1968 Shelby GT500
s/n 8T02S129567-00624
Acapulco Blue with Black Vinyl Interior
When Ford wanted a genuinely high performance race ready variant of the already wildly successful Mustang, they knew who to ask. Carroll Shelby had already fashioned a name for himself in the motorsports world with the outrageous and legendary Cobra, and by winning some sort of 24-hour race in France driving some foreign car called and Aston Martin. Shelby arranged with Ford`s San Jose, California plant to make nothing but partially complete white on black Mustang fastbacks with high performance 289 cid V8s and 4-speeds for two days straight, and then had the cars trucked to Shelby-American’s Los Angeles plant. Once there, the cars were fitted with special cams, larger intake manifolds and carburetors, tubular headers, and finned and baffled high capacity oil pans. Heavy duty brakes were fitted, along with a limited slip differential and shock tower brace, and the suspension substantially modified (including the fitment of larger front sway bar and Koni shocks). Numerous other modifications were performed, including the relocation of the battery into the trunk and the deletion of the +2 rear seats.
For 1967, the Mustang was updated and restyled, and so too was the Shelby version. The GT350 was supplemented by the big block GT500 with its 428cid engine, and both cars received a deeper front grille cavity, rear spoiler, unique vents and extractors along the side of the car, new alloy wheels, and the unique inner headlights placed in the grille aperture. The cars received detail updates for 1968, including relocating the hood scoop at the leading edge of the hood.
This particular car is a nicely restored example finished in Acapulco Blue with factory options including: Polished Kelsey Hayes 10 Spoke wheels, tilt away steering column, electric clock, center console, Lucas FT8 fog lights, shoulder harnesses, factory roll bar, 8000 RPM tachometer, power steering, power disc brakes and folding rear seats. It is equipped with 428 c.i. Cobra-Jet engine with a standard C-6 automatic transmission and posi-traction read end. The previous owner, who undertook the restoration, owned this particular car for the past 15 years in San Jose, California. The restoration was completed largely in accordance with the data plate codes, and the decoded serial number is as follows:
8 -1968
T -Built at Metuchen
02 –Fastback GT-500
S -428 c.i. Police Interceptor ( upgraded to a 428 c.i. Cobra Jet)
624th -Shelby scheduled for production
63B -Shelby Fastback
D “Acapulco Blue #4857
6F – Saddle D©cor Bucket Seats (now black vinyl)
18M -Scheduled for build December 18th 1968
8D2562 Home Office Reserve ordering district
Under Domestic Special order # 2562
8 -3.50 “Standard Axel Ratio
U “ 3 Speed Automatic Transmission
Cosmetically, the car is in excellent condition. The paintwork was done to exceptional standards and remains in great condition, with a few very small marks in evidence. The body itself is excellent, being very straight and demonstrating with good gaps. The chrome is very good. The driving lamps are Lucas items and are in excellent order, as are the remaining lights and glass. The sequential rear turn signals work correctly and are very neat. The badging and trim are all in place and the car even retains its original Care-Lite windshield.
The interior is in excellent condition. The upholstery, carpets, and dashboard are all pristine and extremely correct. The car has full instrumentation including ammeter and oil pressure gauges and even has the working original interior clock and the stock Philco AM radio. Additionally, the car has a full center console, and the lid has the correct cobra emblem on it.
The engine compartment and trunk are equally nice and correct. The entire compartment is very presentable and well-detailed. The trunk is also correct and tidy, with correct plaid trunk floor. The underside is structurally solid. It is clear that it was included in the restoration. The car has been driven solely in fair weather since the restoration, and the undercarriage remains extremely nicely detailed.
The car comes with a jack, correct matching spare tire, a 2003 Bay Area Mustang Association Ponies and Snakes III People’s Choice Award, which was awarded to this car out of 195 Shelby™s in attendance. A photo essay of restoration work as well as very detailed restoration records and invoices and a 1968 Shelby owner’s manual accompany this car too.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire a 1968 Shelby GT500 Fastback Coupe. 1968 marked the second to last full year of Shelby Mustang production, as production had been shifted from Shelby American in California to Ford in Michigan, and the Shelby models were encroaching on Ford™s own performance models, the Boss and Mach I. Consequently, any 1968 Shelby is a special car, and this example, a very correct and well-optioned GT500 is a particularly elegant find.
