Shelby F150 Super Snake Concept Truck

PRESS RELEASE:

LAS VEGAS - Shelby Automobiles, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc., (CSBI.PK) unveiled a Super Snake Ford F150 concept today at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Based on the popular Shelby GT500 Super Snake, the post-title package for the 2003-2008 F150 upgrades the truck’s handling, styling and power.

“Carroll Shelby pioneered the muscle truck segment over 20 years ago,” stated Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Autos. “Our team built this concept F150 Super Snake to see if the public is ready for another high performance Shelby truck. We took the same approach to this project as we do for every Shelby. With its ‘look at me’ styling, earth shattering power, stop-on-a-dime brakes and go cart-like handling, it’s a balanced performance truck that’s as desirable to drive as it is to look at.”

Shelby Autos teamed with Ford Racing and top suppliers such as Borla and Baer to develop the concept. The red 2007 F150 regular cab truck features a custom functional hood and fascias, black Super Snake stripes and Alcoa Shelby wheels. The 5.4L engine was tweaked to churn out 475 horsepower through the automatic transmission while 6 piston Shelby brakes were added to stop the beast. The suspension was lowered 3 inches and tightened up to improve handling.

Enthusiasts can choose to have the entire package applied to their truck for the ultimate Shelby. However, the styling and the power/handling upgrades can also be installed individually.

“We’ll install the Super Snake package for the F150 at the Shelby Autos facility in Las Vegas,” added Gary Davis, Shelby Autos vice president of production. “In order to maintain the high level of quality and performance demanded by real enthusiasts, we’ll only build a few thousand per model year.”

The Ford F150 Super Snake post title package includes:

• Whipple supercharger kit
  
• Borla exhaust system
  
• DJM suspension
  
• 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
• Shelby-designed 22-inch wheels and tires with Pirelli P Scorpion tires
  
• Forged Shelby / Baer brakes with 6 piston calipers with cross drilled and vented rotors
  
• Custom front fascia, grill, carbon fiber splitter, fender vents and brake cooling ducts
  
• Custom front fascia, mesh grill and grill surround
  
• Custom side fender vents and rockers
  
• Unique fiberglass hood featuring a hood scoop and classic Shelby design
  
• Bed lid and rug with embroidered logos
• Shelby signature Super Snake stripes
  
• “Shelby” lettering across the rear tailgate
  
• “Super Snake” vehicle badges and official Shelby CSM interior plate
  
• Shelby signature embroidered headrests, floor mats and leather interior

Images and Press Release courtesy of Autoblog.com

The championship-winning 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX2601 sold for a record $7.25 million on Saturday at an auction in Monterey.

The sale is believed to be a record for an American car at auction. Bob Bondurant drove it to victory in the 12 Heures du Reims, fittingly on the Fourth of July in 1965, to secure the FIA title. It was the first championship for an American team in the GT class, beating the vaunted Ferrari.

The Cobra had a string of successes that year, winning the GT class at Monza and at the Nurburgring and taking second at Spa. It also later appeared in the movie Redline 7000 and was briefly owned by Bondurant, who sold it in 1969.

The car was the headliner at the Mecum auction held in Monterey as part of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance weekend. It was sold wearing its title-clinching race livery from 1965. It’s one of six Cobras from that era whose success helped establish Shelby–and the United States–as a force in motorsports around the world.

LAS VEGAS - June 26, 2009 - Continued demand for a “Super Snake” post title package has led Shelby Automobiles to unveil a new program to turn a limited number of 2010 Ford Shelby GT500s into Shelby super cars. The Super Snake package will include enhancements to the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500’s handling, styling and power; output ratings will range from 630 to over 725 horsepower. Exclusivity will be assured as a limited number of Super Snakes will be built at the Shelby Autos facility in Las Vegas or one of the Mod Shops, beginning in August 2009.

“We take great pride in engineering fast, fun cars that people love to drive,” said Carroll Shelby. “Over the past 12 months, my team of hot rodders was hard at work on a Super Snake package for the next generation GT500. Every lesson we learned kicking the competition around on the track over the past two years has been poured into this new car to keep Shelby owners out front.”

