Click above for a live gallery of the 2008 Shelby GT500KR from New York
Pay no attention to the "2008" on that snake badge. Even though the 540-horsepower Shelby GT500KR was built to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a certain former chicken-farmer's automotive exploits, it seems that neither Ford nor 'ol Shel want the party to end. As a result, Ford and Shelby will produce an additional 746 units of the GT500KR in model year 2009. 541 of those will go to U.S. customers, making for a U.S.-market total of 1,571 cars, which conveniently matches the production run of the original KR. (Never mind those additional foreign-market cars -- they just mess with that warm, fuzzy, marketing-oriented math.) For your enjoyment, check out our gallery of the Vista Blue Shelby GT500KR currently on the New York Auto Show floor.
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE
FORD AND SHELBY TO BUILD 2009 SHELBY GT500KR MUSTANGS TO MEET WORLDWIDE DEMAND
DEARBORN, Mich., March 20, 2008 - To compliment the 1,000 2008 40th anniversary Edition Shelby GT500KR "King of the Road" Mustangs, Ford and Shelby Automobiles announce that an additional 746 units will be built for the 2009 model year to help meet worldwide demand of the supercar. Of that total, 571 units will be available for U.S. customers thus equaling the 1,571-unit production run of the original Shelby GT500KR. The remainder of the units will be for countries that did not receive 2008 models.
"The response to this car has been overwhelming, so I'm glad we can share it with more Mustang enthusiasts," said Carroll Shelby. "This car is really special to me and demonstrates that when Shelby Automobiles gets together with Ford SVT and Ford Racing, we can deliver a Mustang that will compete with the best in the world."
Like the 40th anniversary limited edition, the 2009 Shelby GT500KR will feature a 540-hp 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack, 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, short-throw shifter, and unique suspension tuning. Exterior design draws inspiration from the classic Shelby KR Mustangs and features unique carbon composite hood, wheels, and unique striping.
The unique 40th anniversary badging will only be featured on the 2008 special edition.
The Shelby GT500KR or "King of the Road" Mustang is the fourth limited-edition Mustang that Shelby Automobiles and Ford have brought to market since resuming their collaboration in 2001. It builds on the performance and success of the 500-horsepower Shelby GT500 – the most powerful production Mustang ever.
"If you drive a Shelby Mustang, you are part of something special: a 40-year history of legendary racing and street cars," says Robert Parker, Ford Division Car marketing manager. "That's what is driving interest in the GT500KR among enthusiasts around the world."
Delivering the "King of the Road"
The 2008 Shelby GT500KR began production on Carroll Shelby's 85th birthday on Jan. 11 earlier this year. As production ramps up to launch, enthusiasts can expect to see the first GT500KRs arrive in dealers this spring.
Each Shelby GT500KR begins life as a GT500, built at AutoAlliance International Inc., in Flat Rock, Mich. From there, the cars are shipped to the Shelby Automobile facility in Las Vegas, where a Ford Racing Performance Pack, exhaust system and short-throw shifter are installed. The GT500KR also is fitted with unique body, chassis and interior components. Every GT500KR will be hand customized and delivered to each customer in an enclosed transporter, just like the legendary Ford GT.
The strong demand for the new Shelby GT500KR was recently demonstrated at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Az. where a one-of-a-kind version built with a glass-roof was auctioned off for charity. The GT500KR sold with a winning bid of $550,000, which went toward helping the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Caz @ Mar 20th 2008 2:26PM
...any word on who won the Knight Rider contest GT500KR??
Freestyle4x4f150 @ Mar 20th 2008 2:27PM
One word "Beautiful!"
SGV @ Mar 20th 2008 3:05PM
Keep 'em coming!! I love it!! Love them all
Talisman @ Mar 20th 2008 3:26PM
This is my favorite Mustang ever in the past 30 years. Its still way overpriced with a god-aweful interior but I wouldnt mind the chance to drive one of these.
Cajun_Mike @ Mar 20th 2008 3:36PM
Imagine that... another Mustang entry on autoblog.com. Is that now 194 different mustang models available for the 2008 and 2009 model years?
As someone who has owned two mustangs, enough already.
Tagg @ Mar 20th 2008 4:45PM
Then don't read it!
Just scroll past it!
Alot of people on here WANT to read articles about the Mustang because it is such an icon in automotive history. How many cars out there have had the staying power the Mustang has? Very few and despite the best efforts of competiton and haters it still remains a very player in the market.
Daniel @ Mar 20th 2008 4:31PM
hmmm wasn't expecting this post!
the complaining is getting old, just let it go
Cajun_Mike @ Mar 20th 2008 4:46PM
I had no idea that so many mobile homes in trailer parks from coast-to-coast had so many computers with Autoblog.com bookmarked.
