RIP Carrol Shelby
Last Thursday, Carrol Shelby, a true iconoclast died at the age of 89.
Mr. Shelby was an original American badass and his life was the stuff of legend.
He was one of the longest-surviiving heart transplant recipients, he made and lost fortunes, trained pilots during World War II, ran a safari business in Africa and was married at least six times.
Despite all of that, he was best known for his accomplishments as a race-car driver and designer. In 1959, he became the second American-born driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in France.
When his bad heart forced him to retire from driving in 1960, he turned his considerable intellect to designing the fastest sportscar on the road - The Shelby Cobra
His designed his first monster by putting a Ford V-8 engine in the chassis of a little-known British roadster, called it the Shelby Cobra and the rest is history.
As the engine displacement rose from 260 cubic inches to 289 and finally 427, Shelby single-handedly redefined the American muscle car. Stripped to the essentials - nothing just for show = Insane horsepower, wide tires, and unbelievable speed.
- Cheers FSC






