1,000 2008 Shelby GT500KRs? Not so Fast, says Carroll Shelby.

(Dearborn, MI) TheGT500Source.com - 1,000. That’s the number of 2008 Shelby GT500KR (King of the Road) Mustangs that Ford said they would produce, both in their press release | here | and in Mark Fields’ address | here | to journalists at the 2007 New York Auto Show. Not so fast though, says Carroll Shelby.

Shelby said, “We haven’t even established numbers, somebody said 1,000, I haven’t signed off on that.” Shelby President, Amy Boylan added, “That’s exactly right.” | interview here |

Shelby and Boylan’s statements could possibly mean that Shelby Autos will build more than the 1,000 GT500KRs like everyone has been reporting. Aside from the upcoming 2008 model, the only other year that a GT500KR was offered for sale was back in 1968. In that year, they only built a handful – 1,251 in fact. Maybe they'll end up building 1,251 KRs in 2008 too?

One question that’s on every fan, collector and competitor minds is how much the new King of the Road will cost? According to Amy Boylan, MSRP has yet to be determined. A few things are certain though: The KRs will be snapped up as fast as Mega Millions lottery tickets on drawing day, which means they will go for well over MSRP - whatever that figure turns out to be.

For Ford though, the KR continues to validate that the Shelby brand is still highly coveted amongst new and old enthusiasts alike. Further, by limiting production, the demand for Shelby vehicles will remain high as will their value over the years.

Limiting production has always been a hallmark of Shelby Automobiles, as it has been with other specialty makes, like BMW. It’s part of what makes a Shelby a Shelby.

In other GT500 rumblings, we’ve been hearing that a Super-GT500 is in the works | more |. And it is. In terms of performance, the yet to be named GT500 will take its place above the GT500KR. So, if you think the GT500KR is bad, Shelby and Boylan have another project in the works. And that’s not all. Both Shelby honcho’s made it crystal clear that they have not and will not forget 2007 GT500 owners.

In fact, they both made it a candid point to make certain that 2007 GT500 owners know that they will be able to upgrade their vehicles with a plethora of the meanest of upcoming Shelby engine, suspension and body parts too.

• More 2008 Shelby GT500KR News / 2008 Shelby GT500KR Forum