LOT 133
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500 KR Chassis no. 8T02R216049-04280
Sold for US$162,400 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 133
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500 KR
The Audrain Concours Auction|4 October 2024, 17:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500 KR
Chassis no. 8T02R216049-04280
Chassis no. 8T02R216049-04280
428ci OHV "Cobra Jet" V8 Engine
Single 4-bbl Carburetor
335bhp at 5,400rpm (factory-rated)
4-speed manual transmission
Front independent unequal-length control arms, rear live axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs
Front disc, rear drum brakes
*One of 933 fastbacks built in 1968
*Accompanied by its Marti Report®
*Known history by the Shelby Registry
*Highly-optioned example
*Delivered new in Lime Gold paint
*Desirable four-speed manual transmission
*Sports Deck rear seats, power steering, tilt-away wheel
*Nicely detailed and well-preserved restoration
THE 'KING OF THE ROAD' GT500
It was 1967, and Ford Motor Company had a problem – its cars were uncompetitive on the fiercely competitive street scene. Sure, the GTA 390 was a new and welcome addition to the redesigned Mustang, but it still struggled to compete with Chevrolet's Camaro SS 396. For the brand that promoted Total Performance, it was an ironic place to be.
Meanwhile, over at Rhode Island's Tasca Ford, they were quite aware of Ford's lackluster performance on the street...and the sales floor. In a fortuitous sequence of events, a grenaded engine from a demonstrator 390 GTA Coupe led to the parts manager replacing it with a 428 Police Interceptor short block, then dug into the Ford parts bin to come up with a hodge-podge of 427 parts to create a stormer that vanquished the quarter-mile in 13.39 seconds at 105 mph. Tasca christened it "KR-8" for "King of the Road 1968" and offered the package to its customers for 1968.
Tasca showed Ford engineers what they had done; they were receptive, but their bosses were not. Eric Dahlquist of Hot Rod magazine caught wind of the KR-8 and went to Providence for a look-see. Then, in the November 1967 issue, Dahlquist's article presented a ballot for readers to select BUILD THIS CAR and send to Henry Ford II. By April 1968, the first 428 Cobra Jet Mustangs had hit the street. Underrated at 335 horsepower, the CJ eventually ended up cleaning house at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, giving Ford's 'street cred' a massive boost.
Ford didn't leave out Shelby, replacing the GT500 with the GT500 KR (with inspiration from Tasca's KR-8), featuring revised styling and a long list of luxury options. Since then, the GT500 KR has been one of the most desirable muscle cars in the hobby, and among the most collectible of Shelby Mustangs.
THE CAR OFFERED
According to its Deluxe Marti Report®, this Shelby GT500 KR was produced on July 23, 1968, in the Metuchen Factory. Originally finished in Lime Gold, it was fitted with Black Knit Vinyl bucket seats and equipped with lots of optional equipment including a 3.50 traction-lock rear axle, four-speed manual transmission, shoulder harnesses, GT Equipment Group, Visibility Group, sport deck rear seat, power disc brakes, power steering, tilt-away steering wheel, AM radio and Interior Decor Group.
The Shelby American Automobile Club's invaluable Shelby Registry gives us the following information about its history:
Delivered in August 1968 to Dan Rohyans Ford Inc. in Colombus, Ohio, the Shelby was sold for $3,797.14 in November 1968 to Larry D. Raney of Malta, Ohio. When the car had 1,474 miles on the clock, in December 1968, the distributor was replaced following ignition problems. In March 1969, at 1,699 miles, some cosmetic faults were repaired under warranty, notably due to cracks on certain fiberglass parts. In May 1969, when the Shelby had 11,855 miles on the clock, the crankshaft oil seal was replaced under warranty, while the indicators were also replaced. In September 1969, we know that the car had 18,288 miles on the clock when the driver's window deflector was replaced. Later, in July 1997, the Shelby was in the hands of Joseph Rose, of Lakewood, according to the Colorado archives. It resurfaced in 2016, when it was for sale on an online auction site, with 69,060 miles on the clock.
In 2020, the Shelby was acquired by its current owner from Mr. Max Gentry Newland, of Ocean Ridge, Florida, and made the journey to France. There, the restoration was extensively freshened by specialist company, Classic Restored Cars, who retouched various details and gave this Shelby, which had been repainted black in the past, new paintwork. The superb original cabin was largely conserved and retains many of its original fittings. The mechanical assembly and running gear were checked and serviced to ensure that this Shelby runs smoothly, as we observed in a road test.
Now in excellent condition and prime for tire-smoking fun, this desirable Shelby GT500 KR will be sold with its Deluxe Marti Report®, the copy of its last US vehicle title, a new edition of its owner's manual, as well as a certificate from the Fédération Française des Véhicules d'Époque(French classic car federation).
Additional information
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