'68 Shelby GT500KR, Shelby American Super Snake Styling Reference Car!

1968 Shelby GT500KR Description

This one was originally bound for Ford of Canada to D.A. Casey in Amherst, Nova Scotia but ultimately sold new in Detroit, MI by Floyd Rice Ford, delivered just ahead of Christmas on December 20th, 1968. The first owner is not known, but the subsequent owner of record, Wayne Carter, possessed the car from 1974 to 2004 according to the SAAC Registry. Previous title and bank loan history within this time period to corroborate this. In 1984, Mr. Carter parked her for a long, long nap showing 45,000 on the odometer, painted Black at the time. The current owner purchased the car in 2005 and had her shipped to Las Vegas, NV and that is when things really began to get interesting.

The current owner, living in Vegas at the time, drove his "black" Shelby car over to the Shelby American Headquarters when he knew the Man in Black, Carrol Shelby himself would be present. Dashes were signed, hands were shaken, and photographs taken. But Carrol, ever the deal maker had something else in mind for this '68 GT500KR. He asked, "What are you planning on doing with it besides drive the hell out of it?" The owner replied, "Well I want to have it restored and tuned run as well as anything on the street today can." Carrol told him that they could get that done for him if Shelby American could have the use of the car as a styling reference for the brand new Super Snake package they were putting together for the '07 Shelby GT500. A deal was struck, hands were again shaken and history was in the making.

The "bad" news was that the car was a color change. The good news is that this car was originally Candy Apple Red, and gratefully is again today. Bodywork, aside from the color change back to factory was limited to bringing some '70's vintage body repair up to the current state of the art. Floorpans and frame extensions are intact and solid. The driver's side quarter was replaced sometime during its life. The rest of the metal and fiberglass appear to be original.

The interior is remarkably original. Only what was worn beyond its service life was replaced. Modern stereo speakers remain installed if you can manage to play your music over the rumble of the 428 Cobra Jet.

The original motor and transmission received the Shelby Royal Treatment, the engine fully machined with modern Shelby signature cam, lifters, rockers, etc. When the car was finished, every Shelby American employee signed the top of the gas tank, a symbol of just how special this example is.

Shortly after its completion, it was invited to attend and won its class in the 2006 Las Vegas Concours D' Elegance. But make no mistake, this snake was built for you to go and drive the hell out of it!

Documentation on this car includes:

Marti Report
Original Broadcast Sheet
Original Shelby Automotive Order Sheet
Original Shelby Automotive Dealer Invoice
Original Factory Purchase Order
Current Owner's SAAC Registry Entry Form
Letter of Release to Shelby American to use the car as a Styling Reference and Promo car for the '07 Shelby GT500 and Super Snake
Bob Urdal Letter
Photos of Carroll Shelby signing the car (before restoration when it was black)
Invitation to the Concours D' Elegance Las Vegas
Photos of the car winning Gold at the Concours, the engine during rebuilt at Shelby American, Carroll again, and the car restored back to Red with matching Cobra Guitar.