Shelby Automotive had outgrown its California plant adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport, so production was moved to Ionia, Michigan, with the start of the 1968 model year. Mustangs were built at Ford’s Metuchen, New Jersey, plant, and then shipped by rail to A.O. Smith Corporation, long-time industry supplier, in Michigan for the Shelby touches, final assembly and delivery preparation.

The cars received the standard 1968 Mustang changes, as well as some Shelby-unique upgrades. The GT 500’s 428-cid engine was now rated at 360-hp, with a 735-cfm Holley four-barrel carburetor. The interiors moved upmarket, with vinyl wood trim and a center console that met the dashboard and contained the Stewart-Warner ammeter and oil pressure gauges. Both fastbacks and convertibles had rollbars, and a new steering wheel in the Thunderbird style replaced the 1967 three-spoke item. Transmission and axle ratio choices, however, remained the same.

This car has an interesting story in that according to the latest edition of the SAAC Shelby Registry, this particular car was a “whereabouts unknown” example that is now back in the fold. According to the current (third) owner and the information in the Shelby Registry, the Shelby was produced on February 15, 1968; it was six days ahead of schedule at the Metuchen, New Jersey plant. It was then shipped to J.D. Ball Ford, Inc. in Miami, Florida on March 14, 1968 with an MSRP of $5,226.45 and a dealer cost of $4,309.31 with an invoice dated February 16, 1968. With few miles on the odometer, the Shelby had some minor work executed in late March of 1968. The Shelby was later purchased new by Mr. E. Saluzzo at the same J.D. Ball Ford, Inc. dealership on January 28, 1969. The first few months saw the car return to the dealership for various adjustments and repairs, including a repaint; all before 8,000 miles were recorded on the odometer according to the SAAC records.

The current owner is the son of the second owner; he conveys that the first owner of the car was the Vice-President of Pepsi-Cola Venezuela (Mr. Saluzzo) and he sold the Shelby to his father in 1988. His father kept the car in Venezuela, where he lived at the time, and returned it to the United States on September 7, 2001. A cosmetic restoration project was soon started at BMC Classics in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The current owner’s father then signed the Shelby over to him in September 2004, where he further states that the GT 500 was maintained regularly and used sparingly. He offers it now only because of family responsibilities after many years of enjoyment just by having this special machine in the garage.

The accompanying Marti Report relays the following; it was equipped from the factory with the 428-cid, 360-hp V-8 engine, four-speed manual transmission, 3.00:1 standard rear axle ratio, finished in Sunlit Gold and with a Saddle décor vinyl bucket seat interior. Obviously the car has experienced a color change, but the Saddle interior is reported as original. The car also has been fitted with a B&M shifter.

Now finished in Dark Blue; the Shelby also came from the factory with shoulder harness, Visibility Group, wheel lip moldings, Sport Deck rear seat, power disc brakes, power steering, tilt-away steering wheel, Selectaire air conditioning, AM radio, interior Décor Group, tinted glass and heavy-duty battery. Steel wheels and hubcaps were originally on the car, according to records; it now has Mag 500-type wheels with white letter tires.

Among the most desirable of Shelby Mustangs, this GT 500 is remarkable for “reappearing” after many years. As one of 1,050 GT 500s in the 1968 model year, it is all the more significant.