Carroll Shelby, the renegade Texan who built and sold the legendary 289 Cobra, had the idea to apply the Shelby magic to Ford’s hot, new Mustang. It was a match made in heaven. However, by 1968, the competition was catching up. Ford executives in Dearborn, Michigan, were getting tired of hearing about the big block Chevelle’s success on the national drag strips. They needed to develop a Ford that could beat the Chevy head-to-head. They turned to their old speed partner, Carroll Shelby, to breed a Cobra with an appetite for Chevrolets.

Shelby’s 360 horsepower, 428-cubic inch GT500 was performing respectably, but when the special Cobra-Jet engine was developed, how could Shelby resist? Thus, the GT 500KR—the King of the Road—was born, powered by a pavement eating Cobra-Jet 428 engine that was cunningly rated at only 335 horsepower as a ruse to fool the competition and the insurance companies. The engine, in fact, pumped out at least 400 horsepower and 440 foot-pounds of torque. The KR included a number of engine modifications over the 428 Police Interceptor engine in standard GT500s. The Cobra-Jet engine had low-riser heads from the famed 427 engine, along with a beefier crank, rods and pistons. Additionally, the KR had larger brakes, under-hood suspension bracing, and staggered rear shocks to prevent axle wind-up and wheel hop, making the KR the best of the best.

This special example is presented in Lime Green Metallic and was delivered new to Courtesy Motors, Inc. of Littleton, Colorado with a base price of $4,472.57. Its Invoice #05226 confirms that additional options, which took the final price to $5,431.21, included power disc brakes, shoulder harnesses, a fold-down rear seat, an AM pushbutton radio, a Select-O-Matic automatic transmission, Selectaire-air conditioning, tinted glass, power steering and a Tilt-Pop steering wheel. Further items found on the GT 500KR are a rollbar, aftermarket AM/FM/cassette stereo, foglights and Shelby 10-spoke alloy wheels. Additional paperwork includes the broadcast sheet and the Shelby Automotive, Inc. 1968 Cobra GT 350/500 Individual Order No. 4383, dated July 1968 that also confirms the cars lineage.

In 1968 Shelby accounted for building 4,450 total cars. This uncommon example is one of 933 GT 500KR fastbacks and presents very well, remaining an unshakable testament to the legacy of Carroll Shelby and his fabulous cars.