Which Models Were Produced and What Do the Leters and The Numbers Mean?
There were two basic models and their variations, the GT 350 and the GT 500. The first Shelby Mustangs were the GT 350 models. The GT designates that the car is based on the Mustang GT (Grand Tourism). There are anecdotes regarding the exact nature of the 350 designation, but it seems that the number was chosen because it was larger than any other number that was on a car badge and because it was a fairly rounded number. The “R” on the GT 350R models stands for “racing”, since the purpose of these cars was actual competition. The “H” on the GT 350H models stand for “Hertz” and these cars were manufactured specifically for the car rental company. The 500 was used on the GT500 was to signify that the particular model had the big block V8, in contrast to its smaller sibling. The KR designation in the 1968 GT 500KR, stands for “King of the Road”.
