Vehicle Description
Absolute rarity, competition-worthy power, and true beauty all come
together in this restored 1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Convertible. It all makes for an exciting drop-top where
performance and pedigree create one of the most desirable
collectibles out there.
The factory-correct Lime Gold is arguably the best color for
Mustangs of the era. The '60s seemed to love green and earth-tones,
and so this represents its era correctly. But with Gold in the name
it also ensured there's nothing drab about it. There's a bright
radiance that's perfect for a sunny day convertible like this.
Plus, we're told this example had a restoration in the 1980s, but
you'd swear it was done within the last few years. The deep luster
of the color helps to highlight panels that were straighter than
even the specialty factory could do. That's how you know you're
looking at a car that has been treated with the right respect for
decades. In fact, while we have the paperwork to show this was a
Kansas City delivery, the history indicates it really has spent
most of its life under long-term care as a desirable California
car. This one has all the details you love. It starts up front with
SHELBY leading the way. Fog lights are set wide in the grille and
all the chrome trim and bumper shine bright. The hood has a big
double scoop to gather up air for the beast within, and it's held
down with twisting hood pins. There is a Shelby Cobra on the front
fender and GT500 stripes in white parallel to the rockers. The view
from the rear is unique Shelby with sequential taillights on each
side of a Cobra gas cap and the well-integrated spoiler. The whole
car looks sharp and vintage, right down to the classic 10-spoke
wheels that gave these cars a bit of style and substance.
The white convertible top has a nice tone against the white rocker
stripes, but for true distinction, you are going to want to power
it down. After all, there just seems to be something right about
powerful cars and deep black interiors. This is believed to be
highly original, and you see how well it is kept in the details
like the Cobra embossed on the armrest and hint of bright trim on
the seats. It's a true sports car experience with a factory roll
bar, bucket seats, a Shelby steering wheel, full gauges, and a
center console with both a T-handle shifter and Stewart Warner aux
readouts. Part of this car's added distinction also comes in how
the small details are still present and working, like the
swing-away tilt steering column, courtesy lights, and Philco AM
radio. It's the kind of little things that make a rare classic even
more impressive to show to friends and enthusiasts.
Under the hood is exactly what you want to see. This is Ford's big
428 cubic-inch V8 borrowed from the Police Interceptor package.
This is not the original motor for the car. Instead, this has been
documented in the Shelby Registry that the block was replaced by
the dealer presumably under warranty. And this factory replacement
block is what's believed to be in the car today. It's an
interesting kind of history that gives this car a little more
assurance in its components while also not straying too far from
the factory setup. And it has a stock look with the long Cobra
finned air cleaner and matching valve covers. The freshness lets
you see the details, right down to the decals to classic-style
Autolite battery cover. Of course, what you'll really love about
this full package is how it still knows how to unleash the pure joy
of having one of Ford's most potent powerhouses ever mated to one
of its best lightweight convertibles. The C6 three-speed automatic
transmission is correct-spec for the car and is a stout unit built
to handle power. The GT500 utilized a beefed-up version of the
Mustang's GT package, and you also have power steering, power
brakes, front discs, and Pirelli tires. It makes for a powerful
Shelby that's also a nice drop-top cruiser.
The sale comes with the Marti Report, owner's manual, and a
reproduction Shelby window sticker. This is a rarity that's
restored with the respect it deserves, so if you're a true
enthusiast, call today!
