Friends of Carroll Shelby, including Ford Motor Company, Shelby American, Ford Racing and many others, have joined forces to create a one-off 2013 vintage Shelby GT500 Cobra in tribute to Carroll Shelby, who passed away on May 10. Ford also announces that it has renamed one of the roads at its Dearborn test center in memory of Carroll Shelby.
The Cobra label has become synonymous with exceptional performance, thanks to the long history of Ford and Shelby. And over the sixty years of their collaboration, Shelby has been responsible for some of Ford’s most legendary sports cars, including the Cobra, GT40 and several generations of Mustang.
The 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra
This unique example was unveiled by Ford Motor Company Board Member Edsel Ford II, Jim Farley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and John Luft, President of Shelby American, at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, which this year celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the Cobra.
“Even at 89, Carroll remained a role model for us all,” said Jim Farley. “This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra. The one-off car we’ve created perfectly embodies the way he envisioned the 2013 Shelby GT500 becoming a true Cobra.”
To design this Shelby GT500 Cobra, Carroll’s friends took the 662 hp V8 from the 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 and replaced its supercharger with a 4.0-liter Whipple supplied by Ford Racing.
Transmitting such power to the ground requires a few adaptations. The Shelby GT500 Cobra is fitted with high-performance rear tires 345 wide, instead of the original 285.
For its part, Shelby American supplied a custom hood, enlarged rear body kit, large Shelby Wilwood brakes and new 20×10 front and 20×13 rear wheels. The Guardsman Blue paint and Wimbledon White stripes are identical to those worn by many Cobra roadsters produced in the ’60s.
“Carroll Shelby has left his mark on motorsport forever,” says John Luft, “and although he was very proud of Shelby American’s past achievements, Carroll always preferred to look ahead to the next model he could design. Carroll Shelby’s spirit and influence will remain present in every car we continue to produce, as they are in this Shelby GT500 Cobra.”
“It’s also worth noting that Carroll was a true philanthropist, known for supporting causes that touched him personally,” adds Jim Farley. “After a tour across the United States, the car will be used in a special way that would have pleased Carroll.”
Before hitting the road, the 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra will be on display this weekend on the Ford stand at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
The Carroll Shelby legend
For over half a century, Carroll Shelby inspired the stylists and engineers of the great Ford family. Even Edsel Ford II, as a teenager, worked for Shelby, performing tasks such as cleaning transmission parts.
Many engineers crossed Carroll Shelby’s path over the years, from those who built the first GT40s to those who designed the 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500. Until his death, Carroll Shelby continued to be involved in the development of his sports cars. At the end of 2011, at the age of 88, he spent more than five hours behind the wheel of the most powerful production Mustang ever produced during validation tests at the Sebring and Arizona Proving Grounds.
During these tests, Carroll Shelby talked for hours with the engineers, telling them what he liked and what still needed to be improved. Everyone who worked with him will remember these moments, and his advice on driving dynamics will be passed on to future generations.
Ford’s product development engineers will now have a good reason to remember Carroll Shelby every day, as they drive along the Carroll Shelby Way leading to the test track entrance at the heart of the Dearborn development center.
“Sadly, Carroll Shelby is no longer with us, but his spirit lives on in all those who worked with him over the years. His influence will be felt in Ford sports cars for a long time to come,” concludes Jim Farley.
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