Born on the drag strip and road course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ford Racing and Shelby Automobiles dialed in an even more aggressive suspension and engine package for the 2010 car.

“Since we introduced the Super Snake package for the GT500 in 2007, this Shelby has become the pinnacle of current generation muscle cars,” added Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. “While the stock GT500 is a fine car, serious enthusiasts know that they can come to us to make their Shelby even better. For those who crave a harder edged Shelby, this is your car.”

The 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake post title package includes:
- Ford Racing handling pack including Dynamic adjustable dampers, lowering springs, tuned stabilizer bars, and front strut tower brace is standard for the Super Snake
- Ford Racing Supercharger upgrade kit producing over 630 HP and 590 ft.-lbs. of torque
- Borla exhaust system on the 630 HP Ford Racing Super Snake Package
- 6-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
- Either a Shelby/Ford Racing or Shelby/Kenne Bell supercharger kit producing 725 HP with upgraded drive shaft, billet twin 75mm throttle body and exclusive badges
- Borla exhaust system on the 725 HP Super Snake Package
- An optional Shelby / Eibach handling pack is also available
- Shelby-designed Alcoa 20-inch wheels
- Short-throw shifter
- Forged Shelby / Baer brakes with 6 piston calipers and cross drilled / vented rotors
- Front brake cooling ducts
- Unique fiberglass hood featuring classic Shelby design
- Shelby signature Super Snake stripes
- “Shelby” lettering across the rear decklid
- “Super Snake” vehicle badges and official Shelby CSM interior plate
- Shelby signature embroidered headrests, floor mats and other Shelby designed components

Customers interested in bringing their 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 to one of the Shelby Mod Shops for transformation should contact Roger Sorel with Shelby Automobiles at (702) 942-7325. The price of the 630 HP package is $29,495 and the 725 HP package is $33,495 including installation but not the car. Each vehicle will be listed in the official Shelby registry.

Complete Super Snake packages will only be available through Shelby Automobiles; some products comprising the package will be offered by Shelby Automobiles and Ford Racing later this year.

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2008 Ford Mustang FR500CJ Cobra Jet

Ford’s re-packaging of the Mustang into its 2010 model-year form factor has pleased the critics with a sleeker look, but now Ford Racing is getting ready to please the folks that live only to see quick ETs with the 2010 Mustang Cobra Jet (2008 model pictured).

The 2010 car will wear the FR500CJ model designation just like the car before it, but other specifications have yet to be nailed down. Ford Racing is expecting to put a 425hp 5.4L supercharged V8 straight out of the Ford Racing Parts (FRP) catalog in the standard model, with an optional upgrade to a 475hp aluminum-block engine.

The Classic 1968 Cobra Jet - Image courtesy of All Ford Mustang News

Shifting gears yourself is one of the most rewarding parts of driving a car fast when done properly, but at the drag strip, it just slows you down, so Ford is offering a five-speed Liberty manual in addition to a race-prepped automatic on top of the standard six-speed tranny that was available on the 2008 car. To keep the car from crumpling when the shiny side fails to stay up, all 2010 Cobra Jets get an 8.50et NHRA certified roll cage, too.

Final testing of components is still underway, but Ford says production will begin in Q4 2009 with first deliveries to start in early 2010. Pricing hasn’t been set yet, but will start below $75,000, says Ford. Like last time, only 50 will be available.

Carroll Shelby Foundation Expands Mission to Include Education - GARDENA, Calif. - June 11, 2009

The Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation announced today that the organization’s Board of Directors approved a name change to the Carroll Shelby Foundation. The change reflects the Foundation’s broadened mission to include continuing education for young people. The Carroll Shelby Foundation will continue to aid children battling life-threatening illnesses as it expands its reach into the classroom.

“This is an exciting time for the Foundation,” said Carroll Shelby, president of the Carroll Shelby Foundation. “We’ve been trying for years to find ways to broaden our mission to continue helping kids later in life. The automotive industry has been good to me for many years. What better way to give back than through the support of education in the automotive field? Now we can take children from their first heartbeat through their educational years.”

