Shelby

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Carbon Fiber options for the Shelby GT500

I’m a big fan of clear carbon fiber on a car, and while I’m a Lamborghini guy, I don’t really like their Forged Composite lightweight material, it looks add, I’m old-fashioned, just give me a nice, old school carbon fiber weave with a satin or high gloss topcoat and I’m happy.

So when Ford Performance Parts released some amazing clear carbon fiber parts for the already impressive Mustang Shelby^® GT500^®, they got my attention, I rather like a GT500, I think it really is an impressive Ford Mustang, these amazing looking carbon fiber parts were shown at the GT500 track tour event at Texas International Speedway outside Dallas.

In total there are four carbon fiber parts being available now, a front hood vent and rain tray kit ($1,185), front lower spoiler replacement complete with undertray ($1,820), complemented by a stunning front bumper insert ($1,150) and a very nice rear decklid trim panel that fits between the taillights ($575).

“Authenticity and personalization are what our Mustang Shelby GT500 customers want, and our new carbon fiber performance accessories provide an elevated track-proven look from every angle,” said Mark Wilson, Ford North America vehicle personalization, planning, and operations manager. “Beyond leveraging this high-performance material to reduce weight, we track-tested and validated its durability at Ford Performance Racing School in North Carolina.”

Most of the carbon fiber parts achieve a reduction of almost 50% on the standard parts they replace, in total 9 pounds gets taken from the original weight of the GT500, these new parts provide additional authentic carbon fiber options for Shelby GT500 buyers to supplement the existing Shelby GT500 Carbon Fiber Track Package, which includes 20-inch carbon fiber wheels, an exposed carbon-fiber instrument panel and GT4 track wing, splitter wickers and more.

GT500 and Shelby are registered trademarks of Carroll Hall Shelby Trust.

April 17, 2021 / Comments Off

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Kirkham Motorsports Copper 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C

If you come across a 1965 Shelby Cobra, it’s a sight to behold. If it happens to have a hand-formed 100% copper body, that much more so. The folks at Kirkham Motorsports built the body…

The post Kirkham Motorsports Copper 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C first appeared on Cool Material.

Shelby Super Snake Speedster

The 2021 Shelby Super Snake comes with 825 hp from the supercharged 5.0-Liter Coyote V8 engine and is listed from $133,785 with a base model from Ford, the Mustang GT with a manual transmission … if you get in touch with the Shelby Sales team you can even buy a $79,995 package to fit on your existing Ford Mustang GT (from the 2018 model on), but for the Shelby 2021 edition of their Super Snake they’ve come up with something new: a limited edition ‘Speedster’ option.

If Carroll Shebly would still be alive today, he would be celebrating his 98th birthday, to celebrate this, there will be only 98 units of the Shelby Super Snake built in the United States, but only 25 Speedster versions will be available, each branded with a unique CSM number, and all of them will be included in the Official Shelby Registry.

Not only will you get a supercharged Ford 5-Liter V8 engine capable of reaching 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, but the modified Shelby suspension and Brembo sourced brakes allow this car to be driven at higher cornering speeds with improved stability, Shelby even offers a caster camber kit to get behind those amazing 20-inch monoblock forged wheels.

The Shelby Super Snake Speedster can be built with either a manual or an automatic gearbox, while a Borla exhaust made to Shelby specifications allows you to listen to the music while driving topless and being seated in some amazingly detailed seats, complete with ‘Super Snake’ embroidery, naturally the interior features the bespoke CMS badge.

While a factory Ford Mustang GT already looks good, after a stint from Shelby she looks amazing, thanks to aluminum front fenders, naturally in a wide-body version, a ram-air hood to keep that supercharged V8 cool, a different front bumper and air intake, new side sills and naturally the rear gets a bigger wing, a new tail panel that proudly shows ‘Shelby’, and an aggressive diffuser to suit the sound from the big-bore exhaust.

“The new Speedster is stunning, from a styling perspective, there is simply nothing like it on the road. With the widebody option, it’s a rare combination of sleek elegance and American muscle machismo. This is the automotive equivalent of a powerful heavyweight boxer fitted into a stylish, fine suit. And with only 98 available in the US, it will be ultra-rare.” Gary Patterson, president of Shelby American

To create the Shelby Super Snake Speedster limited edition you’ll need to start with a Ford Mustang GT Convertible, onto which Shelby fits their custom Speedster Tonneau, she will also come with a striping package unique to the Speedster version, and naturally the obligatory floor mats and door sill plates with the ‘Speedster Edition’ logo.

March 16, 2021 / Comments Off

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Copper Cobra

I don’t know about you, but I rather like the idea of shoehorning a massive V8 engine into a small, lightweight car to create a supercar, and that’s exactly what happened when Caroll Shelby created the 427 S/C Cobra Semi-Competition model back in the Sixties, we’ve covered a few of these cars earlier already, but now we came across something a bit different.

1965 Shelby 427 S/C Cobra ‘CSX 4602’ ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

You might wonder about the chassis number listed here, CSX 4602, that seems a bit high no? Well, it isn’t, because in the 90s Carroll Shelby started building ‘continuation’ cars, new Cobra models that came with a CSX 4xxx chassis to distinguish them from the classic 1960s originals, but still recognized as ‘real’ Shelby Cobra cars.

These continuation Cobra were built in Las Vegas, Nevada, on brand new frames to be fitted with either a fiberglass or an aluminum body, before being painted and usually fitted with those trademark racing stripes running from the front to the rear … but there were exceptions, as is evident on chassis CSX 4602 we see here.

This one is made strictly on commission by Kirkham Motorsports of Provo, Utah, which takes a rolling chassis from Shelby and builds his own body, still in the style of the original 60s cars, but made from copper instead of the usual aluminum … painstakingly hand-formed, this Copper Cobra uses 17 panels joined together to create this famous shape, and it’s done at such a high level of craftsmanship you can’t even see the seams anymore.

Chassis CSX 4602 is finished in a high-gloss, polished copper body, but Kirkham had the famous pair of LeMans stripes brushed to offset them from the glistering body, extremely nice, this is also known as ‘ghost stripes’ I’ve been told, and while your fellow drivers on the open road might not like you very much on a sunny day, this is a stunning car nonetheless.

