Shelby GT500KR Convertible 1968
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Car producer : |
Shelby |
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Model: |
GT500KR Convertible 1968 |
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Year: |
1968 |
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Type: |
Cabriolet |
For 1967, the GT 350 carried over the K-Code high performance 289 with a 'COBRA' aluminum hi-rise. The GT 500 was added to the lineup, equipped with the 428 Police Interceptor engine with two four-barrel carburetors. These later cars carried over few of the performance modifications of the 1965–66 GT350s, although they did feature more cosmetic changes.
In September 1967, production was moved to the A.O. Smith Company of Ionia, Michigan, under Ford control. Shelby American had substantially less involvement after this time.
One 1967 Fastback was built as the "Super Snake" - a GT-500 equipped with a 427 FE GT 40 racing engine producing 650 horsepower. The car was capable of speeds over 150 mph; hitting 170 mph during a demonstration (by Shelby himself) of Goodyear's Thunderbolt tires. No cars other than the prototype were built due to limited interest.
For 1968, the Cobra name was applied to both models, and they were now marketed as the Shelby Cobra GT 350 and the Shelby Cobra GT 500. In February 1968, the Cobra GT 500-KR "King of the Road"; under the hood was a 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8 which was rated at 335 horsepower (250 kW).
Its initials KR stood for King of the road, and the mid-year 1968 KR had Ford's new 428 Cobra Jet engine with Ram Air Induction and traction-lock 3.50 rear end. The Cobra Jet engine was campaigned at drag strips and was the Super Stock Eliminator Champ at the 1968 Winternationals. Shelby's 1967 GT 500 had a 428 Police Interceptor engine with two four-barrel carburetors. The 1968 GT500 used a 428 Police Interceptor with single four barrel carburetor. In April 1968, Ford unveiled a version of the 428 Police Interceptor with better breathing heads and bigger exhaust manifolds. The GT 500-KR 428 was rated at 335-bhp as other Cobra Jets, but with 440 foot-pounds of torque at 3400 RPM. Shelby's KR version had diecast aluminum valve covers with "Cobra Lemans" to note Ford's FE engine family victory over Ferrari at Le Mans in 1966 and 1967.
