Shelby
Carroll Shelby International was formed in 2003 from custom performance vehicle manufacturer Shelby American.
Founder and owner Carroll Shelby took the company public, and additionally forming Shelby Automobiles as a subsidiary from which to continue manufacturing vehicles and parts.
In 2009, "Shelby Automobiles" was officially renamed to "Shelby American", bringing back the original company name to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the 427 Cobra and GT350. Carroll Shelby Licensing is the second wholly owned subsidiary that forms Carroll Shelby International, which is based in Nevada. Shelby American manufactures component automobiles, including replicas of the small-block and large-block AC Cobras, the Shelby GT350 and the GT500 Super Snake. Since 2005, Shelby American has released new models each year.
Carroll Shelby International was previously working with Texas-based Unique Performance to create new Mustang-based Shelby cars such as the GT350SR and "Eleanor". On November 1, 2007, Unique Performance was raided by the Farmers Branch Police Department due to VIN irregularities and subsequently declared bankruptcy, which effectively ended the Shelby continuation "Eleanor" production and the relationship.
History
Shelby American was founded by Carroll Shelby in 1962 to build and market high performance parts and modified cars for individuals. The company was based at Santa Fe Springs, California (1962), Venice, California (1962–1967), Ionia, Michigan(1967–1968), Whittier, California (1986–1998) and Las Vegas, Nevada (since 1998). Some of the automobiles produced by Shelby American were the Ford Mustang-based Shelby GT350, Shelby GT500 and Shelby GLHS. Shelby American also installed the engines of US-market examples of the AC Cobra which was an AC Ace with a Ford V8.
The company was also highly involved with racing, with Shelby cars winning many races and the first title for an Americanconstructor at the World Sportscar Championship in 1965. From 1965 to 1967, Shelby American also provided support toFord for their successful campaign to win the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans as historically the first American constructor ever with the mid-engined Ford GT40's. With Shelby Daytona, Shelby became one of only three American constructors (along with Ford and Chevrolet) to win a title on the international scene at the FIA World Championships.
Shelby American moved in 1998 to Nevada becoming the first automobile manufacturer in Nevada and began production. The line included:
- 427 S/C Cobras
- CSX1000-series unknown-origin chassis and aluminum bodies (of modern production)
- CSX4000-series various manufacturers, fiberglass and aluminum bodywork available
- CSX6000-series continuation of the CSX4000 series
- CSX7000-series 289 FIA Cobra roadster
- CSX8000-series 289 street car
- CSX9000-series Cobra "Daytona" coupe, released in 2009
In 2003, the company name was changed to "Carroll Shelby International, Inc." from "Shelby American", and it was taken public. Shelby Automobiles was also created as a subsidiary and manufacturing arm of the new company.
On December 15, 2009, Carroll Shelby International announced in a press release that Shelby Automobiles was being renamed to "Shelby American" in celebration of the 45th anniversary of 427 Cobra and GT350.
Shelby Museum
The Shelby Museum is located on the site. It includes a wide range of Shelby vehicles, from the first Cobra CSX2000 to prototypes of Series 1 and some of the latest creations.
Cobras
| Totals 1962-65 | |
|---|---|
| 260 Cobra street cars | 62 |
| Factory teams cars (initially 260 engines, then updated to 289) | 4 |
| Factory-prepared competition cars (initially with 260 engines, then updated to 289) | 1 |
| Independently prepared competition race cars | 7 |
| Dragonsnake (initially 260 engines, then updated to 289) | 1 |
| Total 260 Cobras | 75 |
| 289 Cobras | Totals 1962-65 |
|---|---|
| Street Cobras | 455 |
| Standard competition | 2 |
| Sebring Cobras | 3 |
| Le Mans Cobras | 10 |
| 427 prototypes | 1 |
| 427 prototypes "Flip-Top" | 1 |
| FIA roadsters | 5 |
| Daytona coupes | 6 |
| USRRC roadsters | 6 |
| Total factory team cars | 29 |
| Factory-prepared competition Cobras | |
| Standard competition | 2 |
| Le Mans prototype | 1 |
| Le Mans replica | 3 |
| USRRC roadsters | 5 |
| Independently prepared race Cobras | 21 |
| Dragonsnake Cobras | 2 |
| COB/COX* street Cobras | 60 |
| COB/COX* race Cobra | 1 |
| Total 289 Cobras | 580 |
Total small-block Cobras 655
- (COB - Cobras for Great Britain)
- (COX - Cobras for export)
| Coil spring big-block Cobras | Cobra production totals 1962-65 |
|---|---|
| Street cars | 260 |
| Prototype competition roadsters | 2 |
| Production competition roadsters | 19 |
| Semicompetition roadsters | 1 |
| Daytona Super coupe | 1 |
| Chassis only | 3 |
| COB/COX Cobras | 32 |
| 1965-67 427 and 428 Cobras | 348 |
Total Cobras built 1,003
Shelby production totals 1965-89
1965
- GT 350 - 515
- GT 350R - 36
- GT 350 drag cars - 9
- GT 350 street prototype - 1
- Competition prototype GT 350 - 1
Total 1965 Shelby Mustangs - 562
1966
- GT 350 - 1,370
- GT 350H - 1,000
- GT 350 convertibles - 6
- GT 350 drag cars - 4
Total 1966 Shelby Mustangs - 2,380
1967
- GT 350 Fastback - 1,175
- GT 500 Fastback - 2,048
- GT 500 Coupe "Little Red" - 1
- GT 500 Convertible - 1
- GT 500 Fastback prototype - 1
- GT 350 Coupe Group II Race Cars - 15
Total 1967 Shelby GT Mustangs - 3,240
1968
- GT 350 Fastback - 1,253
- GT 350 Convertible - 404
- GT 500 Fastback - 1,140
- GT 500 Convertible - 402
- GT 500KR Fastback - 933
- GT 500KR Convertible - 318
- GT 500 Coupe "Green Hornet" - 1 (no Shelby VIN assigned)
Total 1968 Ford Shelby Cobra GT Mustangs - 4,451
1969 & 1970
- GT 350 Fastback - 935
- GT 350 Convertible - 194
- GT 500 Fastback - 1,536
- GT 500 Convertible - 335
- GT 350 Hertz cars - 15
- Prototype test cars - 3
- Cars updated to 1970 specifications - 789 (estimated)
Total 1969-70 Ford Shelby Cobra GT Mustangs - 3,294
Shelby cars totals - 13,912
1986-1989
- 1986 GLHS Omni- 500
- 1987 GLHS Charger- 1000
- 1987 Shelby Lancer- 800
- 1987 Shelby CSX- 750
- 1988 Shelby CSX-T (Thrifty car rental) -1000
- 1989 Shelby Dakota- 1500
- 1989 Shelby CSX-VNT- 500
Total Dodge production- 6,050
Shelby vehicle total- 19,962
No models found