Original 1968 Ford Shelby GT500KR to be auctioned
Fans of early Ford Mustangs should mark May 17 on their calendars, as an original 1968 Ford Shelby GT500KR will hit the auction block at the Mecum sale in Indianapolis.
The car, whose chassis number ends in 03397, is one of only two painted in the shade known as Special Light Orange. This one was first delivered to Courtesy Motors in Littleton, Colorado, and the other was shipped to the UK and stored in the US.
Following the success of the GT350 introduced in 1965, Shelby introduced the more powerful GT500 in 1967. Still not satisfied, Shelby upped the ante in 1968 with the GT500KR, known as the King of the Road
.
The Cobra Jet 428 cubic-inch V-8 combined with a ram air intake, larger heads, and an improved intake manifold pushed output to about 400 hp. For insurance reasons, Ford claimed 335 hp for the Cobra Jet 428, but 400 hp is a conservative estimate.
The car also comes with a four-speed manual and original hubcaps restored by Mustang restoration specialist Timothy Lee. The interior features black leather trim and wood grain on the dash. Mileage not listed.
No estimate is also provided, but another 1968 example sold for $160,000 at last year's Mecum auction. Mecum also auctioned a 1968 convertible last year for $215,000.
Ford and Shelby eventually revived the GT500KR name with a fifth-generation Mustang in 2008. The modern GT500KR was introduced to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original and was powered by a supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 engine that produced 540 horsepower.
