Rightfully proud of the latest Shelby, Ford captured the essence in factory literature by stating; “Get behind the wheel of a Shelby Cobra GT and you command a new motoring dimension. Carroll Shelby has worked his racing magic on the Ford Mustang. Result? The Shelby Cobra GT…a completely equipped road performer that rivals Europe’s finest limited-production cars – but costs thousands of dollars less. The all new GT 500KR is King of the Road. It features Ford’s 428 Cobra Jet drag champion engine…it’s the most exciting road performer going.”

Drag champion engine? The 428 Cobra Jet secured Super Stock Eliminator honors at the seasons Ponoma Winternationals. Hot Rod magazine called it “…the fastest-running Pure Stock in the history of man.”

With styling changes to Ford’s hugely popular Mustang, Carroll Shelby was quick to capitalize on the Mustang’s new style, revised the GT 500 mid-year and called it the GT 500KR, short for “King of the Road.” The 1968 Shelby GT 500KR was indeed worthy of its name, boasting incredible horsepower, a luxurious interior, and the meanest Mustang redesign yet. As a result, the GT 500KR was all about power and quickly became a favorite.

The KR also included a number of engine modifications over the 428 Police Interceptor engine in standard GT 500s. 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 Shelby GT500-KR convertible is among the rarest of the rare as one of the 518 GT 500KR convertibles built. It is exceptional by being freshly restored to a reported concours level condition and is recorded in the SAAC Shelby Registry as being shipped to non-Shelby franchised dealer Place Motors, Inc. in Webster, Massachusetts on December 16, 1968. David Puccio, Jr. of Foxboro, Massachusetts purchased the car on January 31, 1969; the Registry has an ownership listing that traces its path until this point, and now has the opportunity to have its next exciting chapter written.

Beautifully presented in Lime Gold with black interior, the GT 500KR has the enjoyable for “proper” driving four-speed manual transmission plus the unmistakable style of the Shelby 10-spoke wheels. The Deluxe Marti Report confirms the color, and it being one of 197 finished in this tone. The Marti Report also shows a white power top, GT Equipment Group, Visibility Group, power steering, power front disc brakes, tilt-away steering column, AM radio and Interior Décor Group.

The GT 500 returned in 1969, but no GT 500KRs were built after 1968. Production totaled 933 coupes and only 518 convertibles, such as this memorable example.