The “KR” is for “King of the Road,” and that’s what the Shelby is. What ran you $64,000 in 2001 has jumped to $100,000, or as high as $5.5 million for some special orders [source: CNNMoney.com]. The Original GT 500KR advertised a V-8 with 360 horses, making it the only non-American muscle car worth talking about among collectors. Its popularity and rarity remained constant throughout the four years of its major sale, and it has remained in these lists — and discussed among fans in hushed tones — ever since.
The 1964 Cobra 289 roadster ($175,000 in 2000, now $330,000 to $5.5 million for the one-of-a-kind “Super Snake”) is much beloved among the highest echelons of muscle car fanatics [source: CNNMoney.com]. The 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C had too much power for its chassis, albeit along with an impressive 480 horsepower. In fact, a special order for Bill Cosby, turbocharged, ended up in a lake after he sold it for being too powerful. The only other version of this ultra-elite muscle remains with Shelby, a cautionary tale about the limits of muscle … or perhaps an inspiration.
To encounter a completely original Shelby Mustang nowadays is extreme rarity. Therefore, this unbelievably beautiful 1968 GT500KR Shelby is very appreciated and honored with prizes. It has all its original elements and mileage of only 12,155 miles. It is a 10-time winner of the MCA Thoroughbred Golds award. Shelby also won the AACA Grand National Senior Award and is the Gold winner of the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC) award.
Now not only do we have off the record confirmation from the “involved parties” that KITT will lose the GM third generation F-body (and legions of mullet-swinging fans), but also that he’ll be moving up a few steps on the horsepower ladder. That’s right, everyone’s favorite talking car (no, not spelled K-A-R-R) will be played by a black-with-gray-stripes 550 HP Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang in the new Knight Rider TV show.