Naturally, the car rolls on the classic, 15-inch Halibrand-style wheels with the required knock-off fitting, and to make the classic look complete, a set of ‘billboard’ Goodyear Eagle tires with the massive scripting on the side, this isn’t a restomod look, this is the original 1960s look they are going for here.

But there is nothing ‘1960s’ about the engine, chassis CSX 4602 comes with a brand new Carroll Shelby Engine Company, hand-built 468-cubic inch ‘427 FE’ V-8 engine that delivers 550 hp (580 lb-ft of torque) via a 5-speed transmission to the rear wheels, given this Copper Cobra weighs in at only 2,400 pound, you are happy to learn they fitted some strong disk brakes to help master that much power on so little weight.

This amazing, shiny Copper Cobra is currently listed for private sale via RM Sotheby’s at $475,000, located in New York.

March 11, 2021 / Comments Off

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Carroll Shelby’s 1965 Daytona Coupe

It seems we come across several Cobra’s owned or closely related to Carroll Shelby lately, only a while ago we published an article on the only surviving 1966 SHELBY COBRA 427 SUPER SNAKE, a few weeks before that we featured Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra that just sold for $5,940,000 at an auction in January 2021, and now we find yet another milestone car: a 1965 Daytona Coupe that was commissioned by Carroll Shelby himself on an original 1960s roadster chassis.

But chassis CSX 2469 comes with a story, it didn’t start life as a Daytona Coupe … let me explain this: back in 1964 a prototype for the Cobra related Daytona Coupe was built in the United States, more precisely at the Shelby American race shop in Venice, California, on chassis CSX 2287. The first race won by a Daytona Coupe was with this very car in the GT Class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1964, she would continue to rack up an impressive race history at Daytona, Sebring, Reims, Spa Francorchamps, Oulton Park TT, Le Mans, Tour de France, and on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

At the Bonneville Salt Flats, chassis CSX 2287 set 25 USAC/FIA world records in November 1965, after that the car was reconditioned and sold. CSX2287 was preserved and mechanically reconditioned, but not restored, to become part of the permanent collection at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, PA, USA

Five more ‘original’ Daytona Coupe were built in Modena, Italy by Carrozzeria Gransport, after a phone call from Carroll Shelby to his friend Alejandro de Tomaso if he didn’t know someone in Italy to build these Coupes, as all engineers in the US were supporting the roadster race cars after completing the first prototype. Carrozzeria Gransport would use chassis CSX 2299, CSX 2300, CSX2601, and CSX 2602. Just to get your head around some of the values of these cars, chassis CSX 2300 sold for $4,400,000 at an RM Auction back in August 2000, yes over 20 years ago, while chassis CSX 2601 did even better in 2009 when she changed hands for $7,250,000.

The final Daytona Coupe was built on chassis CSX 2286 after it was kept at the Shelby American race shop to be used as a template for the other four chassis, CSX 2286 and CSX 2287 were built side by side in 1964, the latter one would get the Daytona Coupe body installed, and CSX 2286 was used to modify the other four chassis when they came from the UK before they would be sent to Italy to receive their coupe body, Shelby wanted six cars to compete, so he sent chassis CSX 2286 as the last one to Carrozzeria Gransport.

So what’s up with chassis CSX 2469 then? On the FIA official paperwork for this car, she is listed as a 1964 G.T.Coupe that has been restored in 1997, but the original V8 engine with a capacity of 4,727cc (289ci) received a longer stroke to end up being 4,868cc (297ci) now, and an electronic MSD ignition was fitted … the sound from this engine must be amazing as they fitted a factory spec Daytona exhaust system.

Chassis CSX 2469 has a very impressive racing history as a roadster, with drivers like Phil Hill, Derek Hill, Derek Bell, John Morton, and Brian Redman, this Cobra took the win at Laguna Seca and Goodwood before Carroll Shelby commissioned McCluskey to convert this car into a Daytona Coupe in the Nineties.

This one-off is now listed for sale by Worldwide Auctioneers, by the owner who bought her from Carroll Shelby himself, this is documented by paperwork from Carroll Shelby Enterprises, the car is also listed in the Shelby Registry off course, since there is no estimate listed online it is hard to tell how much this rare Daytona Coupe recreation is worth.

Just remember she is built on a real Cobra chassis, she is owned and has been driven by Carroll Shelby himself, it is not just another replica, so while she might not reach the value of one of the five original Daytona Coupe, I’m sure this one won’t change hands for a small amount of money, this car will be in the higher, seven-figures price range.

March 8, 2021 / Comments Off

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1966 SHELBY COBRA 427 SUPER SNAKE

I have to admit, I rather like the Shelby Cobra, putting a massive V8 engine into a lightweight body, styled like these are … a Cobra looks sexy. And they are demanding a serious bank account to add to your garage, just read up on our story on Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra Chassis CSX3178, that sold for $5,940,000 at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in January 2021 … but this one might fetch an even higher bid at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in late March .

This car is a unique Cobra, CSX 3015 is one of only 23 original 427 Competition Roadster, and it is the only surviving 1966 Super snake, back in 2015 this specific car sold for $5,100,000 at auction, we’re six years down the road now, so chances are this Guardsman Blue beauty will be even more expensive this time around.

Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson:

“This is the ultimate, it was made to go kick Ferrari’s ass on the street after just doing it on the track.”

Not only does this specific Shelby Cobra come with a 427ci V8 engine, it also has two Paxton superchargers fitted by Caroll Shelby himself, because of the massive power, he also had to fit a 3-speed automatic transmission … this Super Snake was fast … extremely fast … 190 mph is no problem at all behind the wheel of this Super Snake.

Chassis CSX 3015 was actually shipped to the UK in September 1965, together with CSX 3014 and two R-model Shelbys, both CSX chassis were original 427 Competition roadsters, these didn’t have mufflers, nor a windshield, nor any bumpers, these were Competition models, race cars … and these weren’t street legal.

The CSX 3015 came back from Europe in late 1966, still in her factory original Competition form, but in 1967 Caroll Shelby turned her into a Super Snake, and turned her into a Cobra 427 SC model (for Semi-Competition), adding mufflers and a windshield, thus making the car legal to drive on the open road. In fact all Cobra 427 SC models were street-legal, but most of them only saw a track during their lifetime.

