LOT 73
1968 Shelby GT500 KR Convertible Chassis no. 8T03R210309-03693
Estimate: US$190,000 - US$240,000
Lot 73
1968 Shelby GT500 KR Convertible
1968 Shelby GT500 KR Convertible
Chassis no. 8T03R210309-03693
Chassis no. 8T03R210309-03693
428ci OHV "Cobra Jet" V8 Engine
Single 4-bbl Carburetor
335bhp at 5,400rpm (factory rated)
3-Speed C6 Heavy Duty Automatic Transmission
Front Independent Unequal-Length Control Arms, Rear Live Axle, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs
Front Disc, Rear Drum Brakes
*Shelby's luxurious, tire-shredding King of the Road
*One of only 318 GT500 KR Convertibles built in 1968
*Fully restored to a high standard in 2007
*Documented original example accompanied by a copy of the Marti Report®
*Equipped with automatic transmission, factory air conditioning and power top
THE SHELBY GT500 KR
As the muscle car wars heated up in the mid-1960s, Ford introduced a new-for-1967 Mustang that was notably larger, specifically to accommodate their mighty FE-series engines. Ford created the first "big block" Mustang with the 390-powered GTA, but Carroll Shelby new there was plenty of room for improvement, shoehorning the Interceptor 428 into the Mustang shell to create the new GT500. A far cry from the stripped-out homologation special GT350 of 1965, the GT500 brought new levels of luxury and refinement – along with massive power – to the Shelby Mustang. For 1968, the GT500 was substantially updated with a newly designed and aggressive front-end treatment, featuring an extended hood, dual air scoops and cooling vents, and revised headlights. The rear end was also tweaked with new taillights (with sequential indicators) and a neatly integrated rear spoiler. Consistent with Shelby's new upmarket image was the addition of the convertible body style to the GT500 range.
While the standard GT500 was already an impressive machine, Shelby took it a step further with the GT500 KR (for "King of the Road", naturally), which introduced Ford's NASCAR-derived 428 Cobra Jet V8 to the Mustang shell. Featuring 427 heads and a beefier crank, rods, and pistons, the "CJ" rated at a suspiciously low 335bhp, likely to appease the insurance companies. In reality, it produced in excess of 400bhp and a Good Year melting 440ft-lbs of torque. The chassis was suitably uprated with larger brakes, body bracing, and staggered rear dampers to prevent axle wind-up. In 1968 Shelby and Ford produced just 1,251 GT500 KRs, and of those, a mere 318 were convertibles, and authentic examples are hugely desirable by a wide range of collectors and enthusiasts.
THE CAR OFFERED
This outstanding Lime Gold GT500 KR is a fantastic example of one of the most revered and collectible of all the big-muscle Mustangs. A copy of the Marti Report documents its authenticity, and the production breakdown shows this as one of just four GT500 KRs produced in this specific color and option combination. The Shelby Registry further notes this car was shipped to J.D. Ball Ford of Miami Florida in August of 1968. It was sold early the following year to local Miami resident Kay Orvis. In more recent years it was in the care of several noted collectors including John O'Quinn, Galpin Ford of California, and Shelby expert Donnie Gould of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and was acquired by the current owner in 2010.
In 2007, the car was treated to a comprehensive restoration in its original shade of Lime Gold over a black interior, with a fully detailed undercarriage and engine bay. The attention to detail is apparent all around this car, with noteworthy features including a fully detailed trunk with factory space-saver spare, correct 10-spoke alloy wheels, period-style Goodyear tires, Lucas fog lights, original pushbutton radio, and factory air conditioning. Records on file show that the current owner continued to enjoy and maintain the car, with work completed on the convertible top hydraulics and fitting a new, concours-type exhaust system in 2013.
Equally happy to storm down the local strip or cruise the open road on a rally or tour, this GT500 KR is an exclusive, exciting, and highly collectible big-block Shelby Mustang.
Single 4-bbl Carburetor
335bhp at 5,400rpm (factory rated)
3-Speed C6 Heavy Duty Automatic Transmission
Front Independent Unequal-Length Control Arms, Rear Live Axle, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs
Front Disc, Rear Drum Brakes
*Shelby's luxurious, tire-shredding King of the Road
*One of only 318 GT500 KR Convertibles built in 1968
*Fully restored to a high standard in 2007
*Documented original example accompanied by a copy of the Marti Report®
*Equipped with automatic transmission, factory air conditioning and power top
THE SHELBY GT500 KR
As the muscle car wars heated up in the mid-1960s, Ford introduced a new-for-1967 Mustang that was notably larger, specifically to accommodate their mighty FE-series engines. Ford created the first "big block" Mustang with the 390-powered GTA, but Carroll Shelby new there was plenty of room for improvement, shoehorning the Interceptor 428 into the Mustang shell to create the new GT500. A far cry from the stripped-out homologation special GT350 of 1965, the GT500 brought new levels of luxury and refinement – along with massive power – to the Shelby Mustang. For 1968, the GT500 was substantially updated with a newly designed and aggressive front-end treatment, featuring an extended hood, dual air scoops and cooling vents, and revised headlights. The rear end was also tweaked with new taillights (with sequential indicators) and a neatly integrated rear spoiler. Consistent with Shelby's new upmarket image was the addition of the convertible body style to the GT500 range.
While the standard GT500 was already an impressive machine, Shelby took it a step further with the GT500 KR (for "King of the Road", naturally), which introduced Ford's NASCAR-derived 428 Cobra Jet V8 to the Mustang shell. Featuring 427 heads and a beefier crank, rods, and pistons, the "CJ" rated at a suspiciously low 335bhp, likely to appease the insurance companies. In reality, it produced in excess of 400bhp and a Good Year melting 440ft-lbs of torque. The chassis was suitably uprated with larger brakes, body bracing, and staggered rear dampers to prevent axle wind-up. In 1968 Shelby and Ford produced just 1,251 GT500 KRs, and of those, a mere 318 were convertibles, and authentic examples are hugely desirable by a wide range of collectors and enthusiasts.
THE CAR OFFERED
This outstanding Lime Gold GT500 KR is a fantastic example of one of the most revered and collectible of all the big-muscle Mustangs. A copy of the Marti Report documents its authenticity, and the production breakdown shows this as one of just four GT500 KRs produced in this specific color and option combination. The Shelby Registry further notes this car was shipped to J.D. Ball Ford of Miami Florida in August of 1968. It was sold early the following year to local Miami resident Kay Orvis. In more recent years it was in the care of several noted collectors including John O'Quinn, Galpin Ford of California, and Shelby expert Donnie Gould of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and was acquired by the current owner in 2010.
In 2007, the car was treated to a comprehensive restoration in its original shade of Lime Gold over a black interior, with a fully detailed undercarriage and engine bay. The attention to detail is apparent all around this car, with noteworthy features including a fully detailed trunk with factory space-saver spare, correct 10-spoke alloy wheels, period-style Goodyear tires, Lucas fog lights, original pushbutton radio, and factory air conditioning. Records on file show that the current owner continued to enjoy and maintain the car, with work completed on the convertible top hydraulics and fitting a new, concours-type exhaust system in 2013.
Equally happy to storm down the local strip or cruise the open road on a rally or tour, this GT500 KR is an exclusive, exciting, and highly collectible big-block Shelby Mustang.
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