Ford is one of those storied car companies that has done it all. It has made some of the most used sedans of all time, the company has one of the most iconic trucks ever made in the F-150, and it even has the GT, which is the automaker’s ultra-expensive hypercar. However, out of all the impressive rides produced by Ford, the Mustang remains one of the most legendary.
According to Ford, the very first Mustang was released to the public on April 17, 1964. Since then, the Mustang, also known as The Pony Car, has gone on to help define a generation of cars. However, unlike many of its competitors from those early years, the Mustang name is still strong and evolving. There have been many iconic variations of the Mustang over the years, but there are none quite like the Shelby.
All the Shelby Mustangs are special, but the one that sticks out to most gearheads is the 1968 GT500KR. This car packs a real punch, and it’s still celebrated for its effective use of power and overall deviation in design from other Mustangs of the time. Of course, those attributes make perfect sense as the KR in the car’s name stands for “king of the road.” Fortunately, the car lives up to that title in practically every way.
The Cobra Jet Engine Makes The Shelby Special
The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR, also referred to as the Shelby Cobra, is by far one of the best-respected Mustangs in all of Mustang history. It has under its hood a 428 Cobra Jet V8 engine. According to Mustang Specs, this powerhouse has a maximum horsepower of 335 at 5,600 rpm and a torque of 440 lb-ft. However, it is widely believed that the actual horsepower is closer to 400. Car companies often report a more conservative value for the power of their vehicles. One of the reasons this car is so well regarded is that it can achieve its maximum power at relatively low RPMs. This is important because it helps preserve the engine. The power is delivered to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission.
Given that the car is the “king of the road,” there’s no doubt that the company went the extra mile to make it fast. The ’68 Shelby Cobra can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds. In addition, it can go a quarter-mile in only 14.8 seconds. This is fast by both the standards back in the day and now, which is one of the many reasons this car still holds such high regard with modern-day car enthusiasts.
The ’68 Shelby GT500KR Had Great Features
You wouldn’t know it based on the Mustangs of today, but the original cars were pretty stripped down. Part of the reason these cars were so bare was for them to more closely resemble race cars. However, by the time this model had come along, the automaker was willing to change that, particularly for the Shelby variants. Where older Mustangs seemed to be more designed for racing regarding interior amenities, this model was much more suitable for long drives while also being great for racing.
The 1968 Shelby GT500 KR had such driver-assist features as power steering and power brakes. While not the most exciting additions, this was new for the time. Beyond that, the car also had air conditioning and a much more comfortable cabin regarding the seating. These changes stood out at the time, and this version of the Shelby was a huge success.
A Short-Lived Legend
The Shelby Cobra Mustang isn’t only one of the best Mustangs ever produced; it also has the distinction of being one of the most limited runs of the pony car. However, the Cobra Jet engine continued to be used in other vehicles. So despite its early discontinuation, the legacy of the car lives on. This car is a favorite of many and is one of the many reasons why the Mustang nameplate gained such a strong reputation in the first decade of the car’s existence.
The 1968 Shelby Cobra remains a rare ride. Only 318 convertibles were ever made, along with 933 fastbacks. This means that most people will never get their hands on one or perhaps even see it in person, which is fitting because it makes this very real car that much more of a legend. However, if you are lucky enough to find this ultra-rare Ford Mustang, you can expect to pay handsomely for it. According to Hagerty, the average price is a hefty $167,000. However, that price could quickly go up to over $200,000.
