Yes, this car uses the mighty 428 Cobra Jet for plenty of tire-smoking fun.
Ford and Shelby were serious when they debuted this 1968 Shelby GT500 KR. It’s a mighty performance machine, even among the titans of muscle cars, thanks to numerous upgrades. That “KR” in the name literally stands for “King of the Road.” If you want a shot at owning this oligarch, it’s being offered to the public through Classic Cars of Sarasota.
The seller states this particular Shelby GT500 KR was kept out of sight in a warehouse. In that protected state, it was allowed to age gracefully. As a result, almost everything on the exterior and interior is original, which is simply amazing for a car this age.
When you press on the gas pedal in this Shelby is really scoots, thanks to the 428ci Cobra Jet V8 engine. The Cobra Jet was created using the 428 Police Interceptor, pairing it with higher-flow heads and exhaust manifolds. While the official rating for this engine was 335-horsepower, many have found when putting the car on a dyno it’s more like 400-plus and 440 lb.-ft. of torque. For ease of operation, this car comes with a smooth C6 automatic transmission.
Original Lime Gold paint looks amazing, along with factory details like GT500 KR graphics and stripes on the rocker panels, all the badges, and hood pins. Speaking of the hood, it features two scoops up front, strongly resembling a snake’s nostrils, making this car look absolutely tough. Sparkling chrome on the bumpers, driver’s side mirror, and other trim pieces really dress up this classic.
In classic Mustang fashion, this car has a black interior with woodgrain accents. Shiny and supple vinyl seats offer good padding and are free of noticeable blemishes. The same goes for the rest of the interior. Shelby badging on the steering wheel and dash are present, reminders of why this ride is special. To make driving this classic more enjoyable in the summer months there is factory air conditioning.
The production run for the original Shelby GT500 KR was quite short, spanning only the 1968 and 1969 model years. The nameplate was used again by Ford 40 years later. With a legendary status in the eyes of American muscle car collectors, this particular car is destined to continue climbing in value.
