While Carroll Shelby’s name is synonymous with the high-octane transformations of the Ford Mustang and AC Cobra, his legacy extends beyond these iconic models. In the early 1990s, Shelby embarked on an ambitious project to design and build a sports car from the ground up. The result was the Shelby Series 1, a testament to the automotive visionary’s relentless pursuit of performance.
Conceived as a direct challenger to Europe’s finest sports cars, the Series 1 showcased Shelby’s commitment to lightweight engineering and exceptional handling. The Series 1 featured a lightweight aluminum chassis and carbon fiber bodywork while power came from an Oldsmobile-derived V8 engine, mated to a ZF 6-speed manual transmission.
However, production delays and regulatory adjustments for the 1999 model year increased the car’s weight and price to $181,824, nearly double the initial estimate. Despite these challenges, Shelby’s creation, limited to 249 units over one model year, the Shelby Series 1 remains a significant chapter in Shelby’s career.
Photos Source: RM Sotheby’s