There was a second Super Snake built, based on a 1967 427 road car, chassis CSX 3303 was initially a public relations car, but Shelby America converted her into a Super Snake too, sold to a dealer in San Fransisco after which she ended up with Tony Maxey … unfortunately both Tony and CSX 3303 got involved in a serious, lethal accident, the car was a total-loss, which makes CSX 3015 the only Super Snake in the world.

Today chassis CSX 3015 is considered a genuine Competition roadster with original body (which is different from other Cobra 427 SC models), and includes the 1967 Super Snake hood, the Girling CR and BR calipers are still date coded to 1965, and the original 377 rear end with oil cooler and pumps are genuine 427 Competition spec.

The 5m17 427ci V8 engine block is date-coded to December 17, 1965, with the original headers and those impressive, chrome side pipes … the estimate for this unique Cobra 427 Super Snake is set between $5,000,000 and $8,000,000 … and I couldn’t have put it any better than Craig Jackson himself, when he stated:

“This car is a very special car, it’s Carroll’s personal car, one he built for himself. You just don’t get any rarer than that.”

February 20, 2021 / Comments Off

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The multi-million dollar Shelby 427 Cobra

We all know one of the original Shelby 427 Cobra from the Sixties is a very expensive car to park in your garage, but how does $5,940,000 sound to you? A bit expensive? Perhaps, but the 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra Roadster that fetched this high bid at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction in January 2021 wasn’t a normal Cobra from the Sixties.

1965 Shelby 427 Cobra – Photo copyright Mecum Auctions

Chassis CSX3178 was in fact Carroll Shelby’s personal 427 Cobra, she was built in March 1966 and went directly to Carroll, and he kept onto this stunning dark grey metallic beauty (one of only five in this shade) for the rest of his life. The Mecum listing mentions “The Shelby American work order specifying ‘Build 427 Street Cobra CSX3178’ was opened on January 7, 1966, and closed on March 3, when it was shipped to Carroll Shelby’s Dallas home sporting a 427 with dual quads and a 4-speed Toploader transmission.”

But the car would change a lot over time, in 1972 Mike McCluskey restored the car, painted it in Guardsman Blue with a gold nose. Later the car was modified with an aluminum-head 427 side-oiler V8 coupled to an automatic gearbox, while in 2002 the car was again repainted, this time in bright red.

Legendary Motorcar Company got the task of performing a concourse level restoration after the car was sold from the Carroll Shelby estate in 2016, CSX3178 went back to wear her Charcoal painted dress, got the original 427 V8 engine back, including the four-speed transmission, just like she was finished back in March of 1966.

Carroll Shelby also owned chassis CSX2000, which was a small-block Cobra that changed hands recently for $14,000,000, but CSX3178 was the only car Carroll held onto until he passed away, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a real piece of Shelby Cobra history, the new owner just had to spend almost $6,000,000 to be able to add her to his collection, I’m sure he will have several other interesting cars in his collection.

January 26, 2021 / Comments Off

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1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster: History, Specifications, & Performance

Introduction

Birth of the Cobra

The Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster is arguably the most famous and relevant of all the automotive legends. In 1962, the Shelby Cobra (or AC Cobra, in the UK) wrote its storied beginnings as a collaboration between Ford and British automaker AC with the release of the first production Cobra known as the CSX2001 / Mark I.

In the early 1960s, Ford endeavored to build a car that would oust the Chevrolet Corvette as the USA’s most significant sports car. The American automaker was well prepared to take on their local rival and had already produced the engine they would take to the fight – a new, lightweight, thin-wall cast small-block 3.6L V8. However, they still needed a chassis to go along with the powerplant.

Here enters the charismatic Carroll Shelby – financially backed by Ford for this venture – who recognized the racing success of the AC Ace in the late 1950s and would end up brokering an agreement with the Britons who would manufacture a chassis based on the Ace, which Ford would then use its fledgling V8 engine to breathe life into.

Although the Ace was an aging design near the end of its life cycle, its lightweight structure would become the ideal complement in creating one of the greatest American sports cars ever made over the next few years. Thus, the Shelby Cobra was born; and the rest, as they say, is history.

Shelby Cobra 427

By 1963, the Cobra was subject to its first major design refresh (Mark II) and in 1965, a new chassis was designed (Mark III) for what would become the platform for the Cobra 427. Production of the Mark III Cobras began early in 1965, with the goal of homologation for the racing season that year.

However, only 53 out of the 100 required for homologation were produced by the time the deadline had passed, leaving Carroll Shelby with a fleet of non-road-legal, competition race cars which could not be sold or raced. He decided that the best recourse was to modify 31 of the competition cars to be allowed for road use, fitting them with windshields and detuning the engines.

These variants became known as the S/C – an abbreviation for ‘Semi-Competition’ – and would go on to become the fastest production cars in the world at that time. Today, original and mint condition examples of the S/C are sold for more than $2 million USD.

Engine & Performance

Specifications:

Engine Type & Size: Front-mounted 7.0L (427 cu. in.) Naturally Aspirated V8
Horsepower: 410 bhp (485 bhp in Competition Model) @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 480 lb-ft @ 3,700 rpm
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel Drive
Transmission: Four-speed Borg-Warner Manual Transmission
0-60 mph: 4.2 seconds

The Shelby Cobra 427 gets its moniker from the 7.0L (427 cu. in.) Ford FE V8 engine it uses. This single 4-barrel 780 CFM Holley carbureted engine was originally designed to be used in race cars, with its most notable feature being its ‘side oiler’ design which prioritized oil distribution to the crankshaft and main bearings before the oil made its way to the cylinder head and valve train.

Ford produced two versions of the FE V8 for the Mark III Cobra – the standard version which produced 410 bhp @ 6,000 rpm and 480 lb-ft of torque @ 3,700 rpm, and the competition version which output an additional 75 bhp, for a total of 485 bhp.

Due to traction limitations, both engines propelled the Cobra from 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds and enabled it to complete the standing ¼ mile in just 12.4 seconds. However, the extra horsepower in the competition version did allow for a higher top speed of 185 mph vs. the standard version’s 164 mph.

