Shelby American Reintroduces the Shelby GT500KR for 60th Anniversary
With more than 900 HP only 225 made, the new Shelby GT500KR will be the most powerful and most hard-to-get Mustang ever.
Elvis Presley was the King of rock and roll. Michael Jackson was the King of pop. And the Shelby GT500KR is the King of Mustangs. Presley and Jackson are gone forever. The GT500KR has also been gone for many years. And with the push for more and more electric cars, it seemed to also be gone forever. However, we have great news. Shelby American will turn 60 next year and to celebrate the Shelby GT500KR will be made available to the public once again.
Although it won’t be easy to get one. But is it ever easy to get close to a King? Only 180 total will be available in the US, and an additional 45 available overseas. The Shelby GT500KR is based on the 2020 – current GT500. The KR of course stands for “King of the Road.” Owners of 2020 and 2021 model year Shelby GT500s can contact Shelby American about transforming their car into a KR. They will convert 60 cars of each model year. They will also build 60 2022 model year cars which will also wear 60th anniversary badges.
Putting the King in KR
A standard GT500 makes a very healthy 760 horsepower. No sane person ever drove one and thought it could use more power. Thankfully the people at Shelby American are not totally sane. And we mean that in the best way possible. A gigantic 3.8L Whipple supercharger is bolted on top of the 5.2L Predator V8 engine. Accompanying the supercharger are a high-volume intercooler and heat exchanger. A cold air intake and Borla cat-back exhaust offers amped up sound and power. The result of all this is an astounding 900 horsepower. NINE HUNDRED. In a car from the factory that you can drive without any special license. This engine is the heart of the King, but there is a lot more that goes into the GT500KR.
Other Performance Improvements
The GT500KR has Ford Performance front and rear sway bars, and height adjustable front and rear springs. The MagneRide suspension has been recalibrated as well. The car rolls on one-piece 6061-T6 forged aluminum wheels in either a polished or gloss black finish. They are 20×11 up front and 20×11.5 in the rear and are mounted with extended and hardened wheel studs. Shelby American says the car will roll on “performance spec tires.” That is not very clear, but we would guess that it will come with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires or something similar. It will be an all-out performance tire that is for sure.
Visual Changes
When dropping this amount of coin on a Mustang (we will get to the pricing a little later). You will want to stand out a bit from the garden variety GT500. That should not be an issue in the GT500KR. The biggest standout is the Shelby carbon fiber hood. It is made with dry carbon fiber construction and includes functional air evacuation vents. But that is not all the carbon fiber you get. The front splitter, rear diffuser, and Gurney flap are all carbon fiber. On the inside are special leather seats, embroidered floor mats and a dash plate. The 2022 model year cars will also get special 60th anniversary badging to make your friends just a little more jealous.
Options List
Aside from paint colors there are several other ways to make your GT500KR unique. Le Mans style over the top stripes can be included. You could also have that massive supercharger with a polished finish. Taking the car to the track? Of course, you are. For that be sure to choose the rear seat delete with a harness bar option. And finally, a Shelby wide body kit is also available on the KR. It is unlikely that two exact specification cars will ever be built.
You Want One
We ALL want one. And that is going to be the problem even for those that can afford the steep asking price. The new GT500KR is limited to just 225 examples worldwide. For some perspective, Ford dealers sold 1,570 of them in 1968. Orders will begin being taken on February 1, 2022, at 9AM PST. Click here to contact the Shelby sales team. The starting price for a 2022 GT500KR is $127,895. The KR upgrade package will cost you $54,995 and you of course need to supply your own 2020 to current GT500. If you want the first production car, it will be auctioned at no reserve on January 29 by the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company in Scottsdale. Expect to bring buckets full of cash for that one. Will another GT500KR ever be made? If so, will it be an EV? No one knows, so you better buy this one.
Photos: Shelby American
Join the Mustang Source Forums now!