The Carroll Shelby Foundation will conduct fundraising programs in two important areas that are close to Carroll’s heart. One will continue to provide financial assistance to children battling life-threatening illnesses and support organizations conducting research in the fields of coronary and organ transplant management. The new, expanded outreach is designed to aid children through scholarships and educational programs in automotive and related fields. The first step in this direction will be working with the Carroll Shelby Automotive Technology Center at Northeast Texas Community College.

“Mr. Shelby created the Foundation in 1991 after receiving a life-saving heart transplant,” explained Jenni Shreeves, director of the Carroll Shelby Foundation. “From an initial focus on organ and tissue donation, we evolved into helping children who face all types of serious illnesses. And now, we look forward to assisting kids as they grow into young adults. We’re confident that our partners and donors will share our vision and support the new initiatives and fundraising programs that are on the horizon.”

About The Carroll Shelby Foundation

The Carroll Shelby Foundation was created by legendary racer and automotive manufacturer Carroll Shelby. Headquartered in Gardena, Calif., the Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support for children and medical professionals to help overcome life-threatening health issues worldwide and promoting continuing education.
For more information visit the Carroll Shelby Foundation.

Check out these great gift ideas for the Shelby Guy in your life:

Carroll Shelby Wine Six Bottle Ultimate Collectors Edition

Custom Framed Print of YOUR CAR Autographed by Carroll Shelby

Black Letterman-Style Jacket with Choice of Shelby Cobra Logo

Shelby GT 500 Golf Cart in Metallic Blue with White Stripes

Father’s Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers and adult male friends are all honored on Father’s Day.

Why is it that dads can be such a challenge when it comes to picking that perfect gift for Father’s Day? He’s your dad - this should be easy, right?

How about using some of the gift suggestions in this newsletter as a starting point for an awesome Father’s Day gift?

NEW PRODUCTS WILL BE HERE SOON!

Shelby Cobra hard-sided rolling luggage in polished-black - COMING JUNE 30TH!!

As you know, the Carroll Shelby Merchandise website was launched in October of 2008. We brought together the world’s biggest collection of Shelby products and offered them to you via our new website and catalog. Thanks to your tremendous response, we’ve started creating new products and will continue announcing many new items throughout the year. Do you have a great idea for a new Shelby product? Connect with us on one of our social networks or drop us an email to let us know your ideas. Your input is vital to us!

VISIT THE NEW FOUNDATION STORE:

One thing you’ll notice when browsing the CSM website is that we have many items that directly benefit the Carroll Shelby Foundation. Visit the NEW Carroll Shelby Foundation Store for limited edition and autographed items, including diecast, artwork, photographs and apparel. Each item supports the kids at the same time. In addition to these great new products, most items in the Carroll Shelby Merchandise collection have an autograph option. Can’t decide which item Dad will like? Order a signature certificate as a gift and let him decide what he wants to have signed. ALL proceeds of the signature program go towards the foundation.

FEATURED PRODUCT:

1965 Terlingua Racing Team Cobra Diecast Car 1:18

1965 Terlingua Racing Team Cobra Diecast Car 1:18

Shelby formed the Terlingua Racing Team in the 1960s. This accurately detailed diecast replicates one of only six Terlingua Racing Team edition CSX4000 Cobras built by Texas Cobras Ltd. Manufactured by Shelby Collectibles. 1:18 Scale.

This item can be AUTOGRAPHED.
View our collection of 60+ Diecast HERE.

FEATURED PRODUCT:

Carroll Shelby with the CSX 2000, Signed Limited Edition Print

'Carroll Shelby with the CSX 2000' Signed Limited-Edition Print

Carroll Shelby with the CSX 2000. Framed in solid oak and autographed by Carroll Shelby. Limited edition print. Exclusive item from the Carroll Shelby Foundation.

This item has been AUTOGRAPHED by Carroll Shelby.
View our collection of Artwork, Prints, Photography and more HERE.