Chassis, Handling, & Design

When it came to power and displacement, it was no secret that Americans strongly believed that more was always better. Acutely aware of this, Carroll Shelby knew that his biggest challenge with the 427 would be to find an acceptable common ground in the marriage of the 7.0L monster engine and the lightweight damsel of an AC chassis.

The Mark III chassis would continue to be largely based on the original AC schematic, with the overall design elements of the car remaining largely intact. Under Ford’s direction, the new chassis would continue to be produced by AC and would feature a variety of changes deemed necessary to accommodate the engine’s significant displacement boost.

The most notable improvements included bolstering the main chassis frame with 4” diameter tubing, up from the 3” tubing used before. On the exterior, new fenders were installed to house the now wider wheel track of the Mark III Cobra, while a reimagined front bumper provided a larger opening for the front radiator. These changes also gave the new Cobra a more aggressive appearance, befitting of its improved-self.

As far as the suspension was concerned, the transverse leaf springs were replaced with coil springs for the Mark III, although the use of equal length wishbones was carried over from the original chassis.

Based on these specifications, Ford received the first shipment of unpainted Mark III chassis from AC in October of 1964, allowing Carroll Shelby and his team their first opportunity in figuring out how to fit the engine and transmission in; which they did so, in January of 1965.

Variants

AC 289 Sports

The Mark III Cobra was designed with, mostly, Americans in mind, with its 427 cu. in. engine at the forefront of the new platform. Though chassis producer AC was obviously on board with Ford for this new venture, they had realized there were broader markets in places like Europe, Australia and internationally that would be much more receptive to a more road-friendly, and economical version of the car.

They had the Mark III chassis fitted with a small block Ford 289 cu. in. V8 engine. This ended up producing an incredibly balanced sports car which didn’t overwhelm the dextrous chassis with a robust engine. It was a hybrid of British chassis and American muscle which highlighted the best elements of each.

Dragon Snake

Recognizing the popularity of drag racing in America, Shelby introduced a drag package known as ‘Dragon Snake’, which fitted the car with a ¼-mile-winning arsenal made especially for straight-line racers.

This equipment included a 3.77 rear end, Koni shocks, a roll bar, shoulder harnesses and in some of the models, a 289 cu. in. engine. Each example was made to order and highly customizable, where clients could opt for different ‘stages’ which each came with its own selection of options.

The Dragon Snake won several NHRA National events with Bruce Larson or Ed Hedrick at the wheel. Only six of the 289 cu. in. Dragon Snake Cobras were built, making them amongst the rarest Cobras in existence. There are said to be 8 built in total.

Slalom Snake

The Slalom Snake version of the Cobra was designed with auto-cross events in mind, with notable upgrades including Koni struts, front and rear anti-roll bars and Goodyear Blue Streak Sports Car Special tires.

These are also extremely rare, with only two examples were produced. Both cars were finished in white exterior paint with red racing stripes down the middle, and red leather interiors. Each of the two owners opted for some bespoke features such as a hood scoop, side exhaust and a painted roll bar, which would have been amongst the only distinguishing features between the two.

Super Snake

In 1966, Carroll Shelby embarked on a mission to create the “Cobra to End All Cobras”. He had an S/C version converted into a special model which was called the Super Snake. As the mission objective clearly reveals, this Shelby would become the fastest and most brutal yet, thanks in large part to the addition of Twin Paxton Superchargers.

Other modifications include the use of the racing rear end, brakes and headers that were used in the competition car, though the car remained road-legal since it was based primarily on S/C infrastructure.

Only two examples were made, with one given to Carroll Shelby’s close friend and comedian Bill Cosby. He would end up returning the car shortly after, remarking that the car was “too difficult to control”. The second car was used as Shelby’s personal car which he would sometimes enter into local races or shows.

Pricing

The price of the Shelby Cobra 427 brand new in 1965 was around $7,500 USD. However, other than being a historical tidbit, that information has become vastly insignificant when the economics come into play today.

Such is the car – so rich in history and exceptional in nature – that the prices of original Shelby Cobras at auction in recent years have become out of this world. It is common to see Mark III Cobras with a strike price starting at $800,000 USD with the more rare versions such as the S/C models, going for north of $2 million USD.

Then there are the truest of unicorns; the Super Snake which auctioned in 2007 for $5.3 million USD, and the very first Shelby Cobra ever made, going for a record $13.75 million USD (for an American car) in 2016!

Here is an article by RCN Magazine which lists some of the most expensive Shelby Cobras ever sold.

Performance & Specifications Summary

Model & Pricing Info

Make	Shelby
Model	Cobra
Sub-model	427
Car type	Roadster
Introduced	1965
Units built	343

Chassis, Suspension & Powertrain

Curb Weight	1,035 kg / 2,282 lbs
Layout	Longitudinal Front Engine, Rear-wheel drive
Cooling	Water-cooled
Body / Frame	Aluminum over Tubular Steel Frame
Suspension (F)	Equal Length Wishbones w/ Coil Springs over Dampers
Suspension (R)	Equal Length Wishbones w/ Coil Springs over Dampers
Steering	Rack-and-pinion
Brakes	(F) Discs, 297 mm (R) Discs, 273 mm
Transmission	4-speed Manual

Engine, Output & Performance

Engine	V8
Displacement (Litres)	427 cu. in. (7.0 L)
Aspiration	Naturally Aspirated
Power (hp)	416 bhp @ 6,000 rpm
Power (hp) / liter	59.4 hp / liter
Power (hp) / weight	0.40 hp / kg
Torque	480 lb-ft @ 3,700 rpm
0-60 mph time	4.2 seconds
¼ Mile (standing)	12.4 seconds
Top Speed	164 mph (264 km/h)

Gallery & Videos

Image Gallery

The Shelby Cobra 427 is a car that has an unmistakable appearance. Its race-derived, British-made tubular chassis would become the platform on which one of the world’s most iconic cars was built. Boasting its flared wheel arches, a bulging stern, and a low stance with meaty tires, the car’s presence is one that is menacing but also somewhat elegant in nature.

