'68 Shelby MustangShelby went back to standard single-set headlamps with fog lamps in the grille mouth. Slippery front fascia fiberglass softens the Shelby's hard look. The 289 High Performance V-8 was discontinued and replaced by the new stroked 302ci four-barrel V-8. Production left Los Angeles and moved to the A.O. Smith plant in Ionia, Michigan. Ford assumes control of Shelby Mustang production due to cost overruns and quality issues.
The GT500KR series added on April 1, 1968 with the 428 Cobra Jet big-block thrust the 500 Shelby to a new benchmark for performance. KR is Shelby lingo for King of the Road. The fiberglass hood featured two leading edge scoops. The fiberglass deck lid continued, and it had an argent tailpanel fitted with '65 Thunderbird taillights and sequential turn indicators. Highly visible was the new roll bar, standard in the fastback and convertible. All Shelbys were fitted with the Interior Dcor Group in rich woodgrain.
Numbers produced: 1,253, GT350 fastback; 404, GT350 convertible; 1,140, GT500 fastback; 402, GT500 convertible; 933, GT500KR fastback; 318, GT500KR convertible-a total of 4,450 units.
Third Generation'69-'70 Shelby MustangThe redesigned Shelby SportsRoof and convertible had a unique front bumper and fiberglass front fenders. the rear end had fresh quarter-panel caps, flip-up rear deck lid spoiler, and '65 Thunderbird taillights with sequential turn indicators. Dual exhausts exit through a pair of cast-aluminum outlets beneath the center of the rear bumper. the GT350 upgraded to a 351W four-barrel small-block V-8. No engine modifications were performed aside from Cobra valve covers. The GT500 returns with a 428 Cobra Jet FE-series big-block.
Approximately 800 Shelbys unsold at the end of the '69 model year were reserialized as '70 models with minor changes: updated VIN plates and federal certification stickers, black hood stripes, and front chin spoiler. these Shelbys differ from '70 Mustangs with the '69 dash-mounted ignition switch instead of the lock steering column.
Numbers produced: 1,087, GT350 SportsRoof; 194, GT350 convertible; 1,534, GT500 SportsRoof; 335, GT500 convertible-a total of 3,150 units.