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Glittering Gold: 1968 Shelby GT500

Finished in stunning Sunlit Gold, this 1968 Shelby GT500 is a special car that is now on the search for a new home. The GT500 has proven in the past to not only be a car capable of incredible performance but from a financial perspective, their constantly increasing values have made their ownership better than money in the bank. This particular car is due to go to auction, and you will find the details here at Barrett-Jackson. The car is being offered in a No Reserve auction, and it’s a car that I would expect to generate plenty of interest.

Sunlit Gold is a color that suits the Shelby extremely well, and this one looks like an absolute beauty. It isn’t clear whether the car is an original survivor, or whether it has undergone restoration at some point in its life. Regardless of which it is, the fact is that it is complete in every detail and that the presentation of the car is immaculate. As a bonus, the car does come with a fully documented history (including the Shelby Warranty paperwork), along with a Marti report, and every aspect of the car is also verified in the Shelby Register.

By the time that this Shelby saw the light of day, there was a lot more attention being paid to making the car not only a formidable performance vehicle but one that provided the occupants with a degree of creature comfort. To that end, wood-grain trim became part of the package, while this one also features a push-button radio, factory air conditioning, tinted glass, the pop-a-way tilt wheel, and that distinctive center console with the Cobra-embossed armrest. The Saddle interior is like the rest of the car and looks to be in pretty amazing condition, with only some minor wear visible. The only area that is showing any real age is the lid to the glove compartment, but since that has been personally autographed by Carol Shelby, I wouldn’t be touching it.

Now we get to the business end of proceedings, with the engine bay being full of V8 goodness. This is the 428ci Police Interceptor big-block, which produces a claimed, but extremely conservative, 360hp. This Shelby also features an automatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. From a performance perspective, the 1968 model was definitely the king. It could sprint from 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, and devour the ¼ mile in 13.7 seconds. That’s some seriously impressive performance, and it’s one of the reasons why the GT500 is such a muscle car icon today. We aren’t provided with any information on how this particular GT500 runs or drives, but if appearances count for anything, then it should be pretty good.

The Marti Report verifies that this GT500 is 1-of-41 that was produced in Sunlit Gold with Saddle trim. To me, that’s underselling the car, because regardless of the numbers, any GT500 is going to be a very special car. This one appears to be immaculate, and I really hope that the next owner has the opportunity to take it out occasionally, and enjoy it as a great car. I would hate to see this Shelby hidden away because that would defeat the purpose of what these cars were all about.

Comments

  1. Avatar Bongo

    The 428 police interceptor was the slowest of all the 500s high 14s low 15 second quarter mile times 0-60 6.3 seconds who ever wrote this article is way off. Still a great car any Shelby or Mustang collector would love to own.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Superdessucke

      In other words, a V-6 Camry or a 2.0t Accord would smoke this, as would some new crossovers even. But that won’t matter to the well-heeled person who’ll probably spring six figures for this. There’s Something Else.

      Like 7
      • Avatar grant

        Yes we get it. A modern V6 Camry or Accord would smoke about anything from the musclecar era. It’s apples to oranges. Things get “better” as technology advances. Of course “better” is relative. We regularly get 200+ HP out of miniscule 4 bangers nowadays, but the cars all look the same and they come in 3 colors.

        Like 41
      • Avatar Cman

        Superd*cksuck, If you’re a fan of Accords and Camrys why do you troll this site?
        Seems like a waste of everyone’s time, including yours. It’s a sincere question.

        Like 35
      • Avatar Superdessucke

        @C’mon man – Oh yeah. Wanna race my Accord over it ;-)

        Like 2
      • Avatar Superdessucke

        @grant – Actually you can get a Camaro SS 1LE or a Mustang GT PP2 for about 1/3 of what this will likely go for.

        And they come in more than 3 colours.

        Like 2
      • Avatar Superdessucke

        And all this will become relevant to you in about 6 years due to demographic and probably political forces.

        Like 1
    • Avatar Ken

      owned one same color year loved it sold it to buy a KR nasty car ugly green like to buy this one when is it up for auction

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Will Fox

    Seriously…..is there ANY Shelby Mustang out there that DOESN’T have Carroll Shelby’s autograph on the glove box door?!

    Like 7
    • Avatar KeithK

      The Carrol Shelby foundation will autograph any item you’d like and give you a certificate of authenticity for 50 bucks. Not a joke. This really devalues any that may be actually authentic. Ironic that the Real autographs won’t come with a COA.

      Like 5
      • Avatar leiniedude Member

        Hi KeithK, who or what autographs the item? Take care, Mike.

        Like 2
  3. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Thats some seat belt setup.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar TimM

    Great car and it’s ridiculous comparing a Shelby GT-500 to a Toyota Camry!! I should have tried not to even put them in the same sentence!! Will a Toyota Camry ever warrant six figures??? I doubt it!! They are the era of disposable cars!! Plastic and Aluminum!! If you love them so much go to a beaner web site!!! The Mustang is a car that will turn heads and bring us back to a time when the best stuff was built here!!

    Like 20
    • Avatar Cman

      TimM- I agree. How many of those appliances will be around in 50+ years? Owning, driving, restoring, curating and appreciating (in both senses of the word) classic automobiles is a worthy endeavor.

      Like 10
    • Avatar Superdessucke

      Yes there is a certain appreciation that many have for these that transcends mere performance numbers. That’s why I clearly indicated that they have Something Else. Apparently you guys didn’t read that part.

