2016 Ford Mustang GT California Special On The Way

Details are scant on the 2016 Ford Mustang GT California Special, but Ford is ready to apply this special treatment on the current Ford Mustang. The only piece of evidence Ford dropped according to AutoBlog was this badge pictured below.

But what we do know about these California Special’s is that they included a special set of wheels, spoilers, badges and exclusive colors.

Ford has applied the California treatment four times before in the past not including this time in homage to the original 1968 Ford GT California Specials.

The sunshine state and Ford have always shared a special bond tied mostly by how much sales California brought to the Ford Market. California accounted for 20 percent of all sales of Ford Mustang when the pony car was first released.  Back in 1968, there was a special pony car competition between Chevrolet Camaro, AMC Javelin and Pontiac Firebird to see who could sell the most units.

"Lee Grey was the Southern California district sales manager for Ford and he was looking for something unique to spark the sales of Mustangs in Los Angeles. Ford dealers had tried promotions like the “1967 Rainbow Colored Mustangs”, as well as by adding accessories and options to dress up cars for public view. The objective was to make the Mustangs sold in California unique and to look “custom” made, thus differentiating them from the standard models available elsewhere."

Pictured below was one of the first Ford Mustang California Special’s. Notice the special fog lamps, hood pins, pop-open gas cap, rear spoiler, paint and rear decklid stripe.

via Wikipedia via Wikipedia

Then in 2007-2009 and 2011-2014, a special California edition was given to Ford Mustang’s as well. Anyone could order it as a package option.

Check out The Redline Review’s walkaround of the 2014 Ford Mustang with the California Special Treatment.

And check out one of the original California Special’s that found its way all the way in Finland.

It seems like something so small as a package option, but Ford Mustang’s are already having some of their best sales months in the past 5 years. Adding a California Special package, like the original, will only increase those sales even more.