FEATURED PRODUCT:

1965 Shelby GT 350 Pedal Car in White and Blue

1965 Shelby GT 350 Pedal Car in White and Blue

Teach your kid how to put the pedal to the metal!
• 1 KHP= kid horsepower
• 2 ‘foot’ lbs of torque!For kids and collectors, this pedal car is designed after the world famous 1965 Ford Shelby GT 350. It has the distinctive hood and side panel striping, Shelby Cobra gas cap, and an imprint of Carroll Shelby’s signature on the rear deck. These cars are fully licensed and include a certificate of authenticity. Each car ships in its own box and requires only minimal assembly.

Copyright © 2009 Carroll Shelby Merchandise. 1-800-655-8100 - June, 2009

Enthusiasts with will enjoy: 3 days of open track at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Team Shelby High Performance Driving School with a braking seminar, 1 day of drag racing at Tulsa Raceway Park, Cruisin’ Tulsa, huge all Ford Swap Meet featuring vintage parts as well as late model parts, Trade Show each evening Wednesday through Friday at the Marriott, Saturday Night Event Banquet, and an All Ford Super Show featuring over 40 different vehicle classes.

For more information and to register online for this event please click HERE.

Beaverun Motorsports Complex
Wampum, PA
August 6-8th, 2009

SAAC-34 will be held at Beaverun Motorsports Complex in Wampum, PA, northwest of Pittsburgh and about 12 miles east of the Ohio state line. It’s a fairly new track, 1.6 miles in length with 12 turns and some moderate elevation changes. The convention headquarters hotel will be in Cranberry Township, PA-about 1/2 hr. from the track. Surrounding hotels are all about 5 minutes away from the HQ Hotel.

This year’s convention will be a little different from past get-togethers. We read the convention surveys we got back over the past couple of weeks and there were some constructive suggestions which we’re going to try. Thursday is essentially an arrival day. There will be a Car Control Clinic in the afternoon and you’ll be on your own for dinner. But not to worry: everything from hot dogs and hamburgers to sit-down restaurants are located near the hotels. Then there will be a welcoming party back at the Four Points by Sheraton in the evening.

On Friday the car shows will be held at the headquarters hotel-the Four Points by Sheraton. Out at Beaverun, the open track and vintage race practice will be going on. The swap meet and manufacturer’s displays will also be set up out at the track. The popular vote car show will end about noon at the hotel and there will be a cruise to the track at 12:30. Everyone will need to be back at the Four Points by Sheraton in the evening for dinner and the evening program.

On Saturday everyone will be out at the track and there will be a lot going on. Open track, the wheel-to-wheel vintage race and the always popular Ladies Driving School. Want to autocross? The track will be running one on their giant vehicle dynamics pad. You don’t have to sign up in advance and they will have helmets to loan. Did somebody say rental cars? You can rent a go-kart and drive on their world class course and then run a 1/2 hour Enduro at the end of the day.

Read the complete original article at SAAC.com
Download the 8 Page Event Guide

Ford is saying: “‘Better’ is the operative word when describing the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500.” You know what? They’re right. Whether your measurement be horsepower, torque, or fuel economy, the 2010 Shelby GT500 beats the outgoing model handily, and it does it through a combination of refinements and clever innovations.

First of all, the basic specifications: 540 horsepower (up 40 over last year); 510 ft-lb of torque (up 30 over last year); and 14 mpg city/22 highway (up 2 over last year). So how’d they do it? The power improvements come in large part to a new cool-air induction system that is a refined version of the one found on the GT500KR. Also, revised engine calibration and a new dual-knock sensor system help the engine burn fuel more efficiently and puts the torque power band right at the 3,000 RPM mark and the redline is 6,250 RPM.

The method of getting that power to the wheels has also seen significant improvements. The two-disk clutch system has received larger disks (250mm diameter over last years 215mm) that allow for a more efficient transfer of energy. Also, the larger size of the two disks significantly reduces inertial stress over the previous design or a single disk system, meaning he clutch will last longer. As for launch control, the intermediate clutch disk is no longer floating and instead has six straps that control disk engagement. That means initial launching is much smoother, clutch effort is decreased, and the entire system places less stress on the disks, making them last longer. The highway fuel economy ratings are achieved through the gearing ratios in the transmission. The first four gears have been designed with performance in mind and are able to deliver ample amounts of acceleration. The ratios of the fifth and sixth gear have been decreased to allow more efficient transfer of power at higher speeds, making for better highway fuel economy.

