Carroll Shelby turns 87 today. There may be varying opinions out there about the man, but there is no question about the man’s ability to drive cars for other companies or to produce them for his own company.
Here at Hooniverse we wanted to take second to wish you, Carroll Shelby, a happy 87th birthday.
Hop the jump for a few another picture and a video.
In 1959, Carroll Shelby was part of the duo that drove this Aston Martin DBR1 to victory at the 24 hours of Le Mans (not to be confused with the well known 24 hours of LeMons), one of only two wins for the manufacturer.
Not content to simply race for other folks, Shelby developed the wildly potent Cobra. It was a fast machine (still is, of course) but not quite fast enough to beat Enzo and his elegant yet powerful Ferraris. Shelby and his team went back to the drawing board … and in 1964 thrust the stunning Daytona Cobra Coupe onto the world. The car and the team had a real shot to win the World Manufacturer’s Championship if it weren’t for the cheap shenanigans pulled by Enzo. However, Carroll and his team only got hungrier for the title and won the whole thing in 1965.
Happy 87th Birthday Carroll Shelby
By Jeff Glucker
Jan 11, 2010
By Jeff Glucker
Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff
[…] post by Jeff Glucker and software by Elliott […]
That video flat out rocks. Man, the sound of that 427 is something else. Mean.
A few photos…
LeMans, 1959, in the DBR1
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/3611532590_f76b992fc1.jpg">
Shelby, with David Brown
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3798302013_cea0cb604d.jpg">
Shelby At Sebring, 1959
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3549338152_9b91a78446.jpg">
RAC Tourist Trophy at Goodwood, 1959
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/3610720317_bb0b39c645.jpg">
On the starting grid at VIR in 1957 in a Maserati 450S
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2551/3950127729_10de4a7ff0.jpg">
In action at VIR in 1957
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3950127685_ca2963749d.jpg">
I've never seen a DBR1 with the wheels covered. That. Is. Gorgeous.
Marcello Gandini's got nothing on that front wheelarch.
From what I've seen, that was a LeMans only modification. I'd assume that it made the car a little more aerodynamically slippery at high speeds.
Happy Birthday, Carroll! I saw him in person at his museum in Las Vegas several years ago. Now, I wish I had approached him, but I was just in awe. I wish my name was Skaycog Shelby.
The Coupe is amazing. I remember the first time I saw it on teevee. God, that car is worth every penny of the, what, $4mil? Yeah, if I had Federal Reserve Monies, that is what I would buy. Not more banks.
Just get a Superformance replica http://www.superformance.com/coupe.aspx
A great racer for sure, but don't be surprised if you get a bill in the mail for using "Caroll Shelby" in the title of the post.
Happy Birthday, Mr.Shelby! That was a great video..I enjoyed it greatly and all the history that goes with it! I know that you can't please everybody or beat everybody but that's life and I have to say that you sure put a dent in it! Live long!