1968 Shelby GT500 Has A BMW V8 Heart

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For purists, just swapping an LS V8 into any Mustang is an offense, but putting a BMW V8 into this 1968 Shelby GT500 is a sin beyond forgiveness. Yet that’s exactly the kind of Frankenstein creation featured in this video out of South Africa.

This is one of the weirdest builds we’ve ever seen.

The engine was donated by a BMW E92 M3. Some would say that’s a thumping good mill, others think it’s overrated and not as good as some other M3 engines. It seems like plenty for the lightweight classic pony car.

There’s a surprising amount of mystery around this build. The reviewer guy says the dealer that has it for sale doesn’t know anything about who built it or when, nor how it came about. This is apparently a thing in South Africa? We don’t really know.

He does note not everything works well or even at all in the car. Whoever did put it together only cobbled some things in a makeshift manner, with some parts wobbling. The reviewer says when he pushes the Bimmer GT500 through turns it gets squirrely. And his power window doesn’t even roll down.

Of course, some of the BMW interior components had to be transplanted into the Shelby for everything to work correctly. That means the cabin isn’t anything like the original, further punctuating the restomod status of this GT500. Some hate such things, preferring faithful restorations. We kind of like it.

Don’t forget this car will get some BMW purists all worked up, too. After all, the engine is probably considered too good to be in a Ford, making the build complete trash or some other nonsense.

The guy doing this review says the build drives “just how an E92 M3 is supposed to drive.” Yet it looks like a ’68 Shelby GT500.

Images via Cars.co.za/YouTube