One-Owner 1968 Shelby GT500KR Is No Trailer Queen

Collectible Driver

Early Shelby Mustangs have exploded in value in the last 20 years, making them highly sought after collectibles. And that also means that most of them rarely see the road these days. But that certainly isn't the case with Bob and Audrey Greenwood’s '68 GT500KR, as we found out in this recent Hot Rod piece.

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

Family Member

But it isn't like the Greenwoods purchased this Shelby for some extreme price, nor did they buy a shell to restore. They've actually owned the car since it was new, in fact, and Bob even restored it himself.

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 GT 500 KR here in The Mustang Source forum.

Experience Matters

Greenwood drew on his experience as an aircraft mechanic to whip the Shelby into shape. But his time in the military is also what prompted him to buy it in the first place.

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 GT 500 KR here in The Mustang Source forum.

Effective Advertisement

“While I was in the Air Force I had a nice 1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL," he told Hot Rod. "After seeing the Shelby ads in car magazines, I knew I had to test drive one. When I got out of the service, I wasted no time getting down to Northwestern Ford in Milwaukee to test drive a Shelby."

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 GT 500 KR here in The Mustang Source forum.

Stretched Thin

At that time, the dealer still had leftover '68s sitting on the lot. And this particular Candy Apple Red car caught Greenwood's eye. Even though it was a bit of a stretch for him to buy (he had to take out two loans), the salesman made it happen that fateful day.

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 GT 500 KR here in The Mustang Source forum.

Tolls of Winter

Needless to say, Greenwood enjoyed his GT500KR for many years, racking up 108,000 miles on it by 1982. By then, the harsh winters of Wisconsin had taken their toll on the car, so Greenwood took it apart with the intentions of fixing it up. But with no money or time to make that happen, the Shelby sat in pieces for decades.

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 GT 500 KR here in The Mustang Source forum.

No More Salt

But finally, by fall of 2013, he was able to get this Shelby back to its original glory. It took that long mainly because Greenwood wasn't an experienced welder or restorer. But he eventually got it done. And obviously, it'll never see a salty road ever again. 

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 GT 500 KR here in The Mustang Source forum.

D.I.Y.

Outside of the paint job, Greenwood did all of the work himself. “I rebuilt every part and component on the car. The whole car is restored to original, except a few items that can be easily be changed back to original. I installed a negative wedge kit and lowered the upper control arms, installed Flowmaster mufflers, and put real wood veneer in the center console.”

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 GT 500 KR here in The Mustang Source forum.

Seeking Guidance

He did, however, understandably seek out help when it came to reassembling the car. "When I had questions and needed help with the assembly I contacted Jim Cowles of Shelby Parts & Restoration in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Pete Disher in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, who is an expert on 1968 Shelbys. I thank them both for their help and guidance."

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 GT 500 KR here in The Mustang Source forum.

Drive and Enjoy

But even after all that hard work, Greenwood still drives his Shelby everywhere. Bob and his bride average about 4,000 miles per year, traveling all over to various events. "Drive your Mustang while you can and enjoy every mile," he said. And we couldn't possibly agree more.

Photos Courtesy of Hot Rod. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1968 GT 500 KR here in The Mustang Source forum.

And, for information on maintenance and repairs for your Mustang, head on over to our How-Tos at MustangForums.com!