Carroll Shelby International
Carroll Shelby International (NASDAQ: CSBI) was formed in 2003 from custom performance vehicle manufacturer Shelby American when, 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.[1] 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.[2] Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc. is the second wholly owned subsidiary that forms Carroll Shelby International,[3] which is based at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Clark County, Nevada.[4]
Shelby American currently manufacturers component automobiles, including the small block Cobra, the big block Cobra, the Shelby GT350 and the GT500 Super Snake. Since 2005, Shelby American has been releasing new models every year.
Carroll Shelby International was previously working with Texas-based Unique Performance to create new Mustang-based Shelby cars such as the GT350SR and GT500E. 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.[5]
Contents |
[edit] History
Shelby American was founded by Carroll Shelby in 1962 to build and market high performance parts and modified cars for individuals. Some of the automobiles produced by Shelby American were the Ford Mustang-based Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT500. Shelby American also created the legendary Shelby Cobra which was an AC Ace with a Ford V8.
The company was also highly involved with racing, with Shelby cars winning many races at the dragstrip, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and America's first win at the World Manufacturers' Championship.[2] In 1966, the same year that Shelby American helped Ford Motor Company land America's the World Manufacturers' Championship, Shelby American also provided support to Ford for their successful campaign to win the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Shelby American moved in 1995 to Nevada becoming the first automobile manufacturer in Nevada and began production. The line included:
- 427 S/C Cobras
- CSX1000-series British Made Frames and Aluminum Bodies (of modern production)
- CSX4000-series Various Manufacturers , Fibreglass 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.[1]
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.[2]
[edit] Shelby Museum
The Shelby Museum is located on the site. Free tours are available at 10:30am Monday through Friday of both the museum and the Cobra production facility.
The museum is always changing and includes some of the most famous cars ever produced from the first Cobra CSX2000 to prototypes of Series 1 and some of the latest creations.
[edit] Cobras
| COBRA PRODUCTION TOTALS 1962-65 | |
|---|---|
| 260 Cobras 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 | COBRA PRODUCTION TOTALS 1962-65 |
|---|---|
| Street Cobras | 455 |
| Standard Competition | 2 |
| Sebring Cobras | 3 |
| Le Mans Cobras | 3 |
| 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 other than to Great Britain)
| Coil Spring Big Block Cobras | COBRA PRODUCTION TOTALS 1962-65 |
|---|---|
| Street Cars | 260 |
| Prototype Competition Roadsters | 2 |
| Production Competition Roadsters | 19 |
| Semi-Competition Roadsters | 1 |
| Daytona Super Coupe | 1 |
| Chassis Only | 3 |
| COB/COX Cobras | 32 |
| 1965-67 427 & 428 Cobras | 348 |
Total Cobras Built 1,003
[edit] Shelby Mustang production totals 1965-70
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 1,175
- GT 500 2,048
- GT 500 Notchback Prototype 1 "Little Red"
- GT 500 Convertible Prototype 1
Total 1967 Shelby Mustangs 3,225
1968
- GT 350 1,253
- GT 350 convertible 404
- GT 500 1,140
- GT 500 convertible 402
- GT 500KR 933
- GT 500KR convertible 318
- GT 500 Notchback Prototype 1 "Green Hornet"
Total 1968 Shelby Mustangs 4,451
1969 & 1970
- GT 350 935
- GT 350 convertible 194
- GT 500 1,536
- GT 500 convertible 335
- GT 350 Hertz Cars 15
- Prototype Test Cars 3
- Cars updated to 1970 est. 789
Total 1969-70 Shelby Mustangs 3,294
Shelby Cars Totals
Shelby Mustangs 13,912
Cobras 1,003
Total Shelby cars produced 14,915
[edit] References
- ^ a b "About Us". Shelby American Inc.. http://www.shelbyautos.com/aboutus.asp. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
- ^ a b c "Shelby Autos Becomes Shelby American" (Press release). Shelby American Inc.. 2009-12-15. http://www.shelbyautos.com/news.asp?id=44. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
- ^ "Carroll Shelby International Inc. - About Us". Carroll Shelby International Inc.. 08-10-01. http://www.carrollshelbyinternational.com/about.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
- ^ Address, at www.shelbyautos.com/contactus
- ^ Johnson, Merritt (2007-11-06). "Unique Performance raided by local police — Autoblog". Autoblog.com. http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/06/unique-performance-raided-by-local-police/. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