Over the years, there have been many copy cats which have ranged in quality from atrocious to outstanding; which in any case, speaks volumes about the fascination and allure this car commands. It is truly one of the most recognizable and timeless designs of an automobile, and will only continue to enthrall us for perpetuity.

Video Gallery

One of the better video reviews of the Shelby Cobra on YouTube was done by a channel called Vehicle Virgins. While the chosen video title is “THIS 1965 SHELBY COBRA IS FASTER THAN A LAMBORGHINI”, the reviewer also remarks that the car “handles a lot better than I was expecting.”

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ThatDudeinBlue was lucky enough to have Superformance in California invite him to drive one of their Shelby AC Cobras for the chance of a lifetime. Built under the approval and certification of Shelby themselves, these cars are built completely from scratch in house down to the millimeter.

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Donut Media tells us everything we need to know about Shelby the company, and its namesake founder Mr. Carroll Shelby. It is an informative and humorous documentary which chronicles the journey of the man – and his company – during his quest to attain sports car hegemony.

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Car and Driver – November 1965 Issue

1965 Shelby Cobra 427

Not long ago, the Cobra 427 would have been the hot setup on any race track. Now it’s a civilized street machine!

From the November 1965 issue of Car and Driver

JESSE ALEXANDER

Several years ago, the manufacturers of a posh British grand touring car got a fair amount of mileage out of the claim that their vehicle could accelerate from 0–100 mph and brake to a complete stop in less than 25 seconds.

This was indeed an impressively brief period of time during which all that change of velocity happened, but automotive development has come a long way since then and today perhaps half a dozen production cars of one kind or another can perform on that level. What’s more, there are several automobiles being produced in the United States that will breakthrough that arbitrary 25-second barrier like the Germans through the Maginot Line. One is the 427 Sting Ray; another, most certainly, is the new 427 Cobra from Shelby American.

Alright, you say, if 25 seconds from 0–100–0 isn’t so hot anymore, what the hell is? Twenty seconds?

Forget twenty seconds.

How about 18 seconds?

Not too bad, but the Cobra can do better.

How much better, wise guy?

How about maybe 14.5 seconds? Get that, 14.5 seconds to accelerate to 100 miles an hour and then stop again. Until something better comes along, that may have to stand as some sort of high watermark in performance for cars that are readily available to the general public.

That figure, mind you, is obtainable by the average Cobra driver with the regular 8.15 x 15 Goodyear Blue Dot street tires. Cobra test driver Ken Miles has done the job in as little as 13.8 seconds, and who knows how much improvement could be made with racing tires that would nullify some of the tremendous wheel spin?

The 427 Cobra does accelerate and decelerate at unbelievable rates, as the above figures should imply. What’s more, it is a more civilized machine than the original 289 Cobra that brought the fabulous Shelby organization into being four years ago. It handles properly, thanks to a completely new all-independent suspension system that is traceable to the deft hand of Klaus Arning, the Ford Motor Company genius responsible for the impeccable handling of the Ford GT.

Everyone at Shelby is more than candid about admitting that the handling of the original Cobra was considerably less than optimum. In fact, C/D was once informed by a Shelby lieutenant that the old tubular AC chassis had considerably less torsional rigidity than the rail frame of a Model T! Coupled with this flexible frame was an antiquated suspension system, designed in the post-war years, that utilized leaf springs and lower wishbones.

One staff member recalls a particularly painful day in southern California when he was outrun down a bumpy orange grove lane by an MG 1100. “There I was, with all that Cobra horsepower, and the rear wheels were bouncing and leaping around so badly that I could barely keep the beast on the road, much less catch up to the MG. It was terrible!”

August 2, 2019 / Comments Off

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Ford and SIXT Team Up for Shelby GT-S Rental Car

For When You Need a 600 HP Rental Car

Ford and Hertz are usually the two companies putting out some killer rental car, but now the rental car company SIXT wants in on the game. Ford worked with the company to come up with a new version of its Mustang muscle car. The result was the Shelby GT-S. It’s a supercharged orange and black rocket of a muscle car.

Under the hood of the Shelby GT-S lurks a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine. The makes 600 hp and is mated to Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission. That transmission forces all that power to the rear wheels. If you want to do an awesome burnout in your rental car, we know what you should get.

In addition to the engine, the car gets retuned suspension, a cat-back exhaust, Brembo brakes. The exterior has been revamped, too. The hood features what’s called a “deep draw” for air intake. The fascia has been refined a little to make it more aggressive, there are 20-inch wheels, and Ford added a spoiler.

Only 20 of the models will be produced. The cars will be available in Southern California, Las Vegas, and Southern Florida. SIXT has 55 locations nationwide. The cars will do their rental car duty and then be up for sale at some point in the future. How much they will cost is yet to be seen.

May 3, 2019 / Comments Off

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1964 Shelby Cobra 289

Two worlds collided and turned into the Shelby 289 Cobra, which represents the very best of American and British automotive innovation. Legendary designer Carroll Shelby took an AC chassis and body and paired it with a Ford V-8 engine, the result a sophisticated teeter between sleekness and performance.

While not as powerful as the fan favorite Shelby Cobra 427 S/C, the Cobra 289 remains revered as the one to get. The above, more specifically, is a second-generation Mark II model. It’s got quite a high-octane history, having burned rubber at the SCCA United States Road Racing Championship. It lost only once in three years.

The car has spent much of its time over the years sitting pretty in collections. And along the way, it’s had a pretty intensive restoration. So, no signs of wear, at all. It’s still pumping to this day after snagging the top title at the 1967 SCCA Nationals. And people have used it in numerous vintage events up until now. Talk about endurance.

After many lonely hours at the showroom, the car is now ready for a garage to call it its new home. You can hit up Auxietre & Schmidt to get a price quote if you’re interested in snatching this bad boy up. Do note that it won’t be cheap, but you probably already knew that. It comes with a LeMans Hardtop, too. Will definitely look great alongside your other Shelbys in storage. Just make sure to leave something for the rest of us!

