1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR

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.