Now listed for sale on Bring a Trailer, this 1968 Shelby GT500KR represents one of the most celebrated high-performance Mustangs of the muscle car era. Produced for only a single model year, the GT500KR—short for “King of the Road”—stood at the pinnacle of Shelby American’s 1968 lineup. While the standard GT500 was already a formidable performer, the introduction of the 428 Cobra Jet V8 elevated the KR into a league of its own.
Officially rated at a conservative 335 horsepower, the Cobra Jet engine was widely recognized for producing substantially more output in real-world conditions, helping it dominate NHRA Super Stock competition shortly after its debut in 1968. The “King of the Road” designation also served as a playful challenge to Chevrolet, which had considered using the same name for a future Corvette variant.
This fastback is one of only 1,053 GT500KR examples built for the 1968 model year. Completed on July 23, 1968, it was originally delivered to O’Green Ford in Farmington, Michigan, before undergoing a restoration under previous ownership. The car is also reported to have once belonged to renowned automotive personality Wayne Carini, adding further appeal to its history.
Finished in Acapulco Blue Metallic over a black vinyl interior, the Shelby is powered by its numbers-correct 428ci Cobra Jet V8 paired with a Toploader four-speed manual transmission and a 3.50:1 Traction-Lok rear axle. Factory equipment includes the Interior Décor and Visibility Groups, power steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, a Tilt-Away steering column, a folding Sport Deck rear seat, and an AM radio.
Sharing its aggressive styling with the standard GT500, the KR features several signature Shelby touches, including a fiberglass hood with a functional Ram Air scoop, grille-mounted Lucas driving lights, quarter-panel scoops, sequential taillights, and a rear spoiler. According to the included Deluxe Marti Report, this is one of just 432 examples finished in Acapulco Blue Metallic.
The cabin combines period luxury with performance, offering black vinyl bucket seats, woodgrain trim, a Shelby roll bar with inertia-reel seatbelts, Shelby floor mats, and Carroll Shelby’s signature on the passenger-side dashboard. Instrumentation includes a 140-mph speedometer, 8,000-rpm tachometer, and Stewart-Warner auxiliary gauges.
Riding on 15-inch aluminum 10-spoke wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle ST raised-white-letter tires, this GT500KR also benefits from Shelby’s upgraded suspension, making it one of the most desirable and collectible muscle cars of its era.
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR Fastback For Sale – Image Gallery
Source: Bring a Trailer
