Small Engines, Big Power
Throughout the 1980s Carroll Shelby and his team utilized turbocharging as a way to increase the power and performance of the Dodge engines. The concept car pictured here with Shelby was just one of a number of Dodges. During Shelby’s time with Chrysler, a total of 22 different Shelby Dodge or Dodge Shelby models were […]
Shelby And Iaccoca Together Again
After his move to Chrysler Corporation, Lee Iacocca wanted to establish the Dodge Division as the company’s performance division. To accomplish his objective he enlisted Carroll Shelby to make it happen.
Carroll Shelby On His Ranch
Carroll Shelby loved to spend time at his ranch located in Pittsburg, Texas. Here in East Texas, he could enjoy his horses, raise Kobe beef cattle and relax with his family. He especially looked forward to spending time with his grand children away from the rigors of all the business activity that consumed his life.
Exploring Africa
After a lifetime of racing and building world famous performance cars, Carroll Shelby decided to take some time off and go to Africa to explore, rest and enjoy the varied landscape and animals on that continent. It was a quiet time for Shelby who became refreshed and began thinking creating new and exciting ventures.
Carroll At His Desk
Even though Carroll Shelby had “retired” from the automobile business, he did not retire from the business world. During the 1970s, Shelby expanded his Goodyear Tire distributor, providing more and more racers with the latest Goodyear tires. He also founded the Shelby Wheel Company that produced performance wheels for a variety of vehicles. During his […]
Trans Am Domination
In 1966, the Sports Car Club of America created a new racing series called the Trans-American Sedan Championship, or Trans-Am series. This gave Ford Motor Company another opportunity to build a performance image for Mustang. The Shelby-built cars and teams won championships in 1966 and 1967. Shelby American-built Mustangs earned more victories in the 1968 […]
Driver, Manager, Owner
Carroll Shelby selected only the finest, world class drivers for the Cobra and Ford endurance racing programs. Pictured here with Dan Gurney during the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring, as they discuss the performance of Gurney’s Ford GT.
The Ford GT Program
In early 1965, Ford handed over a struggling Ford GT racing program to Carroll Shelby and his band of hot rodders. In just a few short months, Shelby American had transformed the Ford GT from a corporate loser to instant winner. Winning both international endurance races at Daytona and Sebring. By 1966 the Shelby American […]
World Champion Daytona Coupe
To beat Ferrari on the very fast European race circuits, Shelby American needed a more aerodynamic Cobra. Shelby American employee Peter Brock designed the coupe body. The Cobra Coupe debuted at Daytona International Raceway and the press named the it the “Daytona Coupe.” During the years the Daytona Coupe raced, it proved to be the […]
Cobras Dominated The Racetracks Of America
Carroll Shelby stands proudly with three of his competition Cobras. The 289 Cobra roadsters beat their main competition, the Chevrolet Corvette, across America, building a strong performance image for the Cobra brand and Shelby American.
