crinkle Vinyl & Lt. Ivy Gold Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`2K`	Lt Aqua Crinkle Vinyl & Lt. Aqua Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`2Y`	Lt Nugget Gold Crinkle Vinyl & Lt. Nugget Gold Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`4A`	Charcoal Black Crinkle Vinyl & Charcoal Black Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`4B`	Lt. Blue Crinkle Vinyl & Lt Blue Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`4D`	Dk. Red Crinkle Vinyl & Dk. Red Rhino Pattern Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`6A`	Charcoal Black Levant Grain Vinyl & Charcoal Black Leather¹²	Not yet sourced
`6B`	Dk. Blue Levant Grain Vinyl & Dk. Blue Leather¹²	Not yet sourced
`6D`	Dk. Red Levant Grain Vinyl & Dk. Red Leather¹²	Not yet sourced
`6F`	Med. Saddle Levant Grain Vinyl & Med. Saddle Leather¹²	Not yet sourced
`6G`	Dk. Ivy Gold Levant Grain Vinyl & Dk. Ivy Gold Leather¹²	Not yet sourced
`6K`	Lt. Aqua Levant Grain Vinyl & Lt. Aqua Leather¹²	Not yet sourced
`6U`	Pastel Parchment Levant Grain Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Leather with Black¹²	Not yet sourced
`6Y`	Lt. Nugget Gold Levant Grain Vinyl & Lt. Nugget Gold Leather¹²	Not yet sourced
`8A`	Charcoal Black Crinkle Vinyl & Charcoal Black Clarion Knitted Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`8B`	Dk. Blue Crinkle Vinyl & Dk. Blue Clarion Knitted Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`8D`	Dk. Red Crinkle Vinyl & Dk. Red Clarion Knitted Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`8F`	Med. Saddle Crinkle Vinyl & Med. Saddle Clarion Knitted Vinyl¹²	Not yet sourced
`AA`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle -- All Vinyl with Black¹²	Not yet sourced
`AB`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle -- All Vinyl with Blue¹²	Not yet sourced
`AD`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle -- All Vinyl with Red¹²	Not yet sourced
`AF`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle -- All Vinyl with Saddle¹²	Not yet sourced
`AG`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle -- All Vinyl with Gold¹²	Not yet sourced
`AK`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle -- All Vinyl with Aqua¹²	Not yet sourced
`AY`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle -- All Vinyl with Nugget Gold¹²	Not yet sourced
`FA`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Black¹²	Not yet sourced
`FB`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Blue¹²	Not yet sourced
`FD`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Red¹²	Not yet sourced
`FF`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Saddle¹²	Not yet sourced
`FG`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Ivy Gold¹²	Not yet sourced
`FK`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Aqua¹²	Not yet sourced
`FY`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Nugget Gold¹²	Not yet sourced
`UA`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Black¹²	Not yet sourced
`UB`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Blue¹²	Not yet sourced
`UD`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Red¹²	Not yet sourced
`UF`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Saddle¹²	Not yet sourced
`UG`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Ivy Gold¹²	Not yet sourced
`UK`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Aqua¹²	Not yet sourced
`UY`	Pastel Parchment Crinkle Vinyl & Pastel Parchment Rhino Pattern Vinyl with Nugget Gold¹²	Not yet sourced

Specifications

Measure	Value	Applies to
Wheelbase²	111 in	all
Overall length²	190.3 in	all
Overall width²	71.3 in	all
Overall height²	51.7 in	all
Weight, standard hardtop²	3,117 lb	XR-7 3,157; with bench seat 3,126
Tires²	7.35-14 standard; F70-14 GT and GT-E; E70-14 optional size	by model
Standard rear axle, 428 Cobra Jet²	3.5 ratio	3.91 and 4.30 optional
Shipping weight, 65A hardtop⁸	3,094 lb	Over-Drive table
Shipping weight, 65B XR-7 hardtop⁸	3,134 lb	Over-Drive table
Shipping weight, 65C bench-seat hardtop⁸	3,262 lb	Over-Drive table

Identification

Body codes: 65A standard hardtop, 65B XR-7 hardtop, 65C standard hardtop with bench seat.¹
VIN engine codes: Fifth VIN character: C 289 2V, F 302 2V, J 302 4V, X 390 2V, S 390 4V, W 427, R 428 CJ.⁹

Decode a VIN →

Where the sources disagree

1968 total production

113,741¹
113,720⁶

The Marti-derived club figure leads because its body rows sum to it; Over-Drive Magazine's body figures match the club rows.

XR7-G production

622^5,1
619⁶

622 leads (Hertz and non-Hertz rows sum to it); 619 shown with attribution.

390 2V rating

280 hp^2,10
265 hp⁹

Both shown.

