1968 Shelby Stripes and Emblems




Stripes

Eight different stripes kits were used in 1968. Stripes came in three colors, blue, white and black. Each model used its own unique rocker panel stripes. Black stripes were only used on GT350s and GT500 KRs that were painted yellow. The blue stripes were only used on white cars. All others cars received white stripes.

Several of the kits are hold overs from previous model years. In 1968, the model designation is always centered on the front fender. This a change from the 1967 stripes. The GT500 KR used a different style of lettering (font) from the earlier GT350 and GT500s.

Over the years, several different vendors have made reproduction stripe kits. Most kits are not accurate to the originals. In the case of the GT500 KR, I have not yet seen an accurate reproduction stripe kit. If you look closely at original GT500 KR stripes the zeros have a very round shape. Most later kits have egg shaped zeros. Older stripe kits were water activated. The newer kits have a wax paper backing paper that requires no water.

Rocker panel stripes were applied by AO Smith employees, Margaret Moon and ?. The two ladies striped about forty cars each day. If you do the math, they spent about ten minutes on each car. Stripes were aligned by eye.


You can see in this early photograph, the stripes were not always straight. Photo from 1987 Shelby American World Registry

Here are the part numbers for the stripe kits. No yellow GT500s were built, so there was no corresponding black GT500 stripe kit.

S1MS-16224-B / Blue GT350 S1MS-16224-C / White GT350
S8MS-16224-E / Black GT350 S7MS-16A224-B / Blue GT500
S7MS-16A224-E / White GT500 S8MS-16A224-B / Blue GT500 KR
S8MS-16A224-E / White GT500 KR S8MS-16A224-H / Black GT500 KR



Several other stripes were actually planned, but never used. These include Paxton stripes, Hertz stripes and a "GT500J". My best guess is the "GT500J" was the original version of the GT500 KR stripe.



"Rally" Stripes / LeMans Stripes

During 1968, the factory did not paint Rally stripes. AO Smith, the subcontractor, that built the cars had a very narrow set of restrictions and all cars were built to a standard. Rally stripes could have painted on by a dealer. I suspect this was quite rare. The stripes breakup the letters "SHELBY" on the nose and decklid.

I like to think of these stripes as "over-the-top".





Emblem placement

All GT350s and GT500s received the same emblem. It was a die cast metal coiled snake with the "COBRA" underneath. The factory attached a template to the fender to drill three holes. Each of these holes is for a barrel nut. The emblem was then pressed into place.

GT500 KR emblem seem to cause people the greatest trouble. These emblems used a two sided sticky adhesive to attach to the fenders. Let's take a look at how to properly postion the emblems.


This picture is an unrestored GT500 KR. Note the round zeros in the stripes and the height of the emblems.

Proper orientation

I recommend you stripe the car first. The rocker panel stripes will help align the fender emblems properly. The first thing you need to know is the snake is ALWAYS to the left of the "Cobra Jet 428" script when you look at the car.


I have drawn some lines on the emblems, to create an "emblem box". This box will help you postion the emblems on the fender.

The vertcial centerline of the emblem box should be centered on the "GT500 KR" script. The top horizontal line is 2.25 inches below the center of the fender highlight. Original cars varied slightly between 2.25 and 2.50 inches. The bottom of the Cobra snake is rounded. Be careful not to rotate the snake.

The tape in this picture is 2.25 inches high. The vertical centerline is marked on the tape in black. The "Cobra Jet 428" emblem is positioned as shown. After removing the guidelines, position the Cobra.


Here are the emblems in their proper locations.





This photograph shows yellow GT500 KRs at the factory. Take a closer look by clicking on the picture.




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