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Introduced in the fall of 1966, the 1967 Shelby GT500 was born with a pedigree unlike any other car in its class, combining the best performance traits of Shelby''s earlier race bred GT350''s with luxurious features typically reserved for more upscale boulevard cruisers. The GT500''s were produced with several custom fiberglass panels, including a longer hood that featured a wide functional scoop. An all new nose piece, also constructed of fiberglass, comprised of front fender extensions and deeper headlight housings with a wider grille opening that incorporated a pair of 7-inch driving lamps.
Other characteristic styling elements included special badges and a racing-inspired pop-open gas cap fixed to the rear taillight panel along with a pair of upper & lower side scoops, the latter of which became purely decorative early in production due to increased manufacturing costs. Further decoration came in the choice of wheels. In addition to the standard steel wheels, which came with 5-spoke style covers, Shelby offered two attractive wheel options - the stylish Kelsey Hayes MagStars or the rugged 10-spoke aluminum wheels that arrived later in the year.
Inside, the 67 Shelby had little in common with the rigid, no-frills interior of the earlier GT350''s. Available in black or parchment, the GT500''s comfortably appointed interior featured fold-down rear seats as well as a 140-mph speedometer and an optional 8000-rpm tachometer which were positioned within a brushed aluminum dash panel. On top of the built-in details, Shelby added his own signature touches, including a wood-rimmed steering wheel, oil pressure and ammeter gauges, and a functional roll bar with integrated shoulder harnesses that were mounted to a pair of inertia reels modeled after those used on F-4 fighter jets. It marked the first time this type of equipment had been used on a production car.
Mechanically, the 67 Shelby''s suspension was mildly tailored with a thicker front anti-sway bar and stiffer, progressive-rate springs that were unique to the GT500. Power steering and power brakes were mandatory options. The real highlight of the GT500 was the introduction of the 428-ci big block "Police Interceptor", which was equipped with an aluminum intake manifold that mounted a pair of 600-cfm Holley carburetors beneath a finned aluminum oval air cleaner lid. Coupled to a C6 automatic or 4-speed top loader manual transmission, the 67 GT500 was conservatively rated at 355hp with 420lb-ft of torque, capable of launching the GT500 to 60-mph in 7.2 seconds with a full quarter-mile gallop in 14.5 seconds at over 100mph.
(04/27/2006)
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