428 Cobra Jet rating

335 hp²
340 hp (Ram Air, after 5/68)⁴

Both shown; the basis for 340 is not stated by the registry.

1968 production by body style (Over-Drive table)

65A 78,359; 65B 32,709; 65C 2,673; total 113,741^1,7
65A 81,014; 65B 32,712; 65C 2,672; total 116,398⁸

The Marti-derived club figures stay in the production table; the Over-Drive table figures are attributed here. The Over-Drive fact sheet text itself repeats the club figures, so Over-Drive disagrees with itself.

1968 paint code U

U = Caribbean Blue²
U = Cinnamon Frost Poly¹²

The paint table keeps the Over-Drive name; the decoder name is shown here. Neither source is a factory chart.

XR7-G production (rarity and Over-Drive tables)

622⁵
619^7,8

Adds two more publications carrying 619 to the existing XR7-G conflict; they may share Wikipedia's lineage.

Identification

Read a 1968 Mercury VIN

The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:

Lincoln-Mercury 11-character warranty (vehicle identification) number (Mercury, Comet, Cougar, Lincoln), 1960–1969

Same model year

Also in 1968

AMC AMX AMC's two-seat AMX arrived mid-year on a 97-inch wheelbase. The enthusiast production table counts 6,725 cars, two-thirds of them with the 390.
AMC Javelin AMC's first pony car, launched in September 1967 as base and SST hardtops. Production of the two combined was about 55,000.
AMC Rebel and Rebel Machine Now badged AMC, the Rebel came in 550, 770 and SST trims and could be ordered with the 315-hp 390. It is host-car context for the 1970 Machine.
Buick Riviera Record Riviera sales of 49,284, including 5,337 with the GS handling option.
Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX On the new 112 in two-door body the GS 400 was joined by a GS 350 hardtop, and a dealer-installed Stage 1 package arrived for the 400.
Buick Wildcat 73,561 Wildcats with the 430 V-8.
Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The restyled Chevelle kept SS 396 as its own series and added an SS 396 El Camino: 62,785 SS 396s in three bodies.
Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova SS engines per the source: L48 350, L34 396 and L78 396. Enthusiast-compiled production: 183,552 cars; Super Sport 5,571.
Chevrolet El Camino SS The first factory Super Sport El Camino: a separate SS 396 model, 13880, built 5,190 times.
Chevrolet Impala SS Super Sport becomes an option again (RPO Z03): 36,432, plus 1,778 SS427 (RPO Z24).
Dodge Charger The redesigned 'Coke bottle' Charger and the new R/T multiplied sales roughly sixfold over 1967.
Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The redesigned Coronet kept the 440-powered R/T and added the budget Super Bee coupe, a 383 car with an optional Hemi.
Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The new Dart GTS brought a 275 hp 340 or a 300 hp 383, and in February Dodge released 80 Hurst-completed LO23 Hemi Darts for Super Stock drag racing; GTS production was not reported separately.
Ford Fairlane The restyled intermediate split into Fairlane, Fairlane 500 and the new Torino series; the Fairlane 500 fastback shared the Torino GT body and the 428 Cobra Jet arrived on April 1, 1968.
Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT carried Torino GT trim; 1,669 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
Ford Thunderbird The new 429 Thunder Jet V-8 arrived as the Thunderbird's optional engine at 360 hp.
Ford Torino Torino arrived as the new top series of the restyled Fairlane line, the Torino GT fastback became its volume performance car, and the 428 Cobra Jet was added on April 1, 1968.
Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Cyclone moved to the new Montego-based intermediate; the fastback outsold the notchback hardtop by about ten to one, and the 428 Cobra Jet arrived mid-year.
Mercury Marauder and S-55 Neither the S-55 nor the Marauder model appears in the sources for 1968; no performance full-size Mercury production figure was found.
Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The restyled 4-4-2 became its own series, the W-31 small-block arrived, and Hurst built the first 455 Hurst/Olds: 515 cars in the tabulation.
Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The new 340 arrived in the Formula S alongside the 383, and Plymouth issued a competition-only Hemi Barracuda under order code BO29.
Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite The GTX became its own model on the restyled 1968 intermediate body, still with the 375-hp 440 standard and the Hemi at $605, and outsold its first year.
Plymouth Road Runner Plymouth added a stripped Belvedere-based coupe and hardtop with a special 335-hp 383 as standard and the 426 Hemi as the only engine option, and sold 44,599 of them.
Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The first full season: the six grew to 250 cu in, the 326 gave way to a 350, and output rose to 107,112.
Pontiac GTO A new 112-inch-wheelbase body with an Endura nose, the sport coupe dropped, and 87,684 built.
Pontiac Grand Prix The last full-size Grand Prix: 31,711 hardtops, with a 390 hp 428 HO at the top.
Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The new two-door body arrives, and a 350 HO replaces the 326 HO.