The Shelby GT500 has always been known as a powerful and attractive pony car. Seeing how Ford has accomplished that power for the 2010 model year, along with the increases in efficiency, makes the car doubly impressive.

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]]> http://www.carrollshelbymerchandise.com/news_and_events/2009/05/2010-ford-shelby-gt500-mustang-specs-and-certifications/feed/ http://www.carrollshelbymerchandise.com/news_and_events/2009/04/an-original-shelby-daytona-coupe-goes-up-for-auction/ http://www.carrollshelbymerchandise.com/news_and_events/2009/04/an-original-shelby-daytona-coupe-goes-up-for-auction/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:52:13 +0000 shelbymerch http://www.carrollshelbymerchandise.com/news_and_events/?p=527 Article Credit: Drivers Republic
Photography Credit: David Newhardt

The legendary FIA GTIII championship winning Shelby Daytona Coupe

It seems the credit crunch is continuing to bite, with one of America’s most famous racing cars expecting to fetch a paltry $15m at auction in May.

The 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra has an exceptional racing history, amongst other things being the very first American car to beat Ferrari in European competition, winning the FIA GTIII championship at Reims, France, in 1965.

The car will likely surpass the U.S. record of $5.5 million for a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake. This coupe could set a new world record if it brings in more than $11 million, which is the title-holding paid last year for a 1961 Ferrari California Spyder.

Chassis CSX2601 is one of only six examples of the Pete Brock-shelled, Ford-engined Cobra coupe ever built. As well as clinching the FIA World GT Championship for Shelby in the hands of Bob Bondurant, this car was used by one of its owners to do the 300-mile round trip each day to collect the receipts from his six petrol stations. In full race trim.The fully-restored car, which has been repainted in the livery it was wearing when it took the World Championship in Reims, will be sold in a live TV auction on the Discovery Channels HD Theatre on 15 May at 8pm EST.

From SVT USA

Birmingham, AL: It wasn’t all that long ago that a “super-car” had only 350 or 385hp. That was wow stuff a decade ago. There was the Corvette ZR-1 in 1989 with 375hp. That car was $60,000+ over 20 years ago. Then there was the 2000 Cobra R with 385hp, still a priceless commodity. There was the Ferrari F50, which set the world on its ear in the 1990’s with 513hp at a cost of $500,000.

Today we have a pretty good selection of 400, 500 and 600hp premium cars on the market for those who want and can afford them. To that, these modern day super-cars are more affordable than they have ever been and no longer require you to know your mechanic by name. There are several on dealer lots across America from Audi, Mercedes, BMW, and of course Ford.

With the all new 2010 Mustang arriving at dealerships across America this week will come the all new Ford Shelby GT-500 later this spring. The SVT engineered Snake has 540hp coming from the virtually the same 5.4 liter DOHC 32-valve supercharged V8 that powered last year’s GT-500. The extra power comes by way of some of the tricks that the ‘08 GT-500KR model brought to the table. These are namely the open element “cold-air intake” and a more aggressive tune.

The two week test drive for this article started in Phoenix and up to Las Vegas. The GT-500 played the role of pace car for the Mustangs Across America 45th Anniversary Drive, giving this writer a chance to live and breathe the new Shelby for over 2500 miles of Grade A road trip. This entailed a five day trek from Las Vegas to Birmingham for the Mustang’s 45th Anniversary. What a better way to get to know every little detail of the car and what it is really like to live with one.

So what was it like to flog a new 2010 GT-500 from one end of the country to the other? Let it be magically intoxicating while sublimely entertaining. You see the car has barely been seen by anyone that doesn’t live in car mags or automotive internet sites. People came out of their springs everywhere we went. Road construction crews asked us to spin the tires, traffic control officers standing by expecting us to give them a show. We even had three local police officers gather around us in a small New Mexico town who called two more highway patrolmen to come see the car.

