If I remember correctly, Shelby had to quit being a racing driver in the very early 60"s because of heart trouble, but he had been very successful as a racer for a number of years. He decided to try to develop a sports car with an American V8 and a European body about the time that AC lost the availability of the former engine in the Ace. Using his connections with others in the racing fraternity, he was able to come up with some Ford small blocks, which he did some hot rod modifications to, and then installed them in Ace chassis, renaming the combination the Cobra. I am sure there were other modifications done, but the resulting cars were really light and frighteningly fast, if a little crude. From what I read about the Cobras, they really did not make money from sales, but really helped Ford with publicity. This led to Shelby"s deal to modify Mustangs into GT350"s and later GT500"s, and after that various other cars from Ford and other manufacturers. I think he was pretty heavily involved in modified Chrysler turbo cars in the 80"s and 90"s and I think there are current Mustangs that at least have the Shelby name on them. He got a lot accomplished over his lifetime and must have been quite the promoter!
I also remember reading that Shelby had lots of health problems over the years, and that he received a heart transplant quite a few years ago. But whatever, living to be 89 is a lot longer life than most people ever achieve.
Oh, the car I remember in the Get Smart TV show was not a Cobra, but rather a Sunbeam Tiger. The Tiger was more or less the same general idea of a U. S. V8 in a small sports car, but it was not nearly the performer the Cobra was.
As a kid in the 60"s I lusted after the few Sunbeam Tigers and Cobras I ever saw, but never had the opportunity or money to buy one. Probably really lucky, as they were squirrelly cars that would really fly, and I probably would have killed myself with it if I had actually been able to purchase one.
I am sorry to hear that Carroll Shelby has passed, but we all will at some time or another. He sure did a lot of interesting things in his lifetime, and I have enjoyed reading about him for about 50 years or so. So long, Shel!
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - A Lifetime of Farm Machinery - by Joe Michaels. I am a mechanical engineer by profession, specializing in powerplant work. I worked as a machinist and engine erector, with time spent overseas. I have always had a love for machinery, and an appreciation for farming and farm machinery. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Not a place one would associate with farms or farm machinery. I credit my parents for instilling a lot of good values, a respect for learning, a knowledge of various skills and a little knowledge of farming in me, amo
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
