Retro Cars

Shelby GT 500

The Shelby GT 500 is a high-performance version of the Ford Mustang. It was originally produced between 1968 and 1970.

In 1960 Lee Iacocca was appointed Ford Division General Manager at age 35. He set out to give Ford a more sportive image, starting with re-entering NASCAR, and creating the Futura Sprint by adding a V8 to the Falcon line-up. This big project was a relatively affordable sports-car, at nearly half the price of the Corvette. The first exposure of this new two-seater came in the form of the Mustang I concept first shown at the 1962 US Grand Prix.

Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964, instantly creating the "Pony Car" classification. These cars were sporty, but balanced performance with refinements in a proportion that prevented them from being considered pure sports cars. Soon after the introduction of the Mustang, Ford began to look for ways to make it compete more directly with Chevrolet's iconic Corvette sports car. Ford entered into an arrangement with former race car driver Carroll Shelby and his namesake automotive engineering company to modify Mustangs and produce high-performance models that could compete with the Corvette. Beginning in 1968, Ford took over production of these special "Shelby" Mustangs, including the Shelby GT 500.

Californian racing-legend Carroll Shelby had already had incredible success with Ford's V8 engines in his Cobras when he offered the company to modify their Mustang to beat the then unbeatable Corvettes. Ford happily accepted and the result was the Shelby Mustang GT350, which used the same engine as found in the Cobra 289. Livered in the American racing colours of white with two blue stripes, they were raced with a lot of success in both American and European events.

1967 brought the first major restyling to the Ford Mustang. The Mustang was starting to grow up. The length and heigth were increased, 2.7" and .5" respectively. The wider body allowed for the installation of a tire smoking, 320 horsepower, 390 cid engine, the first big block engine in the Mustang. Among new options for the 1967 Mustang were the tilt-away steering wheel, an overhead console, power disc brakes, and an all new transmission, the FMX, which allowed fully automatic or manual shifting. The Mustang fastback's roof line was extended to the rear of the trunk. Interior trim options were decreased from 34 in 1966 to just 20 in 1967. Production for 1967 slipped to just over 472,000 units.

For 1967 the Mustang bodystyle was altered and Shelby added a new model to his line-up; the GT500. It featured a 428 cid engine, pumping out well over 350 bhp. Where the early Shelby Mustangs were very competition oriented, the 1967 and 1968 cars were more of a combination between performance and luxury.

The first Shelby-modified Mustangs were known as the GT 350. In 1967, the GT 500 was added to the Shelby lineup, featuring a larger 390-cubic-inch V8 engine. The GT 500 was later offered with a 428-cubic-inch Police Interceptor V8 engine, as well as a 428-cubic-inch CobraJet V8. Customers could order the GT 500 with either a three-speed automatic or four-speed manual transmission. The car was also offered as a two-door fastback or convertible as were standard Mustangs of the same era.

For 1967, the GT 350 carried over the K-Code high performance 289 with a 'COBRA' aluminum hi-rise. The GT 500 was added to the lineup, equipped with the 428 Police Interceptor. These later cars carried over few of the performance modifications of the 1965–66 GT350s, although they did feature more cosmetic changes.

In September 1967, production was moved to the A.O. Smith Company of Ionia, Michigan, under Ford control.Shelby American had substantially less involvement after this time.

The 1968 Mustang was little changed from it 1967 counterpart. Most of the changes were in subtle refinements to the interior and exterior.

New options for the 1968 Mustang included an AM/FM stereo radio, rear window defogger (coupe and fastback only), re-designed front power disc brakes, and the all new 302 cid engine. The 302-4V, 230 horsepower engine replaced the 289 Challenger Special of previous years. By December of 1967, the 289 engine was replaced entirely by the 302 version. Other changes included the deletion of the horizontal grille bars, the deletion of the F-O-R-D letters at the front of the hood, simplification of the quarter panel ornament, and many safety features were added. Due to increasing governmental regulations, the 1968 Mustang now included front and rear side marker lights, folding, flush mounted interior door pulls, and an energy absorbing steering column. There were several "region specific" models offered from various dealers. Two of the most noteable were the Mustang California Special, and the Mustang High Country Special. Total production for 1968 was 317,404 units.

For 1968, the Cobra name was applied to both models, and they were now marketed as the Shelby Cobra GT 350 and the Shelby Cobra GT 500. In February 1968, the Cobra GT 500-KR "King of the Road" debuted; under the hood was a 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8 which was rated at 335 horsepower (250 kW). At the end of 1968 a more powerful GT500 KR (King of the Road) was launched, which featured the 428 Cobra Jet engine. Production of the Shelby Mustangs ceased at the end of 1969, when Ford's own high performance had mostly taken over.

In 1969, the contract between Ford and Shelby expired, and Shelby declined to renew, preferring instead to take his company in a new direction, toward designing its own high-performance cars and components and away from modifying existing cars. Ford continued to produce the GT 500 Mustang, adding cosmetic revisions for the 1969 model year. In Shelby's absence, Ford announced the end of the GT 500 (along with the GT 350). Remaining 1969 models were sold throughout 1970.

The 1967 Mustang Shelby GT 500 has a V-8 water-cooled iron-block engine that is bored out to 4.13 inches and has a compression rate of 10.5-to-1. The Shelby GT 500 produces 355 base horsepower at 5,400 rpm with a torque of 420 foot-pounds at 3,200 rpm. The GT 500 has a standard dual exhaust. The fuel tank holds 18 gallons and the estimated fuel usage is 13 to 15 mpg. The Shelby GT 500 runs a 0-to-60 mph time in 4.8 seconds and a 0-to-100 mph time in 19.3 seconds. The GT 500 does a quarter mile in 13.6 seconds at 106 mph. The front brakes are 11.3-inch Kelsey-Hayes discs and the rear has 10-by-2.5-inch drum brakes.

The Shelby GT 500 has a steel and fiberglass hood with side and rear scoops. The front suspension has unequal arms with coil springs and adjustable tube arms. There is also an anti-sway bar included in the suspension. The rear suspension has a multi-leaf live axle with semi-elliptical springs and tube shocks. The Shelby GT 500 has a width of 70.9 inches and a length of 186.6 inches, and is 51.6 inches high. The ground clearance is 6.5 inches.

There are other optional features that could be included such as an automatic transmission. Power brakes, power steering, and an aircraft-type front shoulder harness could also be included. Fold down rear seats were an optional feature as well.

For 2005, Ford introduced an all new version of the Mustang, featuring numerous "retro" style elements. The new car was reminiscent of Shelby-era Mustangs, and, in 2006, Ford entered into a new arrangement with Shelby to produce a new line of high-performance Mustangs. The Shelby GT 500 nameplate was revived for the 2007 model year, following the Shelby GT-H and the Shelby GT. The new Shelby GT 500 was introduced at the 2003 New York International Auto Show and the first models were actually sold in 2006.