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Photos courtesy of Auxietre & Schmidt

March 11, 2019 / Comments Off

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1966 Shelby GT350H

As mindblowing as the new and very modern 700+ horsepower Mustang Shelby GT500 is, it can’t match a rare vintage ‘Stang pound-for-pound in terms of sheer coolness. The Shelby GT350 is one of those automotive…

Superformance Might Use the GT500’s Supercharged V8 in the Shelby GR-1

Superformance, Supercharged, Superfast

Superformance will build a production version of the Shelby GR-1 in the next few years. Until now, there were not many details about what type of engine the vehicle might get. That has changed. According to Robb Report, Superformance will consider a supercharged V8 engine for the GR-1 instead of the V10 engine that was in the original concept. Most likely it will be the 700-plus hp engine that’s in the upcoming GT500.

“It sadly won’t be a V-10,” said Lance Stander CEO or Superformance. “Ford doesn’t have a V-10 apart from one they utilize in trucks, and we want the GR-1 to be a production car with a production engine—all coming from Ford.” When asked if the company would use the GT500’s engine, Stader said, “You’re thinking on the right track.”

That’s a pretty clear indication that it will either be the GT500’s engine directly or some variation of it. The Robb Report also talked with Stander about the possibility of using the Tremec dual-clutch transmission in the GT500. “[The Tremac] is a very exciting transmission, and we are in talks with them,” said Stander. “But at this point, we are also planning a six-speed manual.”

That’s good news for enthusiasts. At this time, Ford only plans to build the GT500 with the DCT, but the company did note it would add a manual transmission at some point down the line if enough customers wanted one. Now, it seems customers may have an opportunity to get the powertrain they want in the even more exclusive Shelby GR-1.

EV Not Out of the Question Either

With all this talk of the gasoline-powered car, the electric version that was rumored has fallen by the wayside. However, Stander says his company is still talking with Shelby American to make the EV GR-1 happen. Stander said Superformance and Shelby can’t ignore the move toward electric vehicles industry-wide. He also said you never know where EVs will be in two years time.

Stander mentions two years because that’s about how long the company expects for the production version of the GR-1 to come to fruition. Right now the Low Car Volume Manufacturers Act, which is what enables the possibility of the GR-1 in the first place is tied up in the government shutdown. Once the shutdown is done, Superformance can proceed with actually building the car. When it does, let’s hope it has the V8-beating heart of the GT500 under it’s long and gorgeous hood.

January 23, 2019 / Comments Off

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Could the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Get a Manual?

We Know You Want to Row Your Own Gears

The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will come with a dual-clutch automatic transmission (DTC) with paddle shifters instead of the manual transmission many enthusiasts wished it had. However, Carl Widdman, head engineer for Ford Performance and the Mustang, didn’t rule out a manual for Ford’s 700-plus hp Mustang. That means it could get a manual transmission.

Road and Track talked with Widdman at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit where the car made its debut. Widdman didn’t rule out the possibility of a manual transmission at some point. In fact, he seemed to hint that the muscle car could come with one at some point.

The all-new Shelby GT500–the pinnacle of any pony car ever engineered by Ford Performance–delivers on its heritage with more than 700 horsepower for the quickest street-legal acceleration and most high-performance technology to date ever offered in a Ford Mustang. — Image from Ford

When asked if the GT500 could get a manual transmission in later months, Widman said, “Right now, we’re DCT-only, [but] we get feedback, and we’re real tight with the Mustang crowd. We always listen to what our customers want, right?”

That’s not a confirmation that the GT500 will get a manual transmission, but it’s certainly not a no. It would seem that Ford Performance is open to the idea. Why wouldn’t they be? If they’re going to miss out on sales because of the lack of a manual, then it only makes sense to put one in there.

Road and track also tried to find out if the Mustang GT350 or other versions of the Mustang would get the GT500’s slick new DCT from Tremec, and Widdman said no. That’s a shame because of the fact that the DTC in the GT500 shifts faster and can handle more torque than the current 10-speed automatic in the regular Mustang.

January 15, 2019 / Comments Off

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2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 is Ford’s Most Powerful Street Car Ever

Hang on Tight

Ford is known for high-performance muscle cars, but now it has its most powerful muscle car of all time. The 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500. It comes with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that produces more than 700 hp.

Its monster V8 engine is connected to a dual-clutch automatic transmission that puts all that power down to the rear wheels. That should translate to mid-three second 0-60 mph times and a quarter-mile drag strip time of under 11 seconds.

The GT500 isn’t just a straight line hustler, though, Ford claims it possesses the best braking and cornering of any domestic sports coupe. Dodge and Chevy, Ford is looking right at you.

The Shelby produced car has an exterior design focused on aerodynamics. It’s supposed to increase downforce and improve thermal management.

Jim Farley, Ford president of global markets, had this to say about the car, “A takedown artist, the new Shelby GT500 will surprise supercar owners with its Ford Performance racing tech, supercharged engine and visceral swagger.”

A Seriously Special Muscle Car

Ford hasn’t released specific engine power numbers or performance numbers for the car. All that will come at a later date. However, Ford did give insight into just how unique the model is. The powertrain is special to this car, and the aluminum alloy engine is built by hand.

The engineering team inverted the 2.65-liter roots-type supercharger with an air-to-liquid intercooler to help keep the center of gravity low. To channel power efficiently and effectively, Ford used a carbon fiber driveshaft. In conjunction with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that can shift in under 100 milliseconds, this helps put the power from the engine down to the wheels.

The car also gets fully revised suspension geometry and a new electronic steering system. It gets MagneRide suspension to help manage everything. The massive 16.5-inch two-piece brake rotors (the largest of any domestic coupe) and Brembo brake calipers finish the car’s performance specs for the moment.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the car looks downright angry. It’s the face of a true muscle car if I ever saw one. It’s here to gobble up Chevy Camaros and Dodge Hellcats with aplomb. It will arrive in the fall of 2019.

January 14, 2019 / Comments Off

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Superformance Will Build Production Version of Shelby GR-1 Concept

Dreams Do Come True

The 2004 Ford Shelby GR-1 concept car first made it into the public eye in 2004 at Pebble Beach as a clay model. In 2005 Ford had a full concept car version that it showed at the North American International Auto Show. Despite a lot of enthusiasm, there was no way it would ever become a production car.

