335 bhp, 428 cu. in. Ram Air Cobra Jet V-8 engine, Holley 735-cfm four-barrel carburetor, C-6 three-speed automatic transmission, independent front suspension with unequal-length A-arms, coil springs and anti-roll bar, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and staggered shock absorbers, and front disc, rear drum hydraulic brakes. Wheelbase: 108"
- One of 335 GT 500 Convertibles built for 1969
- The final Shelby GT 500 variant
- Legendary style and performance; unique colors; well-equipped with A/C
Beginning in 1967, a mildly modified Police Interceptor 428 V-8 infused the Shelby Mustang with big-block power to create the new GT 500, but the hot 428 Cobra Jet upped the ante from 1968. The CJ, originally developed by Tasca Ford at the suggestion of Hot Rod magazine, included a pair of 427 low-riser cylinder heads, a 735-cfm Holley carburetor and many subtle improvements courtesy of Ford’s sizable parts bin.
CJ-powered Mustangs dominated Super Stock competition at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals, where it was a strong and reliable performer with immense torque and 335 vastly under-reported horsepower. On the street, the 428 CJ developed a fearsome reputation and powered a number of Ford performance cars, including the increasingly upscale GT 500 through 1970.
The GT 500 always retained its unique identity, and for 1969, it featured a longer fiberglass front end, a unique grille, updated taillights and revised exhaust outlets, plus an aggressive hood with five functional NACA-style air scoops. Front and rear air scoops ducted cool air to the brakes, and inside, a roll bar, inertia-reel racing harnesses, luxurious amenities and special trim maintained the performance-oriented, limited-production character of the GT 500. While the 1969 GT 500 is quite rare with 3,150 produced, the GT 500 Convertible is much more so, with just 335 built.
This example was formerly part of a large private collection between 2005 and early 2010. A C-6 automatic transmission is mated to the Ram Air 428 Cobra Jet engine, and drivability is enhanced with power brakes, power steering and air conditioning. An AM/FM radio is available should one ever tire of the mechanical music from the exhaust outlets. With approximately 89,500 miles indicated, this outstanding GT 500 is a terrific example of the enduring Shelby performance legacy with a unique color combination.