Enough chatter about that, you want to know about the car. The first thing we noticed upon start up was the liquid soundtrack provided by a louder exhaust system with 4” chrome tips. It is purely the most tuned and programmed exhaust note you could ask for, exactly what you would want in every situation. It is as if it was generated in a sound lab, digitally mastered through THX and focus grouped to perfection. In fact that is probably not far from the reality of it. Trust us, it really sounds fantastic.

As the miles and days ticked off there wasn’t a time when the sound of this car wasn’t singing on cue. From the low burble at start up to the baritone bravado upon acceleration it is never too much, but not enough. It rap crackles on coast and roars on acceleration. Combined with the supercharger whine under the hood it is a sound that has become trademark SVT.

Handling is firmed up with increased spring rates and shock valving. The larger 19” ten-spoke wheels give the ride more staccato that takes some of the previous GT-500’s soft persona away. In fact this new snake feels significantly more nimble and sharp edged on the road than its predecessor. Mind you, this thing is still a super tanker but one that is remarkably more fun to drive due to its increased responsiveness.

Refinement is the other major leap here. Between the polished driving experience and the new top drawer interior trimmings this new GT-500 can now credibly be compared to other cars in its price range in areas of cabin quality, design and feature content. While that 500hp mill under the hood often trumped the cheap plastic dash and interior confines of the 2007-2009 models, matching a $50,000 price tag to it was sometimes hard in light of the competition from Japan and Germany. It can be said here that this car is now up to snuff.

The 2010 Ford Shelby GT-500 coupe has a base price of $46,325 for the coupe and $51,225. Our tester weighed in at just under $50,000 being well optioned with the HID headlamps and electronics package. The latter included the Sync Navigation system with Sirrius Travel Link. Yeah, more gadgets blah blah. Seriously though if you play with this new NAV system with its satellite enabled features like local gas prices, Doppler weather radar maps, and real time road conditions – you start to wonder how you ever lived without it.

That interior is nicely trimmed with two-tone leather seating with color keyed stripes to match those on the outside. The new interior lighting package while gimmicky on the surface is actually a great way to personalize the look and feel of your cockpit at night. There’s nothing like deep blue backlighting under your feet and red halo effects around your gauges to spice up your nightlife. Little details in this cabin like the patterned metal dash appliqué add an air of quality. The hood shaped vanity mirror covers on the visors tell you these people had some fun designing this car.

For those about to give up on this report as froo let us get to the gears and guts of it. The new six-speed short throw shifter flat out rocks. It is as precise as any shifter we have rowed and refused to hang up. The round cue ball shift handle felt just right in the palm and was a welcome place to hang your hand all day long. A quick downshift with anger or a relaxed push into sixth for cruising was consistently tight and smooth in action.

Braking was the only driving input that would load the suspension more than you expected, bringing on some moderate dive at times. Roll stiffness was adequate for a 540hp car however. The traction and stability control allowed enough freedom to give you a light thrill before stepping in on you in daily traffic. But if you want to go drifting like Vaught Gittin Jr. you will want to turn it off. Even then you only get so much of that.

Acceleration is of course what you would expect with 540. Brisk? Violent? Yes, violent works. At freeway speeds you can get from a rolling 75 up to 140mph with a heavy foot and just two snicks of the shifter before you know what happened. Zero to 60 comes in about 4.5 seconds - perhaps less or more depending on your skill. Know however that with its light footed twin disc clutch and aforementioned refinements it is without a doubt the easiest of 540hp cars to drive.

In the final analysis, it can be said with a straight face that this is truly the best Mustang that Ford has ever built. Given the heart and soul of last year’s GT-500KR for about $30,000 less in MSRP along with all the styling and refinements of the new 2010 body style, this car is hard to beat. Sure it has a live axle that tramps a bit on rough pavement. But that horse has been ridden and beaten dead. This car still scores at the top of the super-car class for a fraction of the super-car price.