That has changed thanks to Superformance. The Californian company specializes in building complete, rolling chassis replica cars. Most of its cars were vehicles built in the 1960s. Recently, the company announced at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles to the media it would start building the Shelby GR-1 concept car.

Superformance teamed up with Shelby American. The companies will work together to build both gasoline and electric versions of the car. Details of the model are scarce, but Vince Laviolette, vice president of Shelby American did say the car will be “very fast,” according to Car and Driver. The CEO of Superformance, Lance Stander, said, “We’re shooting for a two-second Shelby.”

I assume that means two seconds to 60 mph. If that’s the case, all I have to say is that I want one. Superformance will build around 200 of the cars thanks to the 2015 Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act.

However, the company has to wait for the government to finalize the laws before it can start building or ever really deciding what powertrain to put in the car. With that said, you won’t need to worry about buying one of these for a couple of years. You should probably start saving your money. It will most likely be a pricey automobile.

January 10, 2019 / Comments Off

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Ford GT, Mustang GT, Focus RS and more go head-to-head in Spain

Ford Performance has a pretty stellar lineup. There seems to be a vehicle for everyone, whether you want a supercar, a hot hatch or even a Baja-blasting pickup. Sometime during pre-season testing of the Ford GT race car, all eight Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team drivers decided to have a go around Motorland near Barcelona, Spain, in all eight currently available Ford Performance vehicles (that means two Fiestas and no Edge ST). Even with a staggered start, the finishing order isn’t surprising. Watch the full video above.

The eight cars are the F-150 Raptor, the outgoing Ford Fiesta ST, the new Ford Fiesta ST, the Ford Focus RS, the Ford Mustang GT, the Shelby GT350, the Ford GT and the GT LM GTE-Pro race car. The race begins with a staggered start, beginning with the Raptor and ending with the GT LM GTE-Pro. It’s funny to watch the Raptor roll its way through the corners as the first Fiesta ST starts to close in on the rear. The end of the video was likely staged, but Ford did release all eight lap times.

For clarity’s sake, the red Fiesta ST is the outgoing model that’s currently available in the U.S.. It’s powered by a 1.6-liter EcoBoost turbocharged inline-four (Ford lists the European model’s 180 horsepower rating). The new car is powered by a 200 horsepower 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged inline-three. That model isn’t available in the U.S. and likely won’t make it over.

Car and drivers:

Driver	Vehicle	Engine	Power	Lap Time
Ryan Briscoe	F-150 Raptor	3.5L EcoBoost V6	450HP	2:30.65
Dirk Müller	Fiesta ST	1.6L EcoBoost I4	180 HP	2:19.01
Harry Tincknell	Fiesta ST	1.5L EcoBoost I3	200 HP	2:16.58
Richard Westbrook	Focus RS	2.3L EcoBoost I4	350 HP	2:11.01
Stefan Mücke	Mustang GT	5.0L V8	460 HP	2:06.19
Joey Hand	Shelby GT350 R	5.2L V8	526 HP	1:58.14
Olivier Pla	GT	3.5L EcoBoost V6	647 HP	1:50.02
Andy Priaulx	GT LM GTE-Pro	3.5L EcoBoost V6	N/A	1:40.00

Related Video:

January 29, 2018 / Comments Off

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In Memoriam: Carroll Shelby

Carroll Hall Shelby
1923 – 2012

Memoriam by Shelby American Inc. – May 11, 2012

Carroll Hall Shelby, a man whose vision for performance transformed the automobile industry, has died at age 89, his company, Carroll Shelby International, said today. Mr. Shelby passed yesterday at Baylor Hospital in Dallas.

Born on January 11, 1923, in East Texas, Shelby is considered one of the truly great American success stories of the 20th century. Race car driver, WWII “Flying Sergeant”, philanthropist, automotive entrepreneur and racing team owner, he came to embody the ingenuity, tenacity and grit needed to win during his 60+ year career.

The son of a postal worker in the hamlet of Leesburg, Texas, Shelby attended high school in Dallas and joined the Army to fight in World War II. After serving as an aviator in the war, he returned home to Texas where he dabbled in business with a dump truck operation, a chicken farm and a sports car dealership. It was while he co-owned the Dallas dealership with fellow Texans Jim and Dick Hall that Shelby first tasted car manufacturing. Together, they created a handful of “Scaglietti Corvettes” that were based on GM’s roadster.

Meanwhile, he began to feed his obsession for speed. Shelby’s first race was at a drag strip in a 1932 Ford. Moving on to road courses, he raced throughout the USA in his spare time. When all of his chickens died of limberneck disease, Shelby moved into the cockpit as a career.

Once on his way to a race, Shelby had to wear his work clothes from the farm to make the start time. When his odd racing attire netted him more attention and publicity than his victory, Shelby made the striped bib coveralls his trademark.

In just a few short years, he became a dominant figure on the racing scene. He was courted by the top car manufacturers in the world to drive for them, including Ferrari. Shelby captured three national sports car championships in the United States, earned a spot on the Aston-Martin team in Europe, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and set land speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats. Twice, he was named Sports Illustrated’s “Driver of the Year.”

Still in his prime, a heart condition caused him to abandon his driving prematurely in 1960. Instead of reeling in self-pity, Shelby turned his attention and talents to race car design and automotive manufacturing.

Carroll Shelby believed in combining big horsepower with inspired engineering. He first approached Chevrolet because of his experience with the Scaglietti Corvettes. The idea was to fit the 283 c.i.d. Chevrolet motor into the AC Ace chassis, as the English carmaker had lost its engine deal. However, GM turned down what would have essentially been a competitor to their existing sports car.

That led Shelby to approach Lee Iacocca at Ford Motor Company with the idea of building a two seat sports car using the company’s new small block engine. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the two.

When Ford agreed to supply motors and cash to start the venture, Shelby vaulted into action. He formed “Shelby American” around a group of Southern California hot rodders. They shoehorned Ford’s engine into the lightweight Ace roadster. Christened the Cobra, a name which Carroll said many times came to him in a dream, Shelby’s CSX2000 was introduced at the New York Auto Show in 1962. It turned the sports car world on its ear.

After developing a competition version of the Cobra, Shelby fielded a team in Europe to race against the best. In addition to racing the Cobras, both in coupe and roadster form, he eventually added Ford GT’s to the team at the behest of Ford Motor Company.

