1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR
1968 SHELBY MUSTANG GT500KR – KING OF THE ROAD
The “KR” suffix stands for “King of the Road” and Ford meant it. The hot new GT500KR got the best of everything. Standard equipment for the GT500KR started with Ford’s new 428 Cobra Jet V8 with Ram Air Induction and a Traction-Lock limited-slip differential with 3.50:1 ratio. The 428 was based on Ford’s tried-and-true FE big block architecture, which was a fairly inexpensive engine to build when compared to others that produced similar power, Chrysler’s 426 Hemi. The standard 428CJ was available in Mustangs, Cougars, Cyclones and Fairlanes and rated at 335hp. But the engines in the GT500KR were surely massaged to make more power, even though they were still advertised as 335hp. However, torque the what the 428 was all about, and it had tons of it, 440 lb-ft at 3400rpm to be exact.
1968 Shelby GT500KR CONVERTIBLE
ABOVE & BELOW: The 1968 Shelby GT500KR Convertible, top-down & top-up.
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR FASTBACK
1968 SHELBY MUSTANG GT500KR RACING SUCCESS
All that torque in the lightweight Mustang won races. The victories were many, including Super Stock Eliminator Chap at the ’68 Winternationals. These were heady days at Ford, just having bested Ferrari at Le Mans 2 years in a row, 1966 and 1967.
1968 Shelby GT500KR INTERIORS
ABOVE: Yes, that’s Carroll Shelby’s autograph on the dash.
BELOW: Shelby-only factory roll bar.
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR ENGINES
428 COBRA JET V8
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR SPECIFICATONS
| Model/Body style
Price when new Engine type Bore & Stroke Displacement Compression ratio Fuel system Power output @ RPM Torque output @ RPM Wheelbase Length Width Height Curb weight Track, front Track, rear Tire size Weight distribution F/R Fuel capacity Manual Transmission Auto Transmission Brakes, front Brakes, rear PERFORMANCE Zero-to-60 mph Zero-to-100 mph 1/4-mile |
GT500KR Fastback
$4,472 OHV 90-degree V8 4.13″ X 3.98″ 428 ci / 7501 cc ** 10.6:1 1X 735 cfm Holley 4-barrel * 335 hp @ 5600 rpm 440 lb/ft @ 3400 rpm 108.0 in 183.6 in 70.9 in 51.8 in 3,570 lbs 58.1 in 58.1 in E70-15 Goodyear Speedway 350 56.8% / 43.2% 18.0 US gal 4-speed Ford Top-Loader 3-speed Ford C-6 11.3″ Kelsey-Hayes power disks 10″ X 3″ drums, power assist 6.9 sec 14.6 sec 14.04 sec @ 102.73 mph |
GT500KR Convertible
$4,594 OHV 90-degree V8 4.13″ X 3.98 428 ci / 7501 cc ** 10.6:1 1X 735 cfm Holley 4-barrel * 335 hp @ 5600 rpm 440 lb/ft @ 3400 rpm 108.0 in 183.6 in 70.9 in 51.8 in 3,570 lbs 58.1 in 58.1 in E70-15 Goodyear Speedway 350 56.8% / 43.2% 18.0 US gal 4-speed Ford Top-Loader 3-speed Ford C-6 11.3″ Kelsey-Hayes power disks 10″ X 3″ drums, power assist 6.9 sec 14.6 sec 14.04 sec @ 102.73 mph |
* NOTE: Horsepower was underrated at 335. Actual horsepower was rumored to be more like 400, the same as the 1968-1/2 428 Cobra Jet.
** NOTE: 12.5:1 drag racing pistons were optional.
