Posted on 05/11/2012 3:04:56 PM PDT by shove_it
Carroll Shelby, an international automotive icon who rose from a bed-ridden childhood in Texas to build one of the most iconic sports cars ever and become a world-champion racer died Thursday at the age of 89 after a lengthy illness. His cars will live forever.
A winner at Le Mans in 1959, a driver in everything from Formula 1 to the Bonneville Salt Flats, Shelby's lasting impact will be the cars he built, namely the Shelby Cobra 427 that beat Ferrari in Europe and his variations of the Ford Mustang that he was involved with from the 1960s through his death.
Throughout his career, Shelby battled and overcame his physical limitations, from racing crashes to a congenital heart defect that required several surgeries and eventually a heart transplant in 1990.
Born Jan. 11, 1923, in Leesburg, Texas, Shelby was the son of a rural mail carrier. After being confined to bed for much of his first several years, his heart grew strong enough for Shelby to take an interest in cars. During World War II, Shelby served as a flying instructor, and wrote letters to his fiancée by putting them in flying boots he'd drop on her farm.
Married with children after the war, Shelby began a racing career that quickly rose to international acclaim. After rushing to the track for his early races wearing the same bib overalls he wore at his chicken farm, the look became his trademark. Sports Illustrated named him driver of the year in 1956, and Shelby won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959.
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(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
Man I know we are all getting older, but I sure am seeing a lot of the people that influenced me in my youth, passing away. Shelby was one of them. Some people you just wish they would live forever.
Sorry y’all for the dupe post. I searched but spelled his name wrong.
Sad day. Rest In Peace Mr. Shelby.
I’ve never owned anything with the Shelby name on it but I’ve always wanted to... From a lifelong admirer, RIP Carrol.
Rest In Peace to a true champion and nice guy.
Condolences to Carroll Shelby’s family and friends.
There was a Shelby Lancer in our family for some time. Very nice car.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelby_Lancer
RIP one of my heroes. I trust you and Enzo will have much to talk about!
RIP, Mr Shelby.
RIP!
Looks like chili one of the next few days.
One of the next icons to pass will probably be Craig Breedlove. Has to be well into his 70’s and last I heard not in the best of health.
The launch was difficult; it was a very careful balance between a spinout and a stall.
I stalled it the first 3 times. Adding to the embarassment was the fact that it had a pneumatic starter, so you had to wait for the compressor to build up enough pressure to start the engine.
On the 4th try, I decided to just let it go and try to steer it while feathering the throttle on takeoff.
All I can say is Holy Crap! The shift to 2nd gear was seconds later at about 70 MPH.
I'm still tempted to build a replica (heck, I have most of the powertrain pieces stashed around the garage).
The are a lot of low mileage used Shelby GT500's on the market. Two years ago, I purchased a 2008 with 1800 miles on the odometer.
RIP Mr. Shelby. May your compression ratio always be high.
The legacy lives on.
http://www.thecoralsnake.com/History9.HTML
My husband restores Shelbys professionally.
Met Mr.Shelby several times at the SAAC Conventions.
Above website has pics of one of our cars, a 68 GT-500. Our other one is a 69 GT-350 black in driver condition. Orange one is not being driven yet, but is retired from judged shows. Went to the Chicago invitational last November. Pic at website of that recent show.
RIP Mr.Shelby
I hate you. :)
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