1968 Shelby GT500 KR Convertible: Muscle Car Of The Week Episode 268
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1968 Shelby GT500 KR Convertible:
1968 Shelby GT500 KR Convertible: Muscle Car Of The Week Episode 268 V8TV
1968 was a big year for Shelby cars, as numerous changes to the line were made aimed to improve the quality and performance of the cars. Unlike previous cars built on the San Jose assembly line and competed by Shelby American in California, the ‘68s were built on the Metuchan, New Jersey assembly line and then sent back to A.O. Smith in Iona, MI for the final Shelby-I-Zation.
There is a lot to digest when looking at a ‘68 Shelby GT500KR convertible, and that long name is just the beginning. Sure it’s the 1968 version of the legendary Shelby Mustangs, and there’s a whole story on the evolution of these cars and the internal relationship between Ford and Shelby and how the cars were built and sold. Like any car company, Ford wanted more sales, and although track-ready racers are exciting, the general public isn’t the biggest market for thinly veiled race cars. Ford’s plan was to refine the cars and make them more consumer friendly. The cars - especially the GT500s - were loaded up with features and equipment to make them more attractive to a wider audience. Everything was included, by the way, with the only options being a choice of wheels, manual or automatic transmissions, air conditioning, or the first ever offering of a Shelby convertible top. So by ‘68, the Shelby GT500 was more of a luxo-rod than a stripped down road racer like the ‘65s were. Some were critical of the new direction of the car, but it the press was excited about it, with Motor Trend Magazine calling the ‘68s a “New Breed” of Shelby.
The look of the car was improved, with new fiberglass parts being made to higher standards for better fit and finish. The GT500KR retained the Police Interceptor 428 cube V8 with a 10.6:1 compression ratio and a hydraulic cam with just under ½” of lift. Powerful, but smooth. Large port heads and a cast-iron intake sucked air through a 735 CFM 4-barrel carb, and the combination was rated at 335 HP at 5600 RPM and 440 lbs-ft at a 3400. The 4-speed stick was standard, but a quick shifting tuned C6 auto was optional. 3.50 gears in the trac-lock rear spin the 15x7” 10-spoke wheels wrapped in performance rubber.
The drivetrain sounds very similar to the 1968 Mustang Cobra Jet, but the Shelby was far more of a car than the CJ. This one is nicely-worn in, showing over 95,000 miles on the odometer. That’s a lot of driving for a car like this, but slipping behind the wheel into the black bucket seat feels like sliding into your favorite pair of shoes. It is very comfortable, and the woodgrained dash shows some wear, but is loaded with a 140 MPH speedo, and an 8,000 RPM tach. Someone added some indicator lights and supplemental gauges to the console north of the C-6 automatic shifter, but this sure would be a great place to spend a day.
There’s a question about the color of the car. If you were seeking out a Brittany Blue ‘68 Shelby GT500KR Convertible, you’d be hard pressed to find one, as the elusive shade of light blue was only offered on standard Mustangs and Fords of that year. However, the word on the street is that a couple of these cars were painted Q-code Brittany Blue like the one seen here. But a little research finds that the Q-color code, as seen on the data plate for this one… was Brittany Blue in the standard Mustang line, but a darker Medium Blue Metallic on the Shelbys. Could someone have repainted this car and used the regular Mustang Q-code Brittany rather than the Shelby Q code medium Blue? Anything is possible, but this car wears Brittany Blue beautifully, correct or not.
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The first Shelby Convertible was King Of The Road!
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