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So Long, Shelby: Carroll Shelby 1923–2012

 

The automotive world’s most famous failed chicken farmer, Carroll Shelby, died Thursday, May 10, at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, 110 miles due west of tiny Leesburg, Texas, where he was born on January 11, 1923. Shelby, 89, had been ill for eight months, and his cause of death was listed as pneumonia.

Shelby often said that if he had been better at raising chickens, he never would have had to resort to his career plan B: building and racing cars.

That the automotive icon lasted as long as he did surprised no one more than Shelby, who was first diagnosed with heart problems 52 years ago, which effectively ended his race-driving career—near the end he was downing nitroglycerin tablets while he drove. One year earlier, he had won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but he did not complain about the cards dealt to him, so seamless was his transition to car designer and builder.

“We are all deeply saddened, and feel a tremendous sense of loss for Carroll’s family, ourselves, and the entire automotive industry,” said Joe Conway, board member and president of Carroll Shelby International. “There has been no one like Carroll Shelby and never will be. However, we promised Carroll we would carry on, and he put the team, the products, and the vision in place to do just that.”

Shelby’s path to sports cars was a typical one for the era. He began as a hobbyist in 1952, drag-racing hot rods. By May of that year, he had won his first road race, driving an MG TC in Norman, Oklahoma, beating faster, more powerful cars. Not surprisingly, he soon sought more powerful cars to drive, building a reputation that led to an invitation in 1954 to drive an Aston Martin DB3 at Sebring and then an Aston DBR1/300 at Le Mans.

Three years later—the chicken-raising business forgotten—he founded Carroll Shelby Sports Cars in Dallas.

In 1960, Shelby was preparing to race a Maserati 250F, but everything changed a month later when he experienced chest pains, and a doctor confirmed he had angina pectoris, a heart condition. His final professional race was in December 1960.

One year later, though, Shelby set in motion the sort of innovation and entrepreneurship that made him a legend. In 1961, he made a deal with British firm AC Cars to install a new, compact Ford V-8 into its tiny sports car at his shop in California. He called it the Cobra.

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2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to Pace the Indy 500

2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to Pace the Indy 500

In celebration of the Corvette’s 60^th anniversary, Chevrolet will pace the field at this year’s Indianapolis 500 with its Corvette ZR1. With 638 hp under the hood, the ZR1 is the most powerful Chevrolet ever produced, and will be the most powerful production car to pace the historic race. This comes in stark contrast to the Ford Focus Electric pace car that controlled the NASCAR race from Richmond two weeks ago.

 

The ZR1 pace car will share similar features with the 60^th Anniversary package available for all 2013 Corvettes; however, the light bar won’t be available for roadgoing Vettes. The 60^th Anniversary package for 2013 Corvettes will feature an Arctic White exterior with a Blue Diamond leather-wrapped interior accented with suede; convertible models will receive a matching blue top. Further features include a ZR1-style rear spoiler, special badging, painted gray calipers, and the 60^th anniversary logo on the center caps, the steering wheel, and the headrests. An optional graphics package adds full-length Pearl Silver Blue racing stripes—if the ZR1 on its own isn’t flashy enough for you. For drop-tops, a tonal stripe is stitched into the top.

The Reimagined 2013 Avalon. Coming Fall 2012.

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