Shelby

Carroll Shelby and Steve McQueen at Shelby-American International Shop, June 1963

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Actor and racer Steve McQueen paid a visit to Carroll Shelby at the Shelby American shop in Venice, California, in June 1963. McQueen took his racing seriously, winning several sports car events in the 1960s and finishing second overall in the 1970 Sebring 12-hour endurance race. McQueen later starred in the 1971 cult-classic racing film Le Mans.

Carroll Shelby with Shelby Cobra, 1963-1964

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Carroll Shelby took the auto enthusiast world by storm when he pulled the straight-6 engine from a lightweight British AC Ace roadster, replaced it with a Ford V-8, and created the Shelby Cobra. Between the 1962 and 1967 model years, Shelby American produced just under 1,000 Cobras variously equipped with 260, 289, and 427-cubic-inch Ford engines.

Frame for Shelby Cobra Alongside Shelby Cobra Roadster, 1963-1964

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Frame for Shelby Cobra Alongside Shelby Cobra Roadster, 1963-1964

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First Shelby Cobra, 1962

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Carroll Shelby took the auto enthusiast world by storm when he pulled the straight-6 engine from a lightweight British AC Ace roadster, replaced it with a Ford V-8, and created the Shelby Cobra. Between the 1962 and 1967 model years, Shelby American produced just under 1,000 Cobras variously equipped with 260, 289, and 427-cubic-inch Ford engines.

Dave MacDonald and Carroll Shelby with Shelby King Cobra CM/1/63, 1963

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Carroll Shelby with Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe at Daytona International Speedway, February 1964

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Carroll Shelby Watching Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe at Daytona International Speedway, February 1964

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Carroll Shelby with Shelby Cobras Before the 12 Hours of Sebring Race, March 1963

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Carroll Shelby took the auto enthusiast world by storm when he pulled the straight-6 engine from a lightweight British AC Ace roadster, replaced it with a Ford V-8, and created the Shelby Cobra. Between the 1962 and 1967 model years, Shelby American produced just under 1,000 Cobras variously equipped with 260, 289, and 427-cubic-inch Ford engines.

Carroll Shelby with Shelby Cobras Before the Bridgehampton 500 km GT Race, September 1963

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Carroll Shelby with Ford Mark IV Race Car at Shelby-American Production Facility, Los Angeles, California, June 1967

Photographic transparency

Carroll Shelby was vital to Ford Motor Company's success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His Shelby American racing team fielded the winning GT40 Mark II in 1966, and the winning Mark IV in 1967. The latter triumph was especially sweet. An American team, an American car, and American drivers Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt meant an all-American victory.

Carroll Shelby at Daytona International Speedway, February 1964

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Building the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, 1963-1964

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Carroll Shelby and his Shelby American team built six Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes. Based on the chassis and powertrain from Shelby's Cobra roadster, the closed-cockpit Daytona Coupe battled Ferrari's 250 GTO in the 1964 and 1965 racing seasons. The Daytona Coupe earned Shelby American a 1965 World Manufacturer's Championship in the GT class -- the first for an American builder.

Carroll Shelby at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, 1956

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Carroll Shelby, Donald Healey and Roy Jackson-Moore traveled to Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1956 with a pair of heavily modified Austin-Healey streamliners. Healey's supercharged car averaged 201.10 miles per hour, fulfilling his personal ambition to break the 200-mph barrier. The naturally aspirated car driven by Shelby and Jackson-Moore set several speed and endurance records on a ten-mile circular course.

Pete Brock Showing a Shelby Cobra, 1963-1964

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Pete Brock worked with Carroll Shelby at Shelby American from 1961 through 1965. Brock created logos, merchandise, and advertisements for Shelby. He also designed the body for the striking Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe race car, which won Shelby American a 1965 World Manufacturer's Championship in the GT class.

Building the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, 1963-1964

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Pete Brock, seen here at left with driver Ken Miles and fabricator Phil Remington, worked with Carroll Shelby at Shelby American from 1961 through 1965. Brock designed logos, merchandise, and advertisements for Shelby. He also designed the body for the striking Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe race car, which won Shelby American a 1965 World Manufacturer's Championship in the GT class.

Carroll Shelby with Shelby Cobra Roadster Driven by Ken Miles at the 12-Hour Endurance Race, Sebring, Florida, March 1963

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Dave Friedman captured and preserved auto racing history through his photography. His work -- and his collection of works by other photographers -- documents key races, cars, drivers, and teams. This photo was taken at the 1963 Sebring 12-hour endurance race, held at Sebring, Florida, on March 23. Co-drivers John Surtees and Ludovico Scarfiotti finished first overall in the #30 Ferrari 250 P.

Carroll Shelby at 12 Hours of Sebring Race, March 27, 1965

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Carroll Shelby joined Ford's struggling GT racing program in late 1964. He was determined to turn things around. His Shelby American team fielded two Ford GT40s at the 1965 Sebring 12-Hour. One car failed to finish due to rear suspension problems, but the other GT40 took second place in the event.

Shelby Cobra Roadsters at 12 Hours of Sebring Race, March 1964

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Dave Friedman has captured and preserved auto racing history through his photography. His collection of works documents key races, vehicles, drivers, and teams. In March 1964, Ferrari -- as expected -- topped the prototype class at the 12 Hours of Sebring road race. The surprise, however, was the performance of the Carroll Shelby Cobras. They outclassed Ferrari in the GT class and swept the top three spots.

Carroll Shelby at the 12 Hours of Sebring Race, March 27, 1965

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Carroll Shelby joined Ford's struggling GT racing program in late 1964. He was determined to turn things around. His Shelby American team fielded two Ford GT40s at the 1965 Sebring 12-Hour. One car failed to finish due to rear suspension problems, but the other GT40 took second place in the event.

Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles Holding Trophy, Winner in Bridgehampton 500 Race, 1964

Photographic print

Driver Ken Miles (left) and constructor Carroll Shelby celebrated their victory at the 1964 Bridgehampton 500-kilometer race, held near Sag Harbor, New York, on September 20, 1964. Miles, driving for the Shelby American team, won the race's GT class in a Shelby-built, Ford-powered Cobra.

Dave MacDonald Driving Shelby Cobra Race Cars, Dodger Stadium Road Race, March 1963

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Shelby Cobra Driven by Ken Miles in the Laguna Seca Championship Road Races, June 1963

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Shelby Cobra Driven by Ken Miles in the Player's 200 Race, Mosport Park, Canada, June 1964

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Porsche and Shelby Cars in the 24 Heures du Mans (24 Hours of Le Mans) Race, June 1967

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Dave Friedman has captured and preserved auto racing history through his photography and his collection of works by other photographers. Photographs from the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans document the race-day atmosphere--the fans, officials, drivers and crews--along with the race itself. Ford Mark IV's victory was the first all-American win -- American drivers in a car designed and built in the United States.

Ken Miles and Mechanics Working on Shelby Cobra 427 Damaged during Practice Before 12 Hours of Sebring Race, March 1964

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Race fans and observers were surprised by the strong showing from Carroll Shelby's Cobras at the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring. But the race wasn't so great for Shelby American drivers Ken Miles and John Morton. Damage caused to their #1 Cobra during practice was repaired in time for the race, but a blown engine forced them out early.

Shelby Cobra Driven by Ken Miles Crossing the Finish Line at the U.S. Road Racing Championship, Laguna Seca, Monterey, California, May 1965

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