Dan contacted me and asked me if I wanted to share a story about my KR for our Golden Hills Mustang Club Newsletter. I am honored and proud to share my story. Back in January 2010, I was on the internet looking at the front-end styling of the GT500 compared to the standard Mustang from the 2005-2009 years. I then came across a photo of the GT500KR in brilliant silver with the blue Lemans stripe. I started watching YouTube videos of the 2008-2009 KR's and was in awe with the looks and the best exhaust sound I've ever heard on a modern muscle car. I was watching the videos endlessly, and Tammy kept saying, “In your dreams!” At the time, we had already owned a 1991 Corvette L98, and a 1992 Corvette ZR-1. There was no possible way this KR was going to be a part of our family…so she said.
Just for the heck of it, I started a search on the internet for GT500KR’s for sale. I came across a 2009 Brilliant Silver KR with the blue Lemans racing stripe. This model was very hard to find, and there it was, at Downtown Ford in Sacramento; a mere twenty minutes from our home! Tammy, Joey, and I took a drive there to, “just take a look”. We pulled in to the parking lot, and low and behold there it was, on the showroom floor with the hood up staring at me! At the time, Joey was only 8 years old. He even knew at that age that it was a badass car.
As we were admiring the car, a salesman started talking to us. Joey was already sitting in the driver’s seat of the car. I asked the salesman to start the car so I could hear it, but the battery was dead because it had been sitting on the showroom floor for two years. They jumped the battery and the KR came to life. Tammy and I sat down to look at the numbers to see if we could actually purchase it. This whole time, Joey would not leave the car! He told us he wasn’t going home without it. After about what seemed like twenty to thirty minutes, it looked like we had a deal. The “let’s go take a look”, was turning in to my dream come true. Only problem was, I had to trade-in both Corvettes. I really didn't want to give up the ZR-1, but in the end, I decided to give up the old technology for the new technology. As of January 2017, the final payment was made!
The KR had only a two-year run (2008-2009) for the modern version. My KR is number 331 of 712 for 2009. The production numbers for the two years are supposed to be the same as the 1968 KR production numbers. The KR started out as a regular GT500 from the factory, and was then sent to Shelby American in Las Vegas for the transformation. The modern KR comes with a 5.4 liter 331 cubic inch iron block engine (last year for that) which was hand built and signed by two engine builders. Shelby American lowered the suspension, installed front Brembo brake pads, 3:73 rear gears, 540hp with the supercharger, Ford Racing exhaust, carbon fiber functional hood, carbon fiber front air dam, carbon fiber skull caps on both side view mirrors, 18 inch one-piece aluminum Alcoa rims with "Shelby GT500KR " engraved, KR badging, KR stitched into headrests, and an engraved plaque which includes the production number and Carol Shelby's signature, a short throw shifter for the 6 speed transmission, in addition to some other things I may have forgotten to mention. Overall, it is the baddest and most horse power car I am fortunate to own, unless Tammy buys the Dodge Challenger Demon…LOL! The 2008-2009 KR came in only 4 colors, and of course I think mine is the best color since it was the same color as the one Carrol Shelby displayed and introduced at the New York Auto Show back in 2007.
In conclusion, there is a saying that goes, “Some things are meant to be”. All of the pieces fell together to complete my dream of ever owning this car. I gotta give kudos to Tammy too for supporting my dream, because in the end, it’s all about teamwork. |
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