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JG300-Ascout · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 10:24 pm Post subject: Aw, crap...

Carroll Shelby dead at 89. Never a healthy guy, it had to happen sometime. He accomplished a lot in his life, and did a lot of good with it toward the end.

He was without equal in American automotive competition history.

JG300-Stoopy · Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: Aw, crap...

What???!!!!! WHAT????! Say it ain't so!

Wow. Definitely one of those guys that is much bigger than life. Won't be another one like him.

bsmart · Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 12:33 am Post subject: Re: Aw, crap...

Yea I heard it this afternoon on the radio. About an hour later I saw 2 Shelby Mustangs with black streamers on their antenna. They were in the fast lane of I-70. Seems appropriate

Shades · Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 6:41 am Post subject: Re: Aw, crap...

¤§¤

Friend of mine is really into his cars and loves the old Shelby's.
When a friend of his, who emigrated to the U.S. years ago, returned for a visit recently he spotted a book on Shelby at Matt's place and mentioned it.
Matt told him that he was really interested in the history of the car and the man because he grew up where they were first made (the original chassis were made over here by a small coachworks Shelby did a deal with).
Nothing more was said about it.
There was then a return trip, during which Matt's US friend introduced him to Carroll Shelby who he had befriended almost as soon as he arrived in the US.

(Matt's one of those people who has loads of interesting things going on in the background;
Never talks about it so it doesn't come out as boasting but occasionally you uncover little snippets.
We think his grandfather may have been responsible for bringing and owning the first Harley to reach the U.K.)

Uhu_Fledermaus · Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 11:07 am Post subject: Re: Aw, crap...

A legend has passed on to greener pastures, his legacy is unrivaled ..........

Shades · Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Aw, crap...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/wor...a-18044108

US car designer Carroll Shelby, who gave his name to the famous Shelby Cobra sports car, has died aged 89.
His company, Carroll Shelby International, said Mr Shelby died at a hospital in Dallas, Texas.

Mr Shelby, who had a long and varied career, had a heart transplant in 1990 and a kidney transplant in 1996.

The former chicken farmer first made his name as a successful racing car driver, winning dozens of races in the 1950s.
Among them was the gruelling 24-hour Le Mans race in France which he won with teammate Roy Salvadori in 1959.

But after being diagnosed with a serious heart condition he turned his attention to designing high-powered "muscle cars".

In 1962 Mr Shelby test-drove the AC 260 roadster, the car made with a Ford engine that would become the Shelby Cobra.
The Cobra, which also used a British sports car chassis, was the fastest production model ever made when it was displayed at the New York Auto Show in 1962.

Ford later asked Mr Shelby to develop a high-performance Mustang.
His collaboration with Ford ended in 1970, and he went on to work with Chrysler and General Motors until teaming up with Ford again in 2001.

In 2007, an 800-horsepower 1966 Cobra - once Mr Shelby's personal car - sold for $5.5m (£3.4m) at auction, a record for a US car.
"It's a special car," he told the crowd before the sale. "It would do just over three seconds to 60 (mph), 40 years ago."

When the 1970s energy crisis hit the market for petrol-guzzling high-performance cars, Mr Shelby went to Africa where he operated a safari company for some years.

Doctors did not immediately release a cause of death, although Mr Shelby was recently admitted to hospital with pneumonia, according to his Facebook page.
Mr Shelby is survived by his wife, Cleo, three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.