That is what makes this thing magic. That is what makes this thing a Mustang. Or is it a snake?

From The Cobra Ferrari Wars

http://cobraferrariwars.com/cobra3.html

These black and white photos were taken by Scott Malcomb circa 11-1-67 for Road and Track Magazine. Shelby had Len Bailey construct this prototype 1968 Cobra, originally called the Cobra III in Shelby American internal documents, as a replacement for the 427 Cobra, which Shelby American called the Cobra II. Ford, which owned the Cobra trademark, complained about Shelby’s use of the name, so Shelby re-named it the Lonestar.

Len Bailey had his crew construct the car at John Wyer’s shop in England. John Horseman drove the car down to the docks for shipment to L.A. The car originally had white interior upholstery and Shelby’s crew quickly changed that to black. Also to come were the addition of “ear” scoops on the top of the rear wheelwell quarterpanels to deliver fresh air to the engine compartment.

Len Bailey had been the J.W.E. engineer in charge of the road-going version of the GT-40, the MkIII. The Lonestar was essentially a simplified GT-40 tub with the GT-40 Ford 289/ZF layout, an aluminum Ferrari-like body, GT-40 suspension and Cobra brakes and wheels. In December, 1966 Bailey conducted wind tunnel tests on a 1/4 scale model at the Imperial College wind tunnel and determined a cd of .36 requiring 295 horsepower at 200 mph. with front downforce of 81 lbs. and rear lift of 100 lbs.

A Holley four-barrel carburetor on a 289 motor.

Len Bailey wrote a report for Shelby: “1968 Cobra; Objective: To create a successor to the Shelby Cobra in the same image by a contemporary functional design, with overall performance potential superior to any available vehicle in the world.” I found this and a bunch of other Lonestar stuff when Shelby opened up his unused Princeton shop to me in 1973. Because I was not researching a story on the Lonestar, I put everything back where I had found it. There was additionally a very large cardboard box full of GT-40 and Mk IV Ford stuff. As far as I know this material has never surfaced. Len Bailey later sent me his report.

Shelby’s crew later placed air intake scoops just behind the side windows. The wheels were GT-40, because Len Bailey had not been able to acquire the Cobra SC Halibrands for which the car had been designed. The car was designed for the U.S. 1968 bumper and headlight height requirements. Shelby told me that the car was impractical because the occupants had to slide over the side sill. The U.S. Customs got into a hassle with Shelby and Al Dowd over import taxes. At about this time, Shelby was probably pretty burned out, and the project was dropped.

I believe that Road and Track printed this for me from a transparancy. I purchased the Lonestar circa 1975 and drove it around West L.A. before I trailered it home to AZ. The car was a bit trashed, but gave every evidence of GT-40-like performance. The car drove right on my 1964 Team Cobra competition 289 trailer. Everyone thought I was crazy.

The text in the lower left hand corner reads: “Carroll Shelby’s 1969 Lonestar prototype. R. McKee”. I can’t recall how I acquired this.

This is the Lonestar tub in 2007, the subject of a nut and bolt restoration by Geoff Howard of Danbury, Conn. Geoff has been working on the car for probably ten years, so it can’t be that much longer. The front and rear body sections will be fully removable.

Much more to this article at: http://cobraferrariwars.com/cobra3.html

Because the cars from Shelby American have always been desirable rides, their biographies are as varied as their original owners. Shelby Mustangs and two-seat Cobras corralled buyers from all walks of life, from the blue-collar middle class to the affluent. However, Dave Steine’s ‘65 Shelby GT350 isn’t your typical rural Wisconsin Slippery’s Tavern big fish story.

Shelby American scheduled this GT350 for delivery via air freight to Romy Hammes Ford in South Bend, Indiana. Based on what we know about Trans World Airlines in 1965, Dave’s GT350 was loaded onto a Boeing 707-331F freighter at the Los Angeles International Airport and jetted across the continent. That’s quite a distinction when you consider how many Mustangs were shipped via rail and truck.

