Rare Car Archive

Makes › Shelby American United States › GT500 › Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008) · Rare specification · 2008 Very Rare

Shelby American
Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008)

'King of the Road' Shelby GT500KR package (5.4 supercharged, 540 hp) on the 2008 GT500, marking 40 years of the 1968 KR. The common Shelby GT500 is not the candidate.

Shelby American Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Shelby American Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: sv1ambo · CC BY 2.0
1,000BuiltIndependently researched
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
1,000 Built
Years
2008
Engine
90-degree DOHC supercharged V8 · 5,400 cc / 5.4 LFactory: 5.4 L
Power
403 kW / 547 PSFactory: 540 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Doug Gaffka (Ford SVT chief designer) with the Shelby Automobiles team
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The 2008 GT500KR celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the 1968 'King of the Road' Shelby. It was the most powerful production Mustang to that date, with 40 hp more than the GT500.

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityVery Rare 1,000 · Built1
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.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

  • Shelby American Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008) (Wikimedia Commons search)Shelby American Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008) (Wikimedia Commons search)
    Photo: sv1ambo · CC BY 2.0
  • Shelby American Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008) (Wikimedia Commons search)Shelby American Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008) (Wikimedia Commons search)
    Photo: sv1ambo · CC BY 2.0
  • Shelby American Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008) (Wikimedia Commons search)Shelby American Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008) (Wikimedia Commons search)
    Photo: sv1ambo · CC BY 2.0

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package production2008 GT500KR cars (lot 'No. 491 of 1,000 produced for 2008') 1,0001 Factory production Independently researched

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

History

The GT500KR was revealed at the 2007 New York International Auto Show and went on sale in spring 2008. Ford SVT chief designer Doug Gaffka and his team worked with the Shelby team on its look, and Shelby's Gary Davis shaped the carbon-composite hood. Cars were built on the Mustang line and finished by Shelby Automobiles.

Shelby and Ford planned 1,000 cars for 2008 and a further 571 for 2009, matching the 1,571 of 1968. Another page counts 1,011 coupes for 2008 including prototypes, and auction catalogues cite 1,712 in total including export and military sales.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Shelby GT500KR 40th Anniversary (2008).

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

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
Layout90-degree DOHC supercharged V82 Independently researched
Displacement 5,400 cc / 5.4 LFactory: 5.4 L2 Independently researched
Bore 90.22 mmFactory: 90.22 mm2 Independently researched
Stroke 105.8 mmFactory: 105.8 mm2 Independently researched
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 403 kW / 547 PSFactory: 540 hp · converted2 Independently researchedEstimated figure per Ford release; rating standard not stated.
Power at 6,250 rpm2 Independently researched
Torque 691 NmFactory: 510 lb-ft · converted2 Independently researched
Torque at 4,500 rpm2 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxTremec TR6060 six-speed manual, 3.73:1 rear axle (GT500: 3.31:1)2 Independently researched
Gears62 Independently researched
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionreverse-L independent MacPherson strut, 34 mm sway bar, Ford Racing strut tower brace2 Independently researched
Rear suspension3-link solid axle, coil springs, Panhard rod, 24 mm sway bar2 Independently researched
Brakesfront 14 in vented Brembo discs with four-piston calipers; rear 11.8 in vented discs with dual-piston calipers; four-channel ABS2 Independently researched
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
0–60 mph 4.3 s2 Independently researchedEstimate in the Ford release.
Standing ¼ mile 12.5 s2 Independently researchedEstimate; 114 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 carbon-composite hood with functional scoops and vents and two twist-lock hood pins, a carbon splitter, carbon mirror caps and functional brake cooling ducts. Each car has 40th Anniversary badges on the fenders and grille, Carroll Shelby signature headrests, a numbered Shelby CSM dash plate and a Shelby VIN tag in the engine bay. The 2008 colours were Silver Metallic with Vista Blue stripes (476), Ebony Black (328), Colorado Red (107) and Vista Blue (100).

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Mecum Auctions – 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR (lot 1118331) Level B
    • 1000 2008 GT500KR cars (lot 'No. 491 of 1,000 produced for 2008')
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR: Ultimate Guide Level B mustangspecs.com
    • Type: 90-degree DOHC supercharged V-8
    • Displacement: 5.4 liters / 330 cid
    • Bore x Stroke 90.22mm x 105.8mm
    • Horsepower: 540 hp @ 6,250 RPM
    • 540 hp @ 6,250 RPM
    • Torque: 510 lbs.-ft. @ 4,500 RPM
    • 510 lbs.-ft. @ 4,500 RPM
    • Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission and 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
    • Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission
    • Reverse-L independent MacPherson strut, 34-mm tubular sway bar
    • 3-link solid axle with coil springs, Panhard rod, 24-mm solid sway bar
    • 14 in. vented Brembo disc, four-piston aluminum caliper
    • 0 – 60 MPH Acceleration: 4.3 seconds (Est.)
    • 1/4-mile @ MPH: 12.5 seconds @ 114 mph (Est.)
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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