1968 Shelby GT500KR Convertible
Carroll Shelby introduced this mid-year variant in April 1968, with the “KR” designation standing for “King of the Road.” The name was reportedly chosen after Shelby learned that Chevrolet planned to use the same slogan for the Corvette.
Just 518 GT500KR convertibles were built during the abbreviated production run, making 1968 the first and only year for a Shelby KR convertible.
The convertible body featured fiberglass front-end panels, a functional twin-scoop hood with rear-facing air-extraction vents, decorative side scoops, and a spoilered tail section with sequential turn signals borrowed from the Ford Thunderbird. A padded roll bar behind the seats served as both a safety feature and a mounting point for the shoulder harnesses.
Power came from Ford’s new 428 Cobra Jet V8, replacing the earlier 428 Police Interceptor engine. Though officially rated at 335 horsepower for insurance purposes, actual output was closer to 400 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque.
The GT500KR was the first production Ford model to carry the “Cobra Jet” name, marking the debut of one of the most famous performance engines of the muscle car era. Transmission choices included a four-speed Toploader manual or a C6 Select-Shift automatic.
All 1968 Shelbys were built as Mustangs at Ford’s Metuchen, New Jersey, assembly plant, then shipped to A.O. Smith in Ionia, Michigan, where Shelby-specific components (including fiberglass body panels, badging, and interior trim) were installed. This two-stage production process was unique to the 1968 model year.
Total 1968 GT500KR production reached 1,571 units (1,053 fastbacks and 518 convertibles) before the model transitioned to the restyled 1969 body.
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