Whatever you want to call them—clones, tributes, replicas—cars like this 1967 Shelby GT500 convertible are a wonderful thing. In this business, we understand the value of matching-numbers and pedigrees, but the thing is, enjoying a car with a pedigree is always fraught with risk. Damage a matching-numbers engine, and, well, you just lost 30% of the car’s value. And if you want to tweak a few things to your liking, doing it on an original car is probably a mistake. So when this Shelby was built, it was with an eye towards keeping everything that people love about the big block Shelbys and adding a few upgrades to make it an eminently usable car that can be enjoyed at any level without a second thought. Drive it, show it, whatever, this gorgeous ragtop is a great choice. Such is the appeal of the tribute car.

Built in 2010 by the craftsmen at RK Motors in Charlotte, it was never intended to be a genuine Shelby GT500, although the illusion is pretty compelling. It is beautifully built and is powered by one of the most legendary powerplants of the era: Ford’s 427 cubic inch “Side Oiler” V8. The heart of the legendary Cobra works equally well in the GT500 and, in fact, there were a handful of 1967 Shelby GT500s built with 427 engines, with these cars now sitting at the very top of the Shelby Mustang food chain. The last one we saw traded hands at auction for somewhere north of $300,000. And if you’re not familiar with RK Motors, the important thing to realize is that they’re also part of a NASCAR race team, so the guys who built this car are the same ones who build reliable race machines that hammer the big ovals every Sunday. This is not a home-made car built by amateurs, but a pro-built car with an exceptional level of fit and finish that shows in every single detail. And with only 2800 miles or so on the build, it’s still quite fresh.

Starting with a super-clean C-code 1967 Mustang convertible certainly made the transition easy. We have restoration and build photos that show a very nice burgundy ragtop being stripped bare, put on a rotisserie, and rebuilt from there. The restoration was extremely well-done, worthy of a genuine GT500 convertible that would cost twice as much as this one does. They added Shelby-spec pieces, most notably the fiberglass hood and deck lid, which fit beautifully and don’t move around in the sun like the original parts. In fact, no Shelby built in Los Angeles ever looked this good and fit together this well. There’s obviously a ton of time wrapped up in the finish work, with great gaps, a beautiful deep finish on the PPG Candyapple Red two-stage urethane paint, and expert panel alignment that makes this car really stand out. They intentionally chose to make it a “stripe delete” model so that the unique Shelby bodywork could speak for itself, but there are proper rocker stripes and GT500 call-outs, just in case anyone has trouble figuring out what it is. You’ll also note details like the quarter panel scoops, the center-mounted high-beams (which were outlawed almost immediately back in 1967), and, of course, the 1965 Thunderbird taillights that were a Shelby trademark and really give the Mustang a distinctive look. Finish it with a few correct emblems, a GT500 gas cap, and a set of hood pins, and you have a car that’s just a set of wheels and tires away from being a very authentic-looking Shelby.

The interior has a few resto-mod upgrades, all designed to make the car easier to drive, more comfortable, and safer given its upgraded performance potential. The biggest change are those handsome ProCar bucket seats, which look right in the vintage Mustang’s cockpit. But they did more than just replace the seats; check out how the rear bench was upholstered to match, as well as the custom door panels, all of which give this ersatz Shelby a far more complete and polished look than many of the resto-mods out there. As with the best customs, it’s tough to see where the stock stuff ends and the modified stuff begins. A fat Shelby-spec wood-rimmed steering wheel warms things up and the factory instrument panel was filled with white-faced Auto Meter dials to monitor all the vitals. An upgraded AM/FM/CD stereo slots neatly into the original AM radio’s location and powers speakers in the kick panels. Those of you with sharp eyes will also note that the shifter now shows five forward gears instead of four, complements of a Tremec TKO 5-speed manual gearbox, which is a joy to row. There’s light clutch action with just a bit of chatter at low speeds, but I bet that’ll go away with a bit more use and familiarity. Add in new carpets, a fresh dash pad, and that Shelby-style roll bar and you get a very convincing vintage Mustang that’s more than the sum of its parts. Overhead there’s a black canvas power convertible top that fits well and latches without any grunting and groaning, and stows under a matching black boot. The trunk is also neatly finished with black carpets and a relocated battery, which frees up much-needed space under the hood for that thundering 427.

Yes, it’s a real-deal 427. Fully rebuilt by the same guys who build NASCAR motors, it’s got the right look, the right sound, and the right performance for a car like this. With a balanced rotating assembly, a seasoned side-oiler block, and Ford Blue paint, it’s very much like it would have been back in 1967. However, it does sport upgrades like a set of Edelbrock aluminum heads, a matching Performer RPM intake manifold, and a big Holley 4-barrel up top. Comp Cams delivered the valvetrain, so it has a bit of a lope but doesn’t get cranky at low speeds and it fires up almost instantly every time. A Cobra dress-up kit is practically mandatory on a car like this and looks fantastic in the satin black engine bay. You’ll also note a giant BeCool aluminum radiator with electric fans, a heavy-duty shock tower brace with adjustable heim joints, and a full MSD ignition system to light it up. Thanks to extensive dyno tuning, this burly big block is remarkably street-friendly, starting without drama and content to sit in traffic without loading up. In fact, that’s one of the most impressive things about this car: it is extremely easy to drive despite being a 1960s horsepower factory.

The aforementioned Tremec 5-speed is linked to a custom-made driveshaft and a Moser 9-inch rear end with 3.70 gears inside, and thanks to the overdrive transmission, you really do get the best of both worlds. The car lunges off the line, but contentedly cruises at 75 MPH without buzzing your eardrums. Long-tube ceramic-coated headers feed a custom exhaust system that uses stock-style mufflers, so it’s muscular without being too loud and the polished chrome tips look downright awesome. The entire underside has been covered in spray-on bedliner material that’s both indestructible and easy to maintain, yet hides nothing so you can see that the original floors and gussets remain in outstanding condition. Subframe connectors are a good idea on any drop-top Mustang, and the suspension is fortified with tubular front A-arms, a power rack-and-pinion steering system, Shelby-style traction bars in back, and a giant sway bar at both ends. Giant Wilwood disc brakes with 4-piston calipers live at each corner, so it’s pretty tough to get in over your head with this car. Of course, the basics are all-new, too, including the gas tank, lines and hoses, and bushings. Finally, those gorgeous 17-inch Halibrand-style wheels give it a Shelby look with modern rubber, in this case, 245/40/17 Goodyear meats.

We have extensive photos of the entire build, but this car really speaks for itself. It’s beautifully built, very fast, but restrained in its execution. It also rides comfortable, starts and idles well, and has a look that gets everyone’s attention. That’s what we’d call a no-compromises muscle car.