1967 Shelby GT 500

Combining the agility of a sports car with the brute force of a muscle car, the 1967 Shelby GT 500 catered to a growing appetite for refined high performance.

The GT 500 signaled a shift in direction for Carroll Shelby, Ford's factory tuner. While the 1965-1966 Mustangs were reengineered into roaring race machines unsuitable for daily use, the 1967 model addressed demands for greater practicality. This coincided with a redesign of the original pony car, finally accommodating the power of a big-block engine.

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When the 1967 models debuted, standard Mustangs were equipped with a 320-bhp 390-cid four-barrel V-8. Shelby, true to form, pushed the envelope. The GT 350 kept its 289-cid V-8, delivering 306 bhp, while the new 1967 Shelby GT 500 featured a modified 428-cid "Police Interceptor."

The 428 engine was typically reserved for larger Ford models, producing 345 bhp. Shelby enhanced it with a cast-aluminum medium-rise intake manifold from Ford's 427, dual 600-cfm Holley four-barrel carburetors, and other adjustments, achieving a modestly rated 355 bhp. A select few 1967 Shelby GT 500s were fitted with Ford's nearly race-ready 427-cid V-8, either during production or through dealerships.

The 1967 GT 500 offered a choice between a four-speed manual transmission and a three-speed automatic, with axle ratios spanning from 0:1 to 4.11:1. Rather than full competition-grade components, the suspension was an upgraded version of the Mustang GT's, featuring standard front disc brakes and E70X15 tires. The two-seat cabins and standard racing harnesses of the original GT 350 were also discontinued.

Every 1967 Shelby GT 500 boasted Mustang GT-level interior finishes, with air conditioning and power steering introduced as new factory options. Shelby's signature touches, like an 8000-rpm tachometer, a 140-mph speedometer, and a padded roll bar, were retained.

Continuously striving for better performance, Shelby equipped the GT 500s with fiberglass body parts, featuring an extended nose, a hood with functional scoops, and four side intakes. The rear included a molded spoiler and sequential turn-signal lamps inspired by the Mercury Cougar. High-beam headlights were centrally positioned in the grille (though some were relocated to comply with state regulations). The distinctive twin "Le Mans" stripes were optional dealer additions for the 1967 Shelby GT 500.

If Shelby Mustangs had shifted from race cars to grand touring vehicles, it resonated well with buyers, who quickly embraced Shelby's newest creation. Priced just $200 above the GT 350, the 1967 Shelby GT 500 outsold its smaller-engine counterpart by 875 units.

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