SHELBY GT 500-KR

’68 cars were “Shelby Cobras” instead of “Shelby Mustangs,”

  • 428 Cobra Jet V8 powerplants are potent
  • A more aggressive look
  • A way to keep the Cobra name alive

The new model replaced the early 1968 Shelby 

1968 Shelby Cobra GT 500-KR magazine Ad

428 Cobra Jet V-8 engine

this 428 Cobra Jet V-8 engine
The condition of this 428 Cobra Jet V-8 engine is astonishing, original hoses, original belts, original spark plugs, and all the smog equipment is untouched factory installed. With such low mileage, the only thing that has been replaced is the battery.  
this 428 Cobra Jet V-8 engine
Not much room after the fitting of the 428 CJ powerplant. Here you can see the aluminum “Cobra Jet” black valve covers as installed at the factory.

One of 933 produced 1968 Fastback KRs

1968 “Shelby Cobra”

Up front, 1968 cars have the extended fiberglass nose cone, individual S-H-E-L-B-Y lettering adorning the top section, and a pair of rectangular driving lights fitted into the grille cavity. A scooped and vented fiberglass hood was part of the package, providing a large dome area that housed the functional ram air system.

extractor louvers
The new molded hood included rear-facing and functional, extractor louvers located towards the rear, designed to aid in removing excessive under-hood heat.
The underside of the hood shows how the air was channeled from the front scoops to the air cleaner assembly. 
air extractor vents
On the sides, Shelby Mustangs have scoops on the rear quarter panel between the door and wheel opening with air extractor vents on the C-Pillars Fastback models. Side stripes with identification markings are blue in color on white cars, and black on all others.  
a pop-open gas cap

The rear of the Shelby featured a fiberglass-spoilered tail with the same S-H-E-L-B-Y lettering as the front. Chromed exhaust tips are used and a pop-open gas cap. No matter which angle was viewed, these cars appear different from the less-expensive Mustang. 

sequential taillights
The Shelby borrowed the sequential taillights from a 1965 Ford Thunderbird, providing a unique look and dramatic effect when turning! 
American Racing “Torque Thrust” five-spoke aluminum wheels
These American Racing “Torque Thrust” five-spoke aluminum wheels were a dealer-add-on item and the original Goodyear E70-15 Speedway 350 tires have been replaced with a set of modern BFG T/A radials - P215/60R15.    
That’s the original Speedway Goodyear spare tire!  
Carroll Shelby signature
The obligatory Carroll Shelby signature is on the inside of the deck lid and what separates this car from most others, is that it spent an entire year at the Carroll Shelby Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
The Mustang Deluxe interior is used on all 1968 Shelby Mustangs: GT 350, GT 500, GT 500-KR.  
Stewart-Warner gauges
Stewart-Warner gauges; oil pressure and amp are fitted in the center console, along with a wood-handled Select-O-Matic shifter. This particular car has the “Tilt-Away” steering wheel and dealer-installed wood-rimmed wheel, which was actually an item from the year prior.
140-mph speedometers were part of the package and this car, with only 6,727 actual miles, is a rare low-mileage example of a Cobra Jet-powered Shelby Mustang.

Power steering with 16-to-1 ratio and power disc front brakes were standard equipment, as were adjustable shocks front and rear. Heavy-duty suspension is part of the big-block Shelby Mustang package and on these King of the Road models; the rear drums were larger in size. Also, shock towers were beefed-up for added structural rigidity and staggered rear shocks were featured on manual transmission applications. Posi-traction is standard equipment unless A/C was chosen.      

Hot Rod Magazine tested a 1968 4-speed Fastback GT 500-KR in their November '69 issue and was able to get a 14.01 elapsed time at 102.73 miles per hour with it, and in their March 1968 issue, they were able to crank out a quicker 13.56 @ 106.64 mph out of a 428 Cobra Jet-equipped car, only in a lighter street car Mustang version.  

original condition

What is amazing about this car is it’s still in original condition, the paint, the interior, and the engine compartment, all still look like they did the day it was purchased, only the battery, oil filter, and tires have been replaced from when it was driven off the Ford lot.

After the photo shoot of the pristine KR, we strapped ourselves in the car and went on a little joy ride to exercise the big Cobra Jet engine. Once the engine temperature gauge showed the mill was warmed-up and ready, it was time to open-up them secondaries—“waaah”—and let the throaty 428 show off its power - This beast had a nasty growl to it!

muscle car lover
Today the current owner, is a muscle car lover who appreciates these original untouched examples.
SHELBY GT500-KR
Hearing the history from him on the car, and then starting up that 428 Cobra Jet powerplant and rolling the pristine car out of the garage, it seemed as though it was 1968 all over again!     

SHELBY GT 500-KR

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