THE CARS OF CARROLL SHELBY

Carroll Shelby was a larger-than-life character known the world over for his work on the Shelby S/C Cobra, the Shelby G.T. 350 Mustang and his work with the legendary Ford GT40. From 1965 to 1973, Shelby and the Ford Motor Company were fairly intertwined with performance and business dealings. But did you know he was responsible for vehicles from (gasp!) other manufacturers? These even included Dodge, General Motors and Toyota. Among the notables: The 1967 Toyota Shelby 2000GT that just two years ago sold for a record-setting $2.54 million at auction.

Shelby created Shelby American in 1962 to build his cars in California. After a relocation, it became the first automobile manufacturer in Nevada. Today it builds continuation models of the AC Cobras, as well as the Shelby G.T. 350 and the 830+ horsepower Shelby Super Snake.

Here are a few other vehicles that were touched by the racer, builder, salesman, team manager and expert chili chef himself. You can become snake bit, too. They’re ready for a new home and are available at Hemmings.com today.

1963 Shelby Cobra 289

This example (CSX2136) is the first of six Le Mans production-spec cars built by Shelby American. It is complete with a 4.7-liter (289-cu.in.) Ford V-8, FIA hood scoop, 37-gallon fuel tank, flared fenders and magnesium wheels. Fully restored by Cobra expert Bill Murray, it enjoys an envious race history including seventh overall at the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans, and third overall in the GT Class. It eventually raced at Nassau and then returned to Shelby for a thorough rebuild. It was sold to Ed Leslie, who was a terror on the SCCA circuit where this Cobra continued to rack up trophies. Since 1992, it has mostly resided in museums and collections. It is offered for sale by Canepa in Scotts Valley, California.  

1966 Sunbeam Tiger Mk 1A

This well-kept Sunbeam Tiger is a perfect example of how Carroll Shelby would take any platform and stuff a large engine into it for a bit of excitement. Located in Orlando, Florida, it shows nearly 69,000 miles on the clock and has been upgraded from the standard 260 cubic inch V8 with a more potent 302-cu.in. crate motor and five-speed transmission. Disc brakes are now in place at every corner. The factory powertrain is included in the sale price. Originally based on the Sunbeam Alpine. Shelby American engineered the V-8 conversion, and nearly 7,100 Tigers were built at the Jensen factory in England. The car includes a Certificate of Authenticity from the Sunbeam Tiger Association authentication committee, which issued TAC number 1382. 

1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

This continuation series CSX9000 model is based on the original Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, as penned by the vehicle’s original designers, Peter Brock and Bob Negstad. Carroll Shelby wanted a more aerodynamic design that could compete with Ferrari, Aston Martin and Jaguar on the high-speed racecourses. The coupe designs were unstoppable, winning the 1965 FIA World Sportscar GT class. Constructed by Shelby American, the CSX9000 series has a larger passenger compartment than the originals, for added comfort. CSX9178 is powered by a Prestige Motorsports 427 small block Ford V-8 engine with Borla 8-stack fuel injection and a five-speed Tremec manual gearbox. The interior is fully dressed with air conditioning, sound deadening and an Alcantara headliner. It is eligible for the Shelby American Automobile Club Owner’s Registry and has only 223 miles on it. 

1965 Ford GT40

In 1965, Henry Ford II turned to Carroll Shelby for help in beating Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. If you saw “Ford vs Ferrari,” you already know how that turned out. This Ford GT40 is the original body from chassis GT40P1001, the Essex Wire entry which raced at Le Mans in 1966. It was rebuilt with mostly authenticated parts and with the addition of New Old Stock and “a few reproduction components,” according to the seller. The 289 Cleveland engine was originally from the 1967 Scuderia Filipinetti entry. This GT40 is decorated in the 1967 livery of the Sidney Taylor Racing Team. It includes an FIA Historic Technical Passport and is street legal. 

1967 Shelby G.T. 500

Listed as one of the last Shelby Mustangs before Ford took over production, this example is a 1967 model sporting number 404, meaning it was an early production model with inboard headlights. Under the hood is a 428 cubic inch Police Interceptor engine with two 4-barrel carburetors and a C-6 automatic transmission. Originally painted red, it now sports a Raven Black finish with white stripes. It shows, according to the seller, “raw power, iconic style and a whole lot of attitude.” The seller claims it is a “complete modified restoration,” which may contain modified, non-original parts.  

1996 Dodge Viper GTS

Carroll Shelby had a hand in creating the Dodge Viper when he was approached by then-Dodge honcho Bob Lutz about a sports car with modern engine technologies, a new-tech transmission, computer-aided design (CAD) and world-class tires. But the best part was there were no high-tech doodads to get in the way of pure performance. Shelby was instrumental in the Viper RT/10 and GTS Coupe development, the latter of which took design cues from the Peter Brock-designed Daytona Coupe. This example shows less than 5,700 miles on the odometer and maintains the original 450 hp/490 lb-ft V-10 engine. There are a few bubbles in the paint at the rocker panels, but the glass and seals are all in “excellent” condition. The interior shows just the slightest bit of wear, and all accessories including the air conditioning and Alpine audio system are said to be in good order. All-in-all this 1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe is in great shape and in need of a new residence.  

1999 Shelby Series 1

This example is one of 249 Series 1 cars built and illustrates the time Carroll Shelby took advantage of the General Motors parts bin. The mid-engined roadster features a carbon fiber-fiberglass laminate body over a modern aluminum chassis. It is powered by Oldsmobile’s 4.0-liter L47 Aurora V8 engine, making 320 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque. ZF’s 6-speed manual transaxle sends the power to the rear wheels. The Series 1 includes all the creature comforts of the day, including factory air conditioning, a Monsoon premium audio system and more. According to original specs, the Series 1 achieved 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds and a quarter mile time of 12.8 seconds at 112 mph. This Atlanta, GA-based piece of automotive history is ready to go today.

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2024-07-04T14:40:49Z dg43tfdfdgfd