In 1965, they won the FIA sports car world championship and the next year captured the overall win LeMans with the Ford GT and a class win in the Cobra Daytona Coupe. Carroll Shelby is the only man to have won the prestigious Le Mans race as a driver, team owner and automotive manufacturer.

“Carroll Shelby was an automotive visionary and leader,” stated Dan Gurney, who was part of the Shelby American racing team and an American legend in the car building racing world. “His West Texas downhome bib overall style had a huge emotional impact on me and when he launched his now legendary Ford powered Cobra team, I found myself a very willing volunteer to lend my driving ability to his quest to take on the established European teams on their home turf.

As part of Shelby American, we managed to win some tremendous races together: the very first FIA sanctioned points race for Cobra at Bridgehampton 1963 in a Cobra Roadster, the GT classes at the Targa Florio, at Le Mans and at Goodwood with the Daytona Cobra Coupe in 1964. Then we won the crown jewel: the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hour Race with the Ford Mark IV. His leadership was very unconventional and more powerful than either his friends or competitors ever imagined. His charm will be missed, his reputation as a motorsports icon is secure.”

At the same time, Shelby’s operations turned out the Shelby 289 and 427 Cobras, as well as a succession of Mustang-based Shelby’s created at the request of Lee Iacocca at Ford Motor Company. He scaled back his California operations in the late 1960s when new government regulations and insurance rules began to affect the sales of performance cars. For several years, he operated businesses in Africa until civil war in the region closed them down.

Shelby was also a pioneer for modern licensing programs in the automotive industry. Beginning in the 1960s, he began licensing his name and designs for various products. Unfortunately, he was forced to assert his right to his famous trademarks and designs many times over the years, too.

In 1982, he began helping his friend Iacocca, who had assumed the helm at Chrysler, to enhance performance of the cars at the struggling company. His team turned the lowly K car into a pocket rocket and pioneered a new class of cars. They also created the muscle truck and developed the Dodge Viper, which paced the 1991 Indy 500 with Shelby at the wheel.

In 1988, Shelby started building Cobras again. Teaming with McCluskey, Ltd, he began development of the “mystical 43” 427 S/C big block Cobras, which were the last 43 chassis numbers left from FIA homologation. That laid the groundwork to develop a limited line of “continuation” big block Cobras.

In 1995, his long-established company, Shelby American, opened a facility in Las Vegas at the new Speedway to expand his continuation Cobra operations. In Las Vegas, he later manufactured the Oldsmobile powered Series 1 roadster in cooperation with GM and added other Cobra models. In 2005, Shelby entered into a new agreement with Ford Motor Company that involved him in the development of the new Ford GT and led to the re-introduction of several Mustang based Shelby cars, including the Shelby GT-H, Shelby GT-500, Shelby GT-500 “Super Snake,” Shelby GT and Shelby GT500KR.

Carroll Shelby spent 50 years establishing and protecting his name, trademarks and car design rights, and in the 1980s he established Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc., which licenses companies worldwide to manufacture, market and sell everything from the best and fastest muscle cars on the road (e.g. the 1960s Shelby Cobra 289, 427 and Daytona Coupe, and more recently the Ford Shelby GT-500) to premium Shelby memorabilia. These first in brand licensees range from Ford Motor Company’s manufacture of the new model year Ford Shelby GT-500s, to clothing, diecast model cars and exciting video games such as “Need for Speed” (Electronic Arts) and “Forza Motorsport” (Microsoft).

“At Ford, Carroll Shelby will always be remembered as an innovator, a performance vehicle legend but most importantly an incredible partner and close friend for more than 60 years,” said Edsel Ford II, member of the Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company and great-grandson of Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company. “The Ford and Shelby collaboration is something that has always been very important to me personally and Carroll will continue to be the inspiration behind our future collaboration that will carry his name. My family and I are honored to have had Carroll as a friend and part of our family. He will never be forgotten.”

Meanwhile, Shelby American, Inc., now headquartered in Las Vegas, continues to build authentic continuation Shelby Cobra vehicles. It also offers the best and most exciting contemporary American muscle cars on the road, such as the post-title Shelby GT500 “Super Snake”, Shelby GT-350 and the Shelby GTS.

Joe Conway, President of Carroll Shelby International, Inc. and board member, John Luft, President of Shelby American, Inc. and Tracey Smith, President of Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc., combine to bring a formidable team of experience and dedication in carrying out Carroll Shelby’s visions for the future.

“We are all deeply saddened, and feel a tremendous sense of loss for Carroll’s family, ourselves and the entire automotive industry,” said Conway. “There has been no one like Carroll Shelby and never will be. However, we promised Carroll we would carry on, and he put the team, the products and the vision in place to do just that.”

“Carroll was a visionary who never stopped seeking ways to build faster, better cars,” noted Luft. “He was actively involved in each of the models we build today, the development of our parts business and each of the cars scheduled to be introduced over the next few years. Carroll Shelby was the ultimate competitor and his spirit will continue to guide our company.”

Shelby considered his greatest achievement to be the establishment of the Carroll Shelby Foundation™. Created in 1992 while Shelby was waiting for a heart transplant in the hospital, the charity is dedicated to providing medical assistance for those in in need, including children. The Foundation also supports educational opportunities for young people through automotive and other training programs and benefits the Carroll Shelby Automotive Foundation.

“Carroll formed a foundation to give something back to those who have not been as fortunate as him, in both medicine and education,” explained Carroll Shelby Foundation Board Member M. Neil Cummings, Esq. “The Foundation is well endowed to continue Carroll’s vision.”

Shelby remained active in the management of each of his companies and the Foundation until his death, even though he endured both heart and kidney transplants in the last two decades of his life. An innovator and pioneer, he achieved an almost mythical status that never diminished. He traveled the world, socialized with movie stars and beauty queens, made and lost numerous fortunes, won races, built cars and lived large.

Shelby is survived by his three children Patrick, Michael and Sharon, his sister, Anne Shelby Ellison of Fort Worth, six grandchildren, six great grandchildren and his wife Cleo. Funeral plans are not immediately available. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to the Carroll Shelby Foundation (www.cscf.org).