The
1968 Shelby GT 350 was a continuation of the '67 Shelby model.
Shipped from Ford's assembly plant in Metuchen, New Jersey,
as Mustang GT's with heavy duty suspensions, only slight suspension
changes were made. Basically, the buyers in '67 demonstrated
with their pocketbooks they wanted fewer all out performance
options and more luxury features.
The
suspension changes were special Shelby only coil and leaf springs
that became more stiff under stress, yet under normal driving
yielded a better ride. The front sway (stabilizer) bar was thicker
(.94") than the GT Mustang and adjustable, Gabriel shock absorbers
replaced the GT shocks.
The
primary difference, other than the cosmetics, between the '67
GT 350's and the '68 GT 350's was the engine. Ford discontinued
the hi-po 289 after '67 and introduced the 302. Gone was
Ford's infamous High Performance 289. The stock 302 engine was
rated at 250 HP. Shelby replaced the stock cast iron intake
manifold with an aluminum, Cobra hi-rise with a Holley 4 barrel
carb setting on top. The very early cars carried the stock cast
iron because the factory couldn't get an ok on the emission
tests using the aluminum hi-rise and Holley carb. A unique option
offered for the small block version was a Paxton supercharger
which increased the horsepower by 40% to about 335 horse. Big
block horsepower from a small block Ford. For a few dollars
more though, the buyer could get a GT 500, so very few superchargers
were actually installed. The factory offered performance and
dress up parts like headers, Koni shocks and shift knobs. Ram
air was standard on the GT 500KR, an option on the GT 350. The
ram air option was a bonnet that ducted air through the front
hood air scoops directly to the air cleaner and carb. It fit
under the hood with a cut out for the air cleaner.