      Anyway, I really hope that will continue. But please forgive me if I don’t feel very confident it will. Not only are times and values shifting rapidly, but younger generations were never really able to enjoy these cars because they’ve always been so expensive.

      That will come back to haunt them as Investments. That will not make them any less enjoyable for those who appreciate them of course.

      Like 4
  5. Avatar J_Paul Member

    Saying that a modern sedan will be faster than a classic musclecar is kind of missing the point—we love them for the history, for the style, for the character, and for the experience that is hard to find in new cars. It’s not about numbers on a spreadsheet.

    But you can say this about a lot more than just cars—it’s the reason some people prefer old houses to shiny new condos, why some people prefer vinyl to digital files, and why anyone chooses to collect things from the past. Character matters. History matters.

    I personally drive a Subaru WRX. It’s probably faster than this Shelby, and I guarantee it handles better, gets better mileage, is more practical, is easier on the environment, and so on. But as much as I like it, which car pulls at the heartstrings? Which car would I appreciate just for the art of it? The Shelby, no question! Comparing the two is pointless.

    Like 19
  6. Avatar SC/RAMBLER

    As I have said before on this site. New cars have no soul you are so isolated from the vehicle electric steering with simulated feel. My 67 Chevelle SS 396 and my 69 SC/RAMBLER HURST had manual steering and I could feel when the tires are being pushed too hard and losing traction
    Can you feel that with electric steering. NO. In the seat of your pants do you feel the engine vibrating like a living breathing beast. No. Our Muscle cars feel like that. Are they comfortable like sitting in a living room chair. NO and we wouldn’t want them if they did. Fact is I have a very hard time getting comfortable in a 2018 Subaru or 14 Chevy Malibu. Admittedly I have arthritis in my back in my older years. But a valid point not all new cars are not like riding in a Lazy-boy recliner.
    IMHO.

    Like 11
    • Avatar Tom

      Not to mention most small and mid sized American cars today are harder to get in and out of Pontiac g6,Malibu, Lacross. I’m only 5’6 and have to tuck my chin to my chest getting in to our old g6. Forget wearing a hat. It took me a month worth of slamming my (normal sized head) into the top of the door frame and headaches or seeing stars from getting in too quickly. Those old cars were never given that cab forward designed sloping roof.

      Like 4
  7. Avatar Jwinters

    you guys saying the new Camry is faster are forgetting one tiny little detail. the numbers posted for these old cars performance was out of the box off the showroom floor. with restrictive exhaust and small bias ply tires.
    hardly any of these cars remained stock on day 2. throw some fat tires on this Shelby, open the exhaust put in some better gears and tune it and your in the low 12-high 11 second range.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Tom

      Really? Why not add a rear spoiler, roll bar, and parachute. At least it will look faster. And didn’t Cherry Bombs give you 75 more hp?

      Like 2
      • Avatar Tom

        Don’t forget to plug the smog pump. Those to robbed 15 hp and invert the air cleaner cover. That adds another 25hp! Oh the thinking of the day.

        Like 2
    • Avatar Tom

      Yes. Then compare a Geo Metro turbo vs the Camry instead.

      Like 1
  8. Avatar wuzjeepnowsaab

    I’m just going to say that I flat out LOVE period 60’s gold painted cars.

    Now back to your Camry vs Vintage Muscle Car wars

    Like 6
    • Avatar Tom

      Yes. Then compare a Geo Metro turbo vs the Camry instead.

      Like 1
    • Avatar TimM

      I’m glad you said that!! I opened two cans of tuna fish today and sent the metal to Japan!!! The head of the Japanese recycling committee was so happy he said he could get three Toyota’s out of them!!!

      Like 8
  9. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    Hey……………all the peanut gallery stuff aside, it’s a beautiful car

    Like 8
    • Avatar leiniedude Member

      Thank you Mountainwoodie, have a great weekend, Mike.

      Like 1
  10. Avatar Richard Raymond

    I don’t understand why someone would put stickers on the glove box of a classic automobile.

    Like 3
  11. Avatar Jim

    Just curious, why is this a “Barn Find”? Thanks.

    Like 2
  12. Avatar Mike W H

    If you’d like to find a Shelby Mustang without Carroll Shelby’s autograph on the glovebox, take a look at mine if I ever buy one.

    I would take some MEK and wipe that off of there SO fast.

    No offense to those who think the autograph on the glove box is a good thing.

    Like 2
  13. Avatar W9BAG

    Did these have the joe cool sequential turn signals ?

    Like 0
    • Avatar SC/RAMBLER

      yes

      Like 0
  14. Avatar Louis Q. Chen

    I just missed a ’69 Cobra that my son’s friend grandpa was selling :( This one was in the family since new….had only 50K miles on it, garaged since new, numbers matched and in excellent shape. I couldn’t come up with $150K :(…It would have been worth it.

    Like 1
  15. Avatar Krash

    I wonder which vehicle from today’s market Steve McQueen would have chosen if he was shooting Bullit in 2019….(and yes I know he didn’t drive a GT500 in the film)….

    Like 0
  16. Avatar SC/RAMBLER

    What would Steve McQueen drive for a remake of Bullit
    Maybe a 2019 Mustang.
    Aside from the modern vs muscle car arguments.
    This is one beautiful Shelby Mustang. IF these were the slowest Shelby that’s because of weight and as noted previously narrow bias ply tires. Even 14-15″ cheater slicks, headers and free flowing exhaust would make a big difference in 1/4 mile and 0-60 times.

    Like 0

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