Rare Car Archive

Makes › Shelby American United States › GT500 › GT500 KR (1968) · Rare specification · 1968 Very Rare

Shelby American
GT500 KR (1968)

428 Cobra Jet GT500 KR in convertible form, one year only

Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · SHELBY AMERICAN GT500 KR (1968) 1968
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
933BuiltDisputed
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
933 Built
Years
1968
Engine
V8, 428 Cobra Jet · 7,010 cc / 7.0 LFactory: 428 cu in · converted
Power
250 kW / 340 PSFactory: 335 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The GT500 KR, 'King of the Road', was the top 1968 Shelby, launched mid-year with the 428 Cobra Jet engine. It was available as a fastback and as a convertible, the latter in the first year of Shelby convertibles.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityVery Rare 933 · Built1,2
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Body style productionFastback: 1968 GT500 KR coupes (fastbacks) built 9331,2Strongest evidence Factory production Disputed
Body style productionConvertible: 1968 GT500 KR convertibles (RM figure; another RM lot gives 318) 5183,2Strongest evidence Factory production Disputed
Why more than one figure?

Sources differ: RM Sotheby's says 933 fastbacks, a Ford release reproduced at mustangspecs says 1,053.

Sources differ: RM Sotheby's says 518 convertibles, a Ford release reproduced at mustangspecs says 517.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Shelby learned that Chevrolet was about to use the 'King of the Road' name for a Corvette; his lawyer registered the name the next day and he applied it to the new Cobra Jet-powered GT500. The engine was rated at 335 hp, though estimates put it nearer 400. Hot Rod magazine recorded a 14.01 second quarter mile at 102.73 mph in a KR fastback.

Production figures differ between sources: RM Sotheby's gives 518 convertibles in one lot and 1,571 KRs in total including 518 convertibles in another, while a Ford release reproduced at mustangspecs says 1,570 were sold, 1,053 fastbacks and 517 convertibles.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard GT500 KR (1968).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutV8, 428 Cobra Jet4 Independently researched
Displacement 7,010 cc / 7.0 LFactory: 428 cu in · converted5 Independently researched
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 250 kW / 340 PSFactory: 335 hp · converted5 Independently researchedAdvertised figure; estimates near 400 hp. Rating standard not stated.
Power atNot yet verified
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxC-6 automatic (on the convertibles described); 3.00:1 rear axle4 Independently researched
GearsNot yet verified
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Standing ¼ mile 14.01 s5 Independently researchedHot Rod test of a KR fastback, at 102.73 mph.
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

The KR has a hood with functional louvers and big twin air scoops on its leading edge, forming a ram-air system with an under-hood plenum on a steel air cleaner. It carries 428 Cobra Jet fender badges and a Cobra Jet fuel filler cap. The convertible has a rubber-padded tubular steel roll bar down to the floor and cross-chest shoulder belts built into the interior trim. Standard wheels are 15-inch ten-spoke cast aluminium.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    RM Sotheby's – 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500-KR Convertible (John Staluppi Collection 2012) Level B
    • 933 1968 GT500 KR coupes (fastbacks) built
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR: Ultimate Guide Level B mustangspecs.com
    • 1,570 GT500KR models sold in 1968, 1053 fastbacks and 517 convertibles
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  3. 3
    RM Sotheby's – 1968 Shelby GT500 KR Convertible (Monterey 2025) Level B
    • 518 1968 GT500 KR convertibles (RM figure; another RM lot gives 318)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  4. 4
    1968 Shelby GT500 KR Convertible (Monterey 2025, lot R0028) Level C RM Sotheby's
    • powered by the legendary 428 Cobra Jet
    • backed by a C-6 automatic transmission which sent power to a 3.00:1 conventional rear axle
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  5. 5
    1968 Shelby GT500 KR Convertible (Auburn Fall 2021, lot R0349) Level C RM Sotheby's
    • 428-cubic-inch Cobra-Jet V-8
    • advertised 335 horsepower (though estimates put the number closer to 400
    • quarter mile in 14.01 seconds at 102.73 mph
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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