Germany and the US seem to have the largest numbers of remarkable tuners. In Germany, names such as Brabus and Alpine Motorsports have captivated gearheads worldwide. In America, newcomers such as Hennessey Performance or Lingenfelter are dominating the market. That being said, accredited tuner and sports car builder Shelby has been around for decades.
Shelby is one of the most exceptional domestic tuners. Some of the most legendary cars built by Carroll Shelby are now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. In fact, the 1962 Shelby Cobra CSX2000 was auctioned off for a whopping $13.75 million. Shelby's reputation was not built in a day. It took the company years of hard work, trial and error to be where it is today.
10 The Creator
Carroll Shelby started off his career as a race car driver. Unlike Dale Earnhardt or Jeff Gordon, Shelby was a truly versatile driver. In 1959, Shelby won the challenging 24 Hours of Le Mans with Aston Martin. Almost a decade after this epic win, Shelby came up with the '67 Shelby GT500 Eleanor.
There are several facts gearheads did not know about Carroll Shelby. Most people do not know that Shelby is by far the most important American automotive icon. Not only was Carroll Shelby was an outstanding race car driver, but he was also the very first to introduce street-legal race cars that could be used as daily drivers.
9 Posers
It is well-known that Shelby created several packages for the Mustang over the course of several decades. These packages are far from cheap, and not everybody can afford them. As a result, some unscrupulous gearheads have cut corners and built their own versions of the iconic Cobra.
Most gearheads, especially Mustang fans, will be able to easily tell a real Cobra from a fake one. When looking at the above picture, you will automatically cringe at the sight of this lousy V6-powered Mustang with a Cobra badge on it. This is the very reason why Shelby American wanted to come up with a truly unique vehicle built from the ground up.
8 Series 1
Back in 1999, the muscle car scene was in a dire state. The Chevy Camaro was by definition a horrendous vehicle. Pontiac had given up on releasing respectable cars decades ago. Ford did not want to retire momentarily its Mustang nameplate, which resulted in the company producing some god-awful vehicles.
The Series 1 was designed at a time when Carroll Shelby was not in the best health condition. This may have tremendously impacted the development and subsequent production of the car. When Shelby announced the upcoming Series 1, well-off gearheads rushed to the nearest different Shelby factories and pre-ordered the insane roadster. The car was originally listed at $180,000. Out of the 500 planned, only 249 were ever made. There are several reasons why the Shelby Series 1 deserves more attention.
7 John Rock
There is a team of talented people behind every astonishing vehicle. These people are usually motivated by the desire to build something that will be remembered for decades, even centuries. John DeLorean, for example, did not throw in the towel until his futuristic two-door coupe was available for sale.
Several domestic automakers were being crushed by European and Japanese cars. Sales numbers were down, and kept on falling as time went on. In order to reverse the trend, companies like Oldsmobile hired talented and bold heads of departments. John Rock became the head of Oldsmobile in 1992. During his four years at Oldsmobile, John Rock oversaw the introduction of the engine found in the 1999 Shelby Series 1.
6 General Motors
To most people, Shelby rhymes with Ford. Since the mid-60s, the company teamed up with Ford Motors to provide a handful of clients with the best American-made sports cars ever. When looking at the 2021 Shelby GT500 Super Snake, it is fair to say that the collaboration between the companies is still blossoming.
The cooperation with General Motors did not end at the powerplant. Though the interior feels like a true Shelby car from the late 1990s, it received some elements from General Motors. The sound system, the radio, and a couple of other elements were sourced from Buick, Pontiac, and General Motors. Outside of that, most of the interior was made by Shelby.
5 Lansing (Power) Plant
Over the years, Shelby has given Ford vehicles the extra power they need. Whether it is a 351 ci Cleveland or a 5.0L Coyote, the Nevada-based tuner has provided Ford customers with the best tuned Ford engines on the market. However, the Series 1 is not fitted with a Ford engine.
Instead of going with a Cadillac Northstar V8, Shelby decided to adopt John Rock's 4.0L Aurora V8. Potential buyers had the choice between a supercharged and a naturally aspirated version of the engine. Though both engines are quite respectable, the supercharged version produces an insane 600 hp and 530 lb-ft of torque. In comparison, the naturally aspirated unit is rated at 320 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque.
4 Ownership
It is often believed that every single vehicle is produced by one and only one company. However, there are times when carmakers team up with other companies for projects to come to fruition. Shelby not only sourced parts from other automakers to make its Series 1, it also created its own parts.
Making a car from scratch is not an easy task. As Shelby must have required capital to complete the Series 1 project, it teamed up with Venture Industries. The consortium of companies decided to price the Series 1 at $175,000. Venture Industries obtained 75 % of Shelby's share since Oldsmobile did not invest any capital in the project. Venture Corporations eventually declared bankruptcy when one of its subsidiaries went belly-up.
3 Wingard
There are tons of modified vehicles fitted with an engine the chassis cannot handle. Whether it is due to budget constraints or sheer lack of mechanic skills, the results can be quite disastrous. In order to avoid any issues, Shelby required the help of a notorious tuner.
Wingard Motorsports provided crucial elements of the Series 1 and 2. The chassis found on both vehicles were designed by the company led by Bob Wingard. If Shelby chose this company to produce the chassis of this emblematic car, it must be for a good reason. Unused chassis meant to be on the Series 1 and 2 can be on found on Wingard's FII Roadster.
2 Series 2: Prototype
Shelby did not simply produce its own roadster. It created a car that could rival some of the nicest roadsters available on the market. The Shelby Series 1 was somewhat of a success. Consequently, the tuner decided to replicate its prowess by designing a second Shelby-made roadster.
The very first Series 2 was made back in 2005. It is definitely not the sort of cars you will see every day. Only three cars were made, thus making it an even more legitimate collectible. The car still features the supercharged 4.0L Aurora V8 that pumps out 550 hp. The car was estimated to cost between $450,000 and $500,000.
1 Series 2
Carroll Shelby passed away in 2012. While the father of American-made supercars was no longer on this planet, his legacy lived on with one more genuinely exclusive vehicle. The very last Series 2 ever made is a tribute to Shelby's dedication to the automotive and racing industries.
When the Shelby Series 2 made its debut at the Paris Motor Show, it really astonished the public. Unlike the previous versions, the last Series 2 are offered with a supercharged Ford Windsor V8 that produces 658 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque. The body of the car, made by Wingard Motorsports, is available in carbon fiber, aluminum, or titanium.