The 1968 Shelby Tail Lights

There is some question as to what tail light frames were used and whether they were painted black or chrome. According to SAAC member, Paul Newitt, who is an authority on GT/CS, in The Shelby American #60, the Ford Car Parts book is not correct. This book specifies part number C5SZ-13489-A as the tail light bezel for the GT/CS. Paul says his research indicates the GT/CS used an all chrome tail light frame. That the edge of the frame was NOT painted black. Ford asked Shelby American to specify the parts package to be used on the 1968 GT/CS Mustangs. Most of the modifications used were to make the GT/CS Mustangs identical to the 1968 Shelby Cobra Mustangs. The parts in the package were the rear deck spoiler, the tail light panel, the tail lights and bezels, and the side scoops. One difference was the side scoops were not cut out as the Shelby cars. The fiberglass source for the CS/GT parts was the same as the Shelby cars, A.O. Smith. To be consistent with the Shelby look, the GT/CS tail light frames were to be all chrome. Ford gave the parts a non-Shelby number, C8ZZ-6540324-A. The Shelby part had a "S8MS" prefix. In the 1975 Ford Car Parts Book 65/72, the final issue, two tail light bezels were listed. One used on the 1965 T-Bird and the 1969-70 Shelby Mustangs, had a black edge, the other was all chrome and listed for use on the 1968 Shelby Mustangs and the GT/CS. After 1975, according the Paul, Ford dropped the chrome frame and listed only the T-Bird version.  Now you know.