| Carroll Shelby had a vision. It was the kind of | | | | But the Cobra production stopped in '68 after a |
| vision that would change the world of cars | | | | total of 356 had been produced. It didn't take long |
| forever. Teenage boys -- especially those who | | | | before 427 replicas were popping out of the |
| were into hot cars -- could only hope to be like | | | | woodwork. When AC cars revived, they began |
| him someday. Born in Leesburg, Texas, Shelby | | | | producing its own specimen of replicas back in the |
| had a lust for speed. He knew what he wanted in | | | | late 80s. That was great, except Shelby went |
| a car and went on to develop it -- a high | | | | one step farther by having 43 new "1965" Cobras |
| performance American sports car -- which he | | | | built from leftover parts in the mid-1990s. |
| raced in competitions all over the world by the | | | | Since 2003, the finest Cobra "replica" built comes |
| time he was in his late 30s. There is no other | | | | from Shelby himself, manufactured at Shelby |
| sports car that will make the blood stir more than | | | | Automobiles in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unlike the |
| the car that took Shelby to his fame -- the 1962 | | | | original, Shelby's Cobras now offers a fiberglass, |
| Cobra. | | | | carbon fiber, or aluminum body, and the frame is |
| A Little History of the Cobra | | | | stronger. But to the untrained eye, this is an |
| The Cobra began in 1961 when the British builder | | | | identical 1960s Cobra -- a fine work of art signed |
| of Ace roadster, AC Cars of Thames Ditton in | | | | by its maker. |
| England, lost their manufacturer for the | | | | Shelby's Career Doesn't Stop There |
| lightweight, but powerful Bristol motor. Carroll saw | | | | Although the Shelby Cobra roadster was the |
| the Ace as an object of great admiration. To | | | | beginning of Shelby's career, with groups such as |
| have it gone forever would be wrong. He coveted | | | | the Beach Boys writing songs about the car, |
| the look of the Ace with its sleek design, open | | | | Shelby's life work continues even later in life. A |
| top, race potential. So, seeing what he had to do | | | | little history of his later years: |
| keep the production of the car going, he made a | | | | - 2006: The new Shelby GT |
| proposal to the owner of AC Cars, Charles | | | | - 2007: Shelby GT500KR -- introduced the 2008 |
| Hurlock. Shelby suggested they continue making | | | | model |
| the Ace chassis for a good old U.S. V-8 engine. He | | | | - 2007: Shelby GT-H Convertible introduced |
| didn't let on that he did not have a clue as to | | | | - 2007: Post-title Super Snake package introduced |
| where it would come from, but he liked the idea | | | | for the Shelby GT 500's |
| and was determined to pull it off -- which he did in | | | | - 2007: Shelby GT convertible introduced |
| 1962, just a year after receiving the first chassis | | | | - 2007: Shelby Performance Parts Company is |
| from AC. It was a marriage of the British Ace | | | | formed |
| roadster and Ford's hot new 260-cid V-8 engine. | | | | - 2007: Shelby Terlingua Racing Team returns |
| Later there was a 289 which now put the Cobra | | | | His achievements are many, far too many to |
| up to 380 horsepower and crowns in the | | | | mention. Shelby is a legend in many ways, and |
| SCCA-A-production and the U.S. Road Racing | | | | these are only some of his achievements in the |
| Championship. | | | | past two decades: |
| His career as a championship race car driver was | | | | In the 90's, Shelby American developed the |
| in full swing, winning competitions all over the | | | | awesome Shelby Series 1, the fastest car ever |
| world, including the 24 hour Le Mans, beating such | | | | tested in the standing measured. |
| sophisticated models as Ferraris and Corvettes. | | | | In the 90's, while waiting for a heart transplant, |
| Then in 1960 Shelby discovered he had a heart | | | | Shelby founded the Carroll Shelby Children's |
| condition, which forced him to quit racing due to | | | | Foundation, a charitable organization focused on |
| the stress involved in competitive racing. It didn't | | | | children in need of transplants. His role as |
| stop him from continuing his heartfelt dreams, | | | | legendary racer and designer is broadened even |
| though. He would begin a new path, a new | | | | more by this generous move. |
| chapter in his life, as an automotive designer. If he | | | | In 1991, after pacing the Indianapolis 500 in a |
| couldn't drive fast himself, he could create cars | | | | Dodge Viper, Shelby was inducted into the |
| that could give some other driver a thrill. He would | | | | International MotorSports Hall of Fame. |
| make them faster, lighter, and able to beat out | | | | Since 2005 Shelby has partnered with Edsel Ford |
| the world's fastest cars. | | | | and the Ford Motor Company once again, |
| In 1965, at the 12 Hours De Reims in France, | | | | continually producing number one models for the |
| Shelby and his team raced a Cobra that would | | | | Ford Mustang. |
| score enough points to win the prestigious FIA | | | | Today at the age of 85, Shelby, the legend, |
| World Championship of GT cars, taking the title | | | | continues to be a driving force (no pun intended) |
| virtually owned by Ferrari for a decade. With his | | | | in automotive design. His love of the sports car is |
| success, doors opened for Shelby, including | | | | reflected in everything he does, living up to the |
| partnering at times with Dodge and Ford Motors. | | | | reputation he so deserves. |
| The Cobra was hot and only getting hotter. | | | | |