Car: Shelby Cobra GT500 KR Convertible
Year: 1968
What makes it special: The initials KR stood for “King of the Road,” and after Carroll Shelby’s GT500 for 1967, the natural progression was the hotter version of the 428 Police Interceptor V8, stuffed into a Ford Mustang.
What made it famous: 1968 was the first year for a Shelby convertible, and was dressed up with all the Shelby necessities, with its own fiberglass nose panels, fiberglass hood with functional scoops and air-extraction vents, decorative body-side intakes, rear spoiler and sequential turn signal taillights. A padded rollbar with inertia reel shoulder harness, gauges, and woodgrain applique dressed up the interior.The KR500 428 V8 was low-rated at 335bhp, but actually had more than was rated. It had Shelby’s diecast aluminum rocker covers and a painted Ram-Air air cleaner.
Why I would want one: It’s probably one of the most iconic Shelby products of all time.
Fun fact: After Shelby’s Cobra Roadster died after the 1967 model, Carroll Shelby used the name for his Mustang creations.