Shelby's Cobras and Ford GT-40s

The Later Years

Carroll Shelby is still active in muscle car production. He was the creative mastermind behind the Dodge Viper (which has gone on to win many international GT championships), finished constructing a small batch of original Cobra 427s that had not been completed back in the glory days of the 1960s, and in 1998 began building a "Cobra for the 21st Century" -- the Oldsmobile-powered Shelby Series 1. The Shelby Series 1 initially had production problems; but by 2004 about 280 had been produced, with Shelby intending to produce 250 more. The Series 1 is capable to doing 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds.

The Shelby Series 1 production model

In 2004, Ford and Carroll Shelby collaborated to design an ultra-modern version of the original Shelby Cobra. The new Ford Shelby Cobra was introduced at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show as a concept car to be powered by a 610-hp V-10 engine. Whether it will ever be put into production is still to be seen.

The 2004 Ford Shelby Cobra concept car

Later in 2004, Shelby and Ford again collaborated, this time on the design of a modernized version of the legendary Cobra Daytona Coupe. Ford introduced the new Shelby GR-1 coupe at the 2004 Peddle Beach Concourse d'Elegance and began serious consideration as to whether this new stunner should go into production. If produced, the Shelby GR-1 would be powered by the same V-10 engine as the roadster concept car and would use other mechanical components from the production model 2005 Ford GT (see below).

The 2004 Ford Shelby GR-1 concept car

In August 2004, the 2005 Ford GT officially went on sale, with a price tag of $150,000. What began in late 2003 as a concept car shown at various auto shows is a beautiful re-creation of the classic Ford GT-40 race cars that dominated Le Mans during the late 1960s. Ford Motor Company calls the production Ford GT "the pace car for a company." It certainly makes the heart beat at a quickened pace!!!

The 2005 Ford GT production model

| Home | Intro | Ventures | Sea | Air | Space | SciFi | Racing | Movies | Art | Travel | Exit |

| Intro | Cobras | Eagles | Javelins | Chaparrals | Ferraris | Dan Gurney | Champions | Bibliography |

Last Updated: September 6, 2004