Carroll Shelby passes away

[Daveymac]

Carroll Shelby will never - ever - be forgotten.

Carroll was one of the most influential figures in motor sports history. His accomplishments were many and his impact on American racing was significant. The blockbuster success of Carroll's Cobra movement was so powerful that it struck fear throughout the Italian populous ... right down to the core of Old Man Ferrari. Enzo Ferrari was so afraid of Carroll Shelby that he pulled strings to have the final race of the 1964 season cancelled just so Italy wouldn't lose the World Championship to the Americans. Talk about American muscle!

My father, Dave MacDonald, had the privilege of driving for Carroll in the early 1960's and my mother says he loved Carroll dearly.

RIP sir, you will be missed.

PS, when you see my father, please tell him I love him ...

Rich

[NorthernPlus]

My first Cobra encounter.... For me, Carroll first appeared on the scene when the 260 cube Cobras appeared. I was in college then. Shortly thereafter the 289s made their appearance. I was walking by the Union building at Purdue on a Saturday football weekend on my way to a Saturday morning class. A young married couple pulled up in a white Cobra and parked it in one of the 3-4 parking spots that were available on the side entrance. I stopped and commented on the car. The husband proudly told me about the car. They were putting the tounneau cover on the car as we talked. Then they walked away. I turned and made a long walk across the street. As I reached the distant curve, I heard a loud gunning of an engine. I turned to see the husband back in the parked Cobra. The only thing I could think of was that the guy who sold it to them must have told them to clean the engine out before shutting it down, and they forgot. The first among many who never knew what the hell they had bought.

Always a showman, but could he ever sell just using common sense. A true man for the ages, and he lived in our life time. Won a few races too!!

All the best always, Carroll

Norbert

[Muldoon]

I actually suffered a bit of shock as though a member of the family died. But in a way, he is a member of the family of all AC Cobra owners. We own a piece of history and legend.

[BVStenner]

it is a sad day. He was one of a kind. May God bless his family, and help them recall all the great memories.

Bob

[Snakebit]

Even at 89 he was still keeping hot rodding and muscle cars alive with the Ford Mustang. A lot of acconplishments over the years, like they said, there will not be another one like him. Thanks for building the Cobra that we all love so well. I will keep him in my prayers. May he rest in peace.

[BVStenner]

It is a sad day. Carol Shelby is certainly a legend. May God bless his family in this time of sorrow and help them remember all the good times!

Bob

[Buzz]

Not perfect nor always right - but no human being ever is. Bigger than life on more than one level and beating the odds was simply what he did. Love him or not, but we knew him, talked about him and thought about him as he impacted our lives and the lives of auto enthusiasts from every corner of the earth spanning two generations.

He was aleady a legend while he walked among us, doing the things - for better or for worse - that most men and boys talk or dream about.

His life had to end sooner or later, but it ended much later than it would have if he was made of ordinary stuff. He wasn't made of ordinary stuff and I already miss Carroll Shelby being alive.

RIP Ol' Shel - you deserve a good rest.

[bomelia]

So sad. A single man who's vision created all of this! RIP Carroll, the likes of you are a rare thing indeed.

Mike

[Rare Iron]

Mr. Shelby - I'm in awe of what you did & what you accomplished in your life. A well-deserved rest now - you earned it. Lived your life full-measure. We will all miss you, but never forget you. RIP.

-Eric Sauls
Classic Chambered Exhaust

[1966Snake]

R.I.P. Mister Cobra

[Busabob]

Automotive icon, possibly the most iconclastic in american racing/performance history. Sad, but he did live a fantastic life.

R.I.P. fellow speed freak.

[fredcalitz]

I have been an admirer and have owned and liked at least some of his creations. In the end we all have to go to greener pastures and his family should be proud that he has lived and left behind such a full life. R I P

[JerryRowley]

Thought I would share my first direct encounter with Carroll back in the day, as they say!

Yeah, he was something else for sure! A nice guy and a good driver too. I met him when I was a course martial on the SCCA Flag Team in Southern California. We were at the Palm Springs Road Races in 1960. Carroll was the race/course director and came to our corner driving his personal Maseratti Coupe. We had to tear down the course during "lunch time" to allow a commercial (one per day) flight to land, reload, and take off again. After they took off, we reset the corner, hay bales and all. He said, well Jerry, I think that looks like it did this morning, what do you think? Should we try it out? Of course I answered; "Yes!" We got in his Maser and did a couple of hot laps after the phone girls (my wife Trudy at our corner) gave all a "heads up". We made a small change after the first lap on the entry into the turn. Then we did a few more laps, just to be sure it was OK! Carroll had had his first major heart attack, and had been ordered not to race anymore, so this was his excuse to get in a few laps. Fond memories in-deed!
Jerry

[Chaplain]

Any automotive magazine worth reading will have his name mentioned in it somewhere. He was that influential in the automotive industry.

[CSX3183]

Another of "our greatest generation" passes away. A true legend, and a poster boy for American ingenuity. My wife and I had the distinct pleasure to meet Shelby on several occassions, always a gentleman, and always eager to please.

The world will never see such a man again.

[stackprovider]

Carrol Shelby was a automotive icon who's accomplishments have been well documented. He had the vision to build a car that would become a classic over 50 years later and start an industry that even Carrol could not imagine would grow to the extent that it has. All of us who supply the parts and enjoy the car owe a great debt of gratitude to Carrol Shelby. We were very lucky that we lived in the same era as Carrol Shelby and witnessed the growth of the car and saw a man who was a chicken farmer in Texas grow to be one of the most respected men in automotive history. He was a true racer and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends.

[Don]

Might be a repeat, but in case anyone did not read:

" Shelby is believed to be the only person to win Le Mans as a driver (with Aston Martin), a manufacturer (class victory with the Cobra Daytona coupe) and team owner (Ford's GTs). "

Carroll Shelby: 1923-2012 - Autoweek

[menace1]

Very sad day indeed. We lost an Icon in the industry. Gods speed to the Shelby family...

[750hp]

Larger than life, he has left an amazing legacy. RIP.

[hurricaneharold]

R.i.p.