When you consider build totals for the 1968 Shelby Mustang, it is interesting to note that Convertible examples were built in significantly lower numbers than the Fastback. That means that Convertibles don’t come onto the market anywhere near as often, and when they do, they tend to command a significant premium over their Fastback siblings. This ’68 GT500 Convertible is a very tidy example that has just come onto the market. It is located in Queensbury, New York, and is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has been about as strong as you would expect on a rare classic like this, with a total of 71 bids pushing the price along to $30,200. Making it all the more attractive is the fact that it is being offered with No Reserve. With 123 people also watching the listing, you would have to think that there might be a way to go yet before the final sale price is reached.

The owner doesn’t provide a lot of details about the GT500 in his listing, but the photos would seem to indicate that this is a very clean and tidy survivor. The 1968 Shelby was available in a total of ten paint colors, and the Gold Metallic paint on this GT500 has a lovely shine to it. There is no evidence of any rust in any of the supplied photos, while the panels appear to be free of any noticeable dings or dents. It retains all of the distinctive Shelby features such as the lights, wheels, and grille, and these are also in very nice order. The Convertible was only available with a choice of a Black or White top, and the White top on this vehicle appears to be faultless. The trim and chrome all have a great luster, while the tinted glass looks just as flawless as the rest of the exterior.

As was the case with the top on the Convertible, the interior trim choice came down to two colors. A buyer could specify Saddle trim, or as is the case with this car, Black was the other option. Generally speaking, the interior of the GT500 presents quite well and would seem to be indicative of what you would expect from an original survivor. There is some stretching of the vinyl on the driver’s seat, while the carpet is also showing some minor fading. Beyond that, it all looks clean and tidy, with no obvious issues of any significance. The vehicle does come with air conditioning, and the previously mentioned tinted glass was a compulsory requirement on any A/C-equipped Shelby in 1968. Also included is an AM push-button radio, which cost buyers $57.59 back in 1968. That might not sound like a lot of money, but when you consider that the tinted glass cost a mere $30.25, it suddenly looks like a fairly costly option.

Sorry folks, but we get no engine photos with the Shelby. If all is as it was when the car left the factory, we should find a 428 Police Interceptor V8 under the hood, producing 360hp. This is backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission, while I believe that the car is equipped with power front disc brakes. The quoted horsepower figure is an interesting one because it is believed that it errs on the conservative side. Those in the know have often contended that the actual figure was far closer to 400hp, but the company was admitting nothing. It is believed that the figure was conservative partly for insurance purposes. Whatever the truth is regarding power output, the GT500’s performance figures were nothing if not impressive. A 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds and a ¼ mile ET of 14.5 seconds are both very respectable figures, while the GT500 could still haul its way to 127mph in Convertible form. That’s some pretty fast wind in your hair!

With a mere 402 examples rolling out the door in 1968, the GT500 Convertible is a fairly rare beast. It combines brute force with the carefree experience that can only be achieved from within a classic convertible. Of course, rarity and desirability will always come at a cost. With that in mind, a good ’68 GT500 Convertible will command prices of around $130,000, although significantly higher figures are a definite possibility. If this particular car is as clean and original as the photos would tend to indicate, that is the sort of price that I would be expecting. It could potentially go even higher, or I could be completely wrong, and it may sell for less than that figure. To be honest, this is one time when I wouldn’t mind being wrong, but even if I’m not, it looks like someone is destined to become the proud owner of a true classic very soon.