As all of these rednecks, punks and vanilla ice clones salivate over the newest special edition Mustang that they hope they can afford one day. Their current 1986 IROC Z28 does not have many miles left.
NRTrackStar @ Mar 20th 2008 6:28PM
Wait a second Mike-you are the one here who has owned 2 Mustangs. So who's the trailer trash?
John Marcovici @ Mar 20th 2008 4:35PM
Wow, how exciting. It's been, what, 5 minutes since the last special edition Mustang?
mdesigner @ Mar 20th 2008 4:42PM
OUT OF CURIOSITY.
When the Mustang came out there were affordable, high performance, V8 versions available to the lower income bracket (IE: Even high school students) brand new.
Does a model like that exist now...Or is it gone with the proverbial dodo?
It seems that, occasionally, some vehicles mature in such a way that they lose sight of what made them popular in the first place.
Mustang, Beetle, Mini: have they forgotten their roots?
That One Person @ Mar 20th 2008 5:26PM
You do have a great point. My dad was in his late teens and drove a 67 Vette (327/350hp with a 4 speed). But look at the price of some two year old Vettes these days. And even brand new Vettes. Unless you have rich family members, for some reason won the lottery, graduated college early and are making $100k a year, there is NO way someone in their late teens or early 20s can afford a Vette.
Heck, I work with guys who used to own top of the line muscle cars back in the day. Not beat up rust buckets. I mean brand spanking new models.
Now anyone my age (23) can afford is a Focus or a Civic (if they are lucky).
I would love to see a cheap V-8 powered RWD car but it ain't gonna happen. With the government mandating more and more safety systems and the obvious problem of inflation and other costs, that whole idea is dead.
Fooman @ Mar 20th 2008 5:14PM
The mini and the beetle are some of the cheapest cars on the road, what are you talking about?
Mike @ Mar 20th 2008 7:02PM
Base price of a Mustang with a V8 in 1965- $2,365. Base price of a 2008 Mustang GT- $26,240
Median cost of a house in 1965- $20,700
Median cost of a house in 2008- $216,000
Seems like inflation has the Mustang priced almost exactly where it started 40 years ago huh? How did it get away from it's intended market again?
Seems to me that the thing that did change is the costs we have associated with normal living today. Though I wasn't alive 40 years ago, I'd imagine that the costs of living then were electricity, heating, phone, rent or mortgage, records, insurance, food, and your car- plus whatever the cost of whatever going out entertainment was then. Today we have: electricity, heating, landline phone, cell phone, high speed internet, cable or satellite TV, satellite radio subscriptions, DVDs and CDs (or downloads), insurance, rent or mortgage, food, car, and going out entertainment. Not to mention electronics and computers that are out of date before their out of their box.
I'd bet movies, concerts, sporting events, and the like didn't cost what they do today by comparison- after all atheletes back then had off season jobs. I'd also bet insurance wasn't what it cost today by comparison either- after all, we didn't have a bunch of blood sucking lawyers or sue for everything deadbeats that wanted a quick buck then.
Just saying.
madgamer @ Mar 20th 2008 4:52PM
To all the whiners, it is not another new one, it's just a continuation of a current special edition. No need for alarm.
steveo391 @ Mar 20th 2008 9:55PM
Yeah but all the haters are to dumb to realize that
That One Person @ Mar 20th 2008 5:30PM
Beetle starts out at over $17k. The MINI starts at almost $19k...far from being the cheapest. And the prices can get pretty steep.
For that money, you can buy a car that is fun to drive and can actually carry people (Civic, Mazda3...heck, even the Focus).
Fooman @ Mar 21st 2008 5:24AM
On a small side note when you put in total cost of ownership over 4 years, the mini is hard to beat, 4 years of all service is free, 30mpg freeway, and killer resale value...
The Beetle is a decent deal for what you get, Yes the Mazda 3 is a great deal, but is the interior the same quality?
Civic, I agree with.
jcar302 @ Mar 20th 2008 5:53PM
I'm wondering if all these shelby mustangs will maintain their value in the future.
In the old days, people bought the cars and drove them into the ground, so now when somebody wants a 40 year old shelby, they are hard to come by. The old supply and demand theory.
Now that the new ones mostly sit in garages and aspire to be collector cars, in 20 to 30 years when somebody wants one, their will be plenty of them left to pick from.
I'm a mustang guy, but i for one am dissappointed that the new shelby isn't what the 03/04 cobra was/is, a drivers car, that people aren't afraid to rack up the miles, and crank up the boost.
retardgroove @ Mar 20th 2008 6:35PM
"When the Mustang came out there were affordable, high performance, V8 versions available to the lower income bracket (IE: Even high school students) brand new.
Does a model like that exist now...Or is it gone with the proverbial dodo?"
Mustang GT 300hp V8 for 25grand