Vehicle Description
This one was originally bound for Ford of Canada to D.A. Casey in
Amherst, Nova Scotia but ultimately sold new in Detroit, MI by
Floyd Rice Ford, delivered just ahead of Christmas on December
20th, 1968. The first owner is not known, but the subsequent owner
of record, Wayne Carter, possessed the car from 1974 to 2004
according to the SAAC Registry. Previous title and bank loan
history within this time period to corroborate this. In 1984, Mr.
Carter parked her for a long, long nap showing 45,000 on the
odometer, painted Black at the time. The current owner purchased
the car in 2005 and had her shipped to Las Vegas, NV and that is
when things really began to get interesting.
The current owner, living in Vegas at the time, drove his "black"
Shelby car over to the Shelby American Headquarters when he knew
the Man in Black, Carrol Shelby himself would be present. Dashes
were signed, hands were shaken, and photographs taken. But Carrol,
ever the deal maker had something else in mind for this '68
GT500KR. He asked, "What are you planning on doing with it besides
drive the hell out of it?" The owner replied, "Well I want to have
it restored and tuned run as well as anything on the street today
can." Carrol told him that they could get that done for him if
Shelby American could have the use of the car as a styling
reference for the brand new Super Snake package they were putting
together for the '07 Shelby GT500. A deal was struck, hands were
again shaken and history was in the making.
The "bad" news was that the car was a color change. The good news
is that this car was originally Candy Apple Red, and gratefully is
again today. Bodywork, aside from the color change back to factory
was limited to bringing some '70's vintage body repair up to the
current state of the art. Floorpans and frame extensions are intact
and solid. The driver's side quarter was replaced sometime during
its life. The rest of the metal and fiberglass appear to be
original.
The interior is remarkably original. Only what was worn beyond its
service life was replaced. Modern stereo speakers remain installed
if you can manage to play your music over the rumble of the 428
Cobra Jet.
The original motor and transmission received the Shelby Royal
Treatment, the engine fully machined with modern Shelby signature
cam, lifters, rockers, etc. When the car was finished, every Shelby
American employee signed the top of the gas tank, a symbol of just
how special this example is.
Shortly after its completion, it was invited to attend and won its
class in the 2006 Las Vegas Concours D' Elegance. But make no
mistake, this snake was built for you to go and drive the hell out
of it!
Documentation on this car includes:
• Marti Report
• Original Broadcast Sheet
• Original Shelby Automotive Order Sheet
• Original Shelby Automotive Dealer Invoice
• Original Factory Purchase Order
• Current Owner's SAAC Registry Entry Form
• Letter of Release to Shelby American to use the car as a Styling
Reference and Promo car for the '07 Shelby GT500 and Super
Snake
• Bob Urdal Letter
• Photos of Carroll Shelby signing the car (before restoration when
it was black)
• Invitation to the Concours D' Elegance Las Vegas
• Photos of the car winning Gold at the Concours, the engine during
rebuilt at Shelby American, Carroll again, and the car restored
back to Red with matching Cobra Guitar.
