A blend of sports car and muscle car, the 1967 Shelby GT 500 satisfyed a maturing taste for high performance.
The GT 500 represented a departure for Ford factory tuner Carroll Shelby. To make a road-racing champ of the 1965-1966 Mustangs,
1967 Shelby GT 500 Image Gallery
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The 1967 Shelby GT 500 was the first roadgoing Mustang with Ford's 428-cid V-8 and showed that sports car philosophy and muscle car attitude were compatible. See more 1967 Shelby GT 500 pictures. |
With the introduction of the 1967 models, regular Mustangs could get a 320-bhp 390-cid four-barrel V-8.
The 428 was otherwise reserved for bigger Fords, where it made 345 bhp.
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Aluminum air cleaner and valve covers embellished the Shelby GT's dual-quad 428. |
The 1967 GT 500 had a four-speed manual transmission or a three-speed automatic, with axle ratios ranging from 3.50:1 to 4.11:1. Instead of true competition-grade underpinnings, the suspension was a fortified version of the Mustang GT's, with standard front disc brakes and E70X15 tires. Also gone were the two-seat cabins and standard racing harnesses of the original GT 350.
All 1967 Shelby GT 500s had Mustang GT-level interior trim; air conditioning and power steering were new factory options. An 8000-rpm tach, 140-mph speedometer, and padded roll bar, however, remained
 ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Shelby fitted his own fiberglass body parts, including hood, functional scoops, and front and rear fascias, and installed sequential turn-signal lamps. Twin stripes were dealer-applied options. |
Always looking to improve performance,
If Shelby Mustangs were now less race car and more grand touring machine, that was fine with buyers, who took an immediate liking to Shelby's latest. The 1967 Shelby GT 500 cost just $200 more than the GT 350 and handily outsold its small-block companion by 875 units.
Wheelbase, inches: 108.0 Weight, lbs: 3,000 Number built: 2,050 Base price: $4,195 Standard Engine Type: ohv V-8 Displacement, cid: 428 Fuel system: 2 x 4 bbl. Compression ratio: 10.5:1 Horsepower @ rpm: 355 @ 5400 Torque @ rpm: 420 @ 3200 Representative Performance 0-60 mph, sec: 6.2 1/4 mile, sec @ mph: 14.6 @ 99 |
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For more cool information on muscle cars, check out:
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- Muscle cars came in many shapes and sizes. Here are features on more than 100 muscle cars, including photos and specifications for each model.
- Muscle cars created their own culture. To learn about it, read How Muscle Cars Work.
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- Fastbacks were nothing new, but none was faster than the 1966 Dodge Charger 426 Hemi.
- The 1963 Plymouth 426 Wedge was so undomesticated it came with warnings not to use it on the public roads.
- Any '71 Chevelle could wear a Super Sport badge, but only the 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 earned the right to display its engine size, too.
- The engine is what gives a muscle car its flamboyant personality. To learn everything you need to know about car engines, see How Car Engines Work.
- Muscle cars wouldn't have much muscle without horsepower -- but what exactly is horsepower? How Horsepower Works answers that question.
- NASCAR race cars embody the muscle car philosophy of power. Read How NASCAR Race Cars Work to find out what makes these charged-up racers go.
- Are you thinking of buying a 2007 muscle car, or any other car? See Consumer Guide Automotive's New-Car Reviews, Prices, and Information.
