A highly collectible 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR Fastback has surfaced on Bring a Trailer, representing one of just 1,053 examples built during the brief production window that ran from April through July 1968. As one of the most desirable Shelby Mustangs of the era, the GT500KR—short for “King of the Road”—combined Shelby styling with Ford’s formidable 428 Cobra Jet V8, creating one of the ultimate muscle cars of its generation.
Originally delivered to McCollum Motors in Dishman, Washington, this example left the factory wearing its iconic Highland Green paint over a black interior with GT equipment. Beneath the ventilated fiberglass hood lies the legendary R-code 428-cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8, factory rated at 335 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque.
The big-block engine is paired with a rugged Toploader four-speed manual transmission, sending power through a 9-inch rear axle equipped with a 3.50:1 Traction-Lok limited-slip differential. The engine compartment also retains classic Shelby performance touches, including a Monte Carlo bar and export brace for added chassis rigidity.
The GT500KR shares much of its appearance with the standard GT500 but distinguishes itself through the more potent Cobra Jet powertrain. Exterior highlights include the signature twin-scoop ram-air fiberglass hood, functional side and quarter scoops, rocker-panel stripes, integrated rear spoiler, and distinctive Shelby badging, all of which reinforce its unmistakable late-1960s muscle car presence.
Supporting the performance is a factory-upgraded suspension featuring heavy-duty front coil springs, an anti-roll bar, and heavy-duty rear leaf springs. Riding on 15-inch cast-alloy 10-spoke wheels wrapped in 225/60 BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires, the car also benefits from power steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, and Koni shock absorbers, providing improved handling characteristics over a standard Mustang.
Inside, the cabin remains faithful to its factory specification with Black Knitted Décor bucket seats, matching carpeting and door panels, woodgrain trim across the dashboard and console, and a Philco push-button AM radio. A folding Sport Deck rear bench seat adds practicality, while the driver is greeted by a wood-rim steering wheel mounted on a tilt column. Instrumentation includes a 140-mph speedometer, 8,000-rpm tachometer, trip odometer, and auxiliary gauges.
The car received a cosmetic refinish in 1990, and rather than being preserved solely as a showpiece, it was regularly exercised during the early 1990s at renowned Northern California circuits including Thunderhill Raceway, Sonoma Raceway, and Laguna Seca.
1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR Fastback For Sale – Image Gallery
Source: Bring a Trailer
