Carroll Shelby, an American automotive designer and racing driver, rose from humble beginnings in Texas to become a renowned figure in the automotive industry. Despite health challenges during his childhood, Shelby pursued his passion for racing and engineering, leading to the creation of iconic cars like the Cobra, Daytona, and GT350. His legacy includes setting land speed records, winning prestigious races like Le Mans, and collaborating with major car manufacturers such as Ford and Chrysler. Shelby's influence extended beyond racing as he ventured into business with ventures like chili powder production. He passed away in 2012, leaving behind a lasting impact on the automotive world.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Carroll Shelby was born in 1923 in Leesburg, Texas.
2. His father was a mailman, and his mother was a homemaker.
3. Shelby grew up with a heart condition that kept him in bed for most of his childhood.
4. He joined the Army Air Corps during World War II and trained pilots.
5. Shelby flew a trainer plane and dropped a love letter into his crush's front yard.
6. He married his crush, Jeanne, a year later.
7. After the war, Shelby tried various jobs, including working as a roughneck in the oil fields.
8. He eventually opened his own racing school and developed his own race car.
9. Shelby partnered with Ford to develop a new lightweight V8-powered racing platform.
10. He worked with AC Cars to create the AC Cobra, which featured a Ford V8 engine.
11. The AC Cobra was a huge success, and Shelby continued to develop and improve the car.
12. In 1965, Shelby developed the Shelby GT350, a high-performance version of the Ford Mustang.
13. The GT350 was designed for SCCA racing and featured a number of innovative features, including a functional hood scoop.
14. Shelby partnered with Ford again to develop the Ford GT40, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
15. In the 1980s, Shelby worked with Chrysler to develop performance models for Dodge, including the Omni GLHS and the Charger GLHS.
16. In 1991, Shelby drove the Dodge Viper as the Indy 500 pace car.
17. In 2002, Shelby partnered with Ford again to develop a new GT and a new Cobra concept.
18. The partnership produced the Shelby GT500, which made 500 horsepower and was the first Mustang to wear Shelby's name in 35 years.
19. Shelby continued to work on the GT500, and the final model he touched made 662 horsepower and did 202 miles per hour.
20. Carroll Shelby passed away on May 10, 2012, at the age of 89.