1968 Shelby GT500KR

OVERVIEW

1968 Shelby GT500 KR
VIN: 8T03R206071-02785

Produced on June 4 1968 this 500 KR was originally sold at Smith Motor Imports in San Antonio TX. It would go to be purchased in 1990 by Shelby Mustang restorer and enthusiast, Jack Bell of Dallas, Texas as a restoration project for his wife. They had been searching for years for a KR convertible in the immensely rare combination of Acapulco Blue with Saddle interior.

This 500 KR would immediately be stripped down and a complete rotisserie restoration was executed. It was found to be a rust free example with all of its original body panels. The goal of the restoration evolved from building a nice driver to creating a stunningly correct showcar using all of its original parts and in its original specification.

The body and paint was done by Larry Vigus of Pilot Point, TX. Every effort was made to reproduce the original factory finish. This included the underbody not being painted black, but left in primer with Acapulco Blue overspray, just as it was done at the factory. The engine is the original 335 horsepower 428 Cobra-Jet, and was completely rebuilt by Wayne Calvert Precision Engines in Denton, TX. The interior was supplied by Dallas Mustang Parts and expertly installed.

After its restoration the KR would rack up wins at both the 1993 Dallas Autorama and the 1994 Dallas Concours d’Elegance. It would also be featured in Mustang Illustrated in June 1992, and with Carroll Shelby in Mustang Monthly January 1995. In the Mustang Monthly article Carroll Shelby admits to wanting to buy the car from Bell, but at the right price.

Shelby wouldn’t get the car, but the KR would move on to Robert Burnworth, and then to Charlie Emby in 2005. After keeping the car in storage for better part of a decade, Emby would reluctantly trade-in the Shelby at Canepa in order to procure an amazing one-owner, original Shelby 289 Cobra we had in inventory.

The GT500 KR has gone through the complete Canepa Difference preparation. It has been fully mechanically serviced and concours detailed. The same car that Carroll Shelby himself wished had owned is now ready to be driven or shown to the delight of anyone who can hear its wonderful exhaust note.

Ordered Options:
White power convertible top w/glass backlight
GT equipment group
Visibility group
Power steering
Power front disc brakes
Tilt-away steering column
Air Conditioner
AM radio
Interior decor group
Tinted glass
Tachometer and trip odometer