Classic and Modern Shelby's For Sale
A blend of sports car and muscle car, the 1967 Shelby GT 500 satisfyed a maturing taste for high performance.
The GT 500 represented a departure for Ford factory tuner Carroll Shelby. To make a road-racing champ of the 1965-1966 Mustangs, Shelby had transformed them into thundering thoroughbreds ill-suited to everyday driving. By 1967, however, Shelby's audience was demanding more civility, and the original pony car was undergoing a revamp that finally gave it room for big-block power.
With the introduction of the 1967 models, regular Mustangs could get a 320-bhp 390-cid four-barrel V-8. Shelby, naturally, went further. His GT 350 retained its 289-cid V-8 with its 306-bhp rating. And a new model, the 1967 Shelby GT 500, got a reworked 428-cid "Police Interceptor."
The 428 was otherwise reserved for bigger Fords, where it made 345 bhp. Shelby added the cast-aluminum medium-rise intake manifold from Ford's 427, twin 600-cfm Holley four-barrel carburetors, and other tweaks for a conservative rating of 355 bhp. During manufacture or through dealers, a handful of 1967 Shelby GT 500s were equipped with Ford's near race-ready 427-cid V-8.
The 1967 GT 500 had a four-speed manual transmission or a three-speed automatic, with axle ratios ranging from 3.50:1 to 4.11:1. Instead of true competition-grade underpinnings, the suspension was a fortified version of the Mustang GT's, with standard front disc brakes and E70X15 tires. Also gone were the two-seat cabins and standard racing harnesses of the original GT 350.
All 1967 Shelby GT 500s had Mustang GT-level interior trim; air conditioning and power steering were new factory options. An 8000-rpm tach, 140-mph speedometer, and padded roll bar, however, remained Shelby standards.
Always looking to improve performance, Shelby outfitted the GT 500s with fiberglass body pieces, including an elongated nose, a hood with functional scoops, and four body side intakes. The fiberglass tail had a molded spoiler and sequential turn-signal lamps borrowed from the Mercury Cougar. High-beam headlights were mounted in the center of the grille (some were moved to the sides to meet state laws). Twin "Le Mans" stripes were dealer-applied options for any 1967 Shelby GT 500.
If Shelby Mustangs were now less race car and more grand touring machine, that was fine with buyers, who took an immediate liking to Shelby's latest. The 1967 Shelby GT 500 cost just $200 more than the GT 350 and handily outsold its small-block companion by 875 units.
The Shelby GT 500 car was offered in two body styles - 2door fastback and 2-door convertible. The assembly plant of this car was established at Dearborn, Michigan in USA. The Shelby GT 500 was offered with two engine types. One of them was a 390 cid engine and the other was a 428 cid V8 engine. This vehicle was designed and offered in 1967. Now, the latest generation Shelby GT 500: the Eleanor, is all set for release - discover more!
The transmission system provided in the vehicle included 3-speed automatic or 4-speed manual system. This car is known as Eleanor in some of the international markets. The car was equipped with a 2 Holley 4 barrel carbs, 428 Police Interceptor as well as optional header features.
In 1968, Shelby Company offered the Shelby Mustang GT500 model, which was equipped with 428 cubic inch Police Interceptor engine. During the same year, the company launched another model named GT500KR, during the month of February.
This model was known as the "King of the Road". This vehicle was equipped with a 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet V8 engine. The same engine was used in the Shelby Cobra car models, which were predecessor of Shelby GT 500 cars.
The GT 500 KR model could generate 335 hp of power. In 1968, the company had also designed certain GT500 models with 390 cubic inch V8 engine. The wheelbase of GT500 model was about 108 inches in size, whereas the length of this vehicle was about 187.4 inches. The length of the 1969-70 Shelby GT500 models was increased up to extra 4 inches, and they were also given minor face lift too.
The latest 2010 Shelby GT500 is going to be the most advanced in the line-up.
The Ford Shelby GT500, one of the most anticipated and powerful cars coming in 2006, just got hotter with the announcement that a convertible version will join Ford’s line-up. With more than 450-horsepower on tap from its supercharged 5.4L V-8 engine, the Shelby GT500 convertible will be the most powerful factory-built Ford Mustang convertible in history.
Carroll Shelby takes early prototype of 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 convertible for a test drive
Carroll Shelby, the legend behind the original Shelby Mustangs, joined the Ford SVT engineering team early in the program to put his stamp of approval on the convertible version and had nothing but praise for the effort.
“Convertibles often go against the pursuit of high-performance, but not this GT500,” said Shelby . “This GT500 convertible can go up against the best of them, and hold its own. It’s stiff, it’s fast, and I’m looking forward to cruising mine up and down the roads of Texas .”
