Caroll Shelby...R.I.P.

[cabinetman]

The great automotive innovator of the Shelby Cobra, and other vehicles dies at 89.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/n...,7384989.story

.

[TB Roye]

In 1966 I bought one of GT350's it was a fun car to drive. After we had kids I sold it to a relative who has it today and still drives it. I bought a 73 Pinto wagon for the family. DUMB!
The most brutal car I ever drove including our sprint car was a 427 Cobra, I think it would equal to a F18 getting launched off a Carrier.

Chevy had Duntov, Shelby gave us Ford lovers something to cheer about. RIP Mr. Shelby

Tom

[LCHIEN]

another iconic Texan. R.I.P.

[toolguy1000]

those original shelby cobras were absolutlely wonderful. loads of horsepower and almost no weight. great recipe for a lot of fun. sad to see this happen.

[Pappy]

A legend in, and icon of, the automotive world for sure. Also a compasionate and generous individual. He attended the Barrett-Jackson auctions and always donated something to be sold for charity. A couple of years ago, when he introduced a new generation of Cobras, he donated serial nuber 1 for auction with the winning bidder having the option to buy nunmber 2 at the same price.

His passing will be felt by people in many walks of life. Rest in peace, Mr Shelby.

[pelligrini]

I certainly did like his Cobra and his mustang stylings. I didn't know he was a Texan either.

In 1966 I bought one of GT350's it was a fun car to drive.

That's still Cool. At first I thought you had a GT40 and my jaw literally dropped, until I remembered the right name of it. The closest I've been to one was a model my dad and I built many years back.

[TB Roye]

A GT350 on the street was bad. All it was was race car with mufflers. You could have picked up a Webber carburated 289 full race for $3500 out of his Shelby Catalog. I fell sorry for the young ones today who never had the chance to feel and drive real horse power. I mean lumpy Cam, Air sucking 4 barrels, headers, and glass packs, and you had to tune them your self not with a laptop. The mid 50's until smog and fuel issues took over were fun if you were a car nut. I still remember going to pick the heads for our dirt car and in the lobby of the shop was a stack of heads with Reynolds Aluminum on the boxes and ship to McClearn racing Detroit Mi. Our old time guy that did our heads did the heads for the big block Chevy CanAm cars.

[cabinetman]

another iconic Texan. R.I.P.

Who was the other one?

.

[tommyt654]

Yep,He was truly one of the greats and will be missed. They did a special last night on Speed channel about him,quite the entepreneur. I had an oppertunity to drive a 67 GT500 W/427 and that thing would slam you back into the seat so hard it would make your head spin, great cars and a great man. Wonder what this will do to the pricing of Shelbys now? Makes me really miss my ole stang I had tryed to make into a Shelby look-a-like in the 70's.

[leehljp]

Who was the other one?

.

• A. J. Foyt (I think he is the referenced one.)

• Jim Hall (and Hap Sharp, originally from OK) - introduced the "Wing" on the back of racing vehicles to keep them on the ground. Did this with the Chaparral