After this GT350 was delivered to the dealership, the buyer backed out of the deal. The TWA pilot who flew the car from Los Angeles to Indiana got word of this turn of events and decided to buy the car from Hi-Performance Motors, Shelby’s own dealership in Southern California. So the car was air freighted back to Los Angeles for delivery to the pilot.

Where most Shelby Mustangs were thrashed and trashed on road courses and isolated stretches of highway, this one enjoyed 20 years of meticulous care until it was sold to Jim Bridges in–ironically–Shelby, North Carolina. It was there this car sat in a climate-controlled environment for another 22 years. Dave Steine eventually bought the GT350 from another highly respected Ford collector, Jacky Jones.

Ordinarily, this would be the part of the story where we tell you how this car was restored. However, Dave’s ‘65 GT350 is factory original, right down to the Goodyear Blue Dot tires, with only 28,000 miles on the odometer. Also, it remains as delivered new–without the optional over-the-top LeMans stripes or Cragar-made Shelby five-spoke wheels that we see on most ‘65 GT350s today.

The GT350 was born of Ford’s interest in giving the Mustang a bolder performance image–and Carroll Shelby was at the right place at the right time. Shelby understood what you could do with a small-block Ford because he had already done it with the two-seater Cobra. However, the Mustang’s Falcon-based platform had yet to be proven in competition. First, the Mustang had to be recognized as a sports car in order to compete in Sports Car Club of America competition. This would not be an easy feat. According to the Shelby American Automobile Club, the SCCA was not going to be easily manipulated by Shelby or Ford. Carroll Shelby had to exercise some of his Texas charm on John Bishop, then Executive Director of the SCCA. Bishop advised Shelby that the car would have to be a two-seater. It could have a modified suspension or a hopped up engine, but not both. And Shelby American would have to build at least 100 of them.

In August 1964, Shelby returned to his Venice, California, facility to get with his best talent on how to make this happen. If Shelby American was going to build 100 specially modified Mustangs, it was going to have to happen by January 1965 if they were going to compete during the 1965 racing season. Shelby would have to build two models–one for street and one for competition. Street and race versions had the same suspension and braking systems to keep things simple. Aside from a Cobra high-rise intake and tubular exhaust headers, street versions had stock 289 High Performance V-8s with a 90-day warranty from Ford. Competition versions came with full-boogie racing engines.

It was Shelby American’s Ken Miles who developed the Mustang into both a street and competition car. Miles did a tremendous amount of research to see what he could find in the Ford parts bin that would technically be a factory part. For example, he discovered a sturdy, one-piece cowl-to-shock-tower brace that was used on export Mustangs. Today, it’s well-known as the “export brace.”

Did You Know?

• The first completed ‘65 GT350 street prototype was No. SFM5S003, the third GT350 built. First two units were competition prototypes.
• The two Shelby chassis-engineering mules were hardtops, not fastbacks.
• Aside from suspension modifications and a Cobra high-rise intake manifold, ‘65 GT350s weren’t mechanically modified in any other way. Trunk-mounted batteries were installed in No. 001 through No. 324 plus all competition models.
• Shelby vehicle identification numbers changed beginning with car No. 31, which is when Shelby added “Street” or “Race” designations to the VINs.
• Approximately 100 cars were fitted with the 16-inch Cobra steering wheel. When it was discovered the 16-inch wheel interfered with the legs of some drivers, Shelby went to a 15-inch Cobra steering wheel.
• GT350 production began at Shelby’s Venice, California facility and continued there for approximately the first 250 units. After that, production was moved to airplane hangars on Imperial Highway at the Los Angeles International Airport in March 1965.
• Not all ‘65 GT350s had side exit exhaust systems. Some states mandated rear valance exhaust systems. Some 14 units were built this way.
• Tach and oil pressure gauge pods were fiberglass on early cars, then ABS plastic later on.
• Fiberglass hoods varied throughout production. Originally, the all-fiberglass construction evolved to a steel frame with fiberglass skin.
• LeMans stripes were optional. Not all GT350s had them.
• Argent painted steel wheels were standard. Shelby Cragar wheels were optional.
• Standard rear axle ratio was 3.89:1. Anything else was dealer installed.

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