mongooz
Sic Semper Tyrannis ☨
All 1968 Shelby Mustangs were built at Ford’s assembly plant in Metuchen, N.J., and shipped by rail to Livonia, minus a number of fiberglass pieces unique to the Shelby, including the front end, hood, rear tail-lamp panel, deck lid, quarter-panel extension, and side scoops.
The visual transformation was dramatic, and the performance matched. Engine choices included a larger 302 ci V-8 to replace the stalwart 289 ci in the G.T.350, and by April of 1968, the 428 ci Cobra Jet Ram-Air V-8 engine was fitted to the GT500KR (the last part of the nomenclature being short for “King of the Road”). Despite the extra weight, the big-block V-8 was a powerhouse, underrated by Ford at 355 hp, and developing 440 ft lbs of torque. The four-speed manual gearbox and 3.50:1 Traction Lok rear end are a plus.
Out of the 4,451 Shelby examples made for 1968, just 1,452 were of the KR model variant (933 Fastbacks and 318 Convertibles).
Nine available colors were offered for that year, including Shelby’s signature Wimbledon White. What wasn’t standard was anything approaching orange. However, according to Marti Report (the recognized Ford authenticators), two cars were painted by the factory in Special Light Orange (not to be confused with Ford’s Grabber Orange used on the 1969 Ford and Shelby Mustangs).
Shelby No. 03397 was built on June 4, 1968, and shipped to Courtesy Motors in Littleton, Colo. Its orange twin was sent to England, likely for promotional duties, where it reportedly remains today. Originality is key for Shelby collectors, and this example retains its original drivetrain. Remarkably, the original smog equipment on the Cobra Jet engine is intact, a rarity considering that most emissions plumbing was promptly jettisoned by performance-minded owners in the day.
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