An entrepreneur, a racing driver, a racing team owner, an automotive consultant, and an automotive designer—it’s safe to say that Carroll Shelby made a lasting impression on America’s automotive history
. Jerry
, the car ownership super app
, shares the passions and pursuits of this American legend that still influences car culture today. Carroll Shelby: Early days and a passion for racing
The late Carroll Hall Shelby was born in 1923 in Leesburg, Texas. His interest in autos peaked at a young age, and he counted down the days until he could own a car of his own. By the time he was 15, Shelby drove and took care of his father’s two-door Ford sedan.
In 1942, Carroll Shelby enlisted in the Army Air Corps after graduating high school. He earned his wings, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant, but stayed in the USA to train soldiers.
He never went into combat, despite his request to do so; The Air Corps kept the best pilots to train others during World War II.
After the war, Carroll Shelby started many businesses, but couldn’t ignore his need for speed. In 1952, he won his first race in an MG-TC and never looked back.
It wasn’t long until he could be spotted driving high-end sports racing cars like Maserati and Ferrari. In two years he won 12 races and was asked to join the Aston Martin factory team in 1954.
In 1959, Shelby won the crown jewel of international sports racing. Driving an Aston Martin, he conquered the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, Carroll Shelby had to retire from his racing career a year later because of a heart condition.
Carroll Shelby: The award-winning Cobra
Throughout his racing career, Shelby drove top-notch race cars with complex engines and astronomical price tags. While he loved the speed, he was frustrated with the unreliable engines that needed constant repair and maintenance.
According to Shelby.com
, “he wondered why no one in the United States built a sports car that offered European handling and balance with an American V-8 engine that could be easily serviced at any car dealership or independent garage.” Carroll Shelby began dreaming about creating this type of sports car and selling it for half the price. The name—Cobra.
When AC Cars lost the engine supplier for their Bristol sports car, Shelby contacted the company in Great Britain. AC Cars told Shelby they’d happily partner with him once he lined up an engine manufacturer.
Carroll Shelby wanted to build a sports car that could compete with the Chevrolet Corvette in the USA and with the Ferrari in Europe, and Ford Motor Company was game. The ultimate goal was to beat out Ferrari’s coveted World Manufacturer’s GT Championship.
To build his car in California, Shelby created the Shelby American in 1962. Fortunately, the Cobras were a success on the track and dominated Corvettes in the U.S. And the Cobra did indeed win the World Manufacturers’ GT Championship on July 4th, 1965.
In fact, the Shelby American is the only American automobile to ever win the championship.
Carroll Shelby: Dodge collabs and legacy
While the 1964 Ford Mustang was a top seller, Ford was concerned that the muscle car didn't fit into the Ford Division Total Performance marketing program.
Ford Division General Manager, Lee Iacocca asked Carroll Shelby to improve the Mustang’s performance image by converting it into a sports car.
And in true Shelby fashion, he created the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 that smoked the competition. The model was produced from 1965-1970, with the 1967 GT500 model
added after the Mustang was able to accommodate a big-block V-8 engine. In 1968, Ford Motor Company assumed Shelby auto production and took the vehicles in a different direction. And in early 1970, Carroll Shelby “retired” from the auto business.
Though he frequently traveled to Africa, founded the world’s first Championship Chili Cook-off held in Terlingua, Texas, launched his Original Texas Brand Chili Mix, and established the Shelby Wheel Company in Gardena, California—it wasn’t enough.
When Chrysler Corporation hired Lee Iacocca to save them from bankruptcy in 1987, Iacocca called on good friend Carroll Shelby to help build a performance image for Dodge. And in the
Chrysler Shelby Performance Center in California, the 1983 Dodge Shelby Charger was born.
The collaborative 1983-1987 Shelby Chargers were fast performers, especially once the 1985 turbocharged 2.2-liter engines were introduced.
We also have Shelby to thank for the Dodge Omni “Goes Like Hell!” which stood out among the “pocket rocket” performance class. The Dodge Daytona also has the Shelby touch.
Additional Dodges from Shelby Automobiles include the Omni GLHS, the GLHS Charger, the Shelby Lancer, the Shelby Dakota, the Shadow CSX, and the CSX-T for Thrifty rental car company.
A racer at heart, Shelby also developed an SCCA spec series called the Shelby Can-Am, which was later deemed the Dodge/Shelby Pro Series. Successful in the U.S. and South Africa, the autos were equipped with a Dodge 3.3-liter V6 engine with 255 hp.
A heart transplant recipient himself, Carroll Shelby established the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation in 1991. A major focus of the automaker’s life, the organization is now known as the Carroll Shelby Foundation, providing medical assistance, scholarships, and automotive education programs.
MORE: What Was the First Sports Car?
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