Driving enthusiasts know all too well that the vastly increased weight and reduced structural integrity of some drop tops over their hard top derivatives sometimes force manufacturers to restrict performance capability. Often it’s a matter of a detuned engine or a softened suspension – that one must suffer for the sake of drivability or durability in convertible models.
The good news is that the same 450-plus horsepower V-8 engine powers the GT500 coupe and convertible. And with the convertible’s added weight kept to a bare minimum, fewer suspension modifications are needed, meaning the handling you experience driving the convertible will be far closer to that of the coupe than ever before.
In designing the Shelby GT500 convertible, Ford SVT engineers were able to start with the same solid chassis structure that benefits the 2005 Mustang convertible. Ford engineers designed the coupe and convertible simultaneously, yielding a convertible with twice the torsional stiffness of the previous generation.
Considering where the convertible would require the most strength and how commonality with the coupe could be integrated into the car’s basic structure, engineers added strength into both models by designing body joints and rocker panels, for instance, which help solidify the convertible without excessive bracing.
As a result, the GT500 convertible is less than 125 pounds heavier than the coupe. This enabled engineers to use the same suspension geometry, with chassis modifications limited to only slightly softer spring rates, sway bars, and damper tuning to fit the convertible’s character.
SHELBY GT500’S SUPERCHARGED 5.4-LITER DOHC V-8 PRODUCES OVER 450 HP
Just as the original Shelby GT500 was the “step up” to big-block power from the GT350, the new Ford Shelby Cobra GT500 convertible steps up to Ford’s 5.4-liter “MOD” V-8. The result? The GT500 convertible is the most powerful factory convertible Mustang ever. Its supercharged 5.4-liter, 32-valve V-8 evolves from SVT’s experience with supercharging the “MOD” engine to deliver more than 450 horsepower and 450 foot-pounds of torque.
EXCLUSIVE CLOTH TOP IMPROVES APPEARANCE AND PERFORMANCE
The Shelby GT500 convertible features a unique cloth convertible top, replacing the vinyl top of the Mustang GT convertible. The GT500 will be only the second Mustang to feature a cloth top, first introduced on the 2003 SVT Mustang Cobra.
The cloth is similar to that used for high-end, exotic sports cars, providing an elegant visual upgrade to the GT500 convertible. In addition, the thicker fabric is not only more durable than vinyl, but creates a much tauter top resulting in a very quiet interior while driving with the top up.
For top-down driving, the Mustang’s convertible “floating” five-bow power top with z-fold construction tucks nicely into the boot, providing a more finished, tidy, top-down appearance.
The snake is back – Legendary looks with SVT function
The Shelby GT500 convertible combines the dramatic design genes of the all-new Mustang with Carroll Shelby’s legendary performance image to create an SVT Mustang that broadens the power brand’s design approach and appeal.
“The restrained, performance-oriented SVT design theme has become instantly recognizable to enthusiasts,” says Doug Gaffka, design director, Ford SVT. “The GT500 takes a huge leap forward by combining the modern Mustang muscle car with the classic Shelby performance look to expand SVT’s reach to a much bigger audience.”
While the GT500 coupe’s exterior is punctuated by the classic Shelby LeMans-style stripes that race along the car from nose to tail, the convertible will be more subtle with just the side stripes along the rocker reading “GT500”.
The Shelby design elements alone are enough to tell the GT500 story but are not the only visual cues that set this Mustang apart. The reworked front fascia features a functional air splitter and the unique hood has heat-extraction ducts, combining to provide improved airflow and aerodynamics. Revised headlamp insets offer a more aggressive look and result in symmetrical upper and lower grilles with large air openings, creating a visual connection to vintage Shelby Mustangs.
The unique rear fascia features strakes inspired by the Ford GT’s integrated rear airflow diffuser, and a rear spoiler reminiscent of a classic GT500. To mark the collaboration of two Mustang performance icons, the GT500 features Shelby and SVT badging.
Continuing the snake logo tradition of previous SVT Mustang Cobras, and late-model Shelby Mustangs, the fenders each feature an updated design of the Cobra. For the first time on any SVT Mustang, the front grille features an off-center snake in place of the standard running horse. “GT500” is emblazoned inside the side rocker stripes, and the name “ SHELBY ” is prominently featured across the rear deck. The SVT logo can be seen on the wheel center caps, a signature SVT location, as well as on the doorsill plates. To top if off, the “gas cap” medallion between the taillights reads “Shelby GT500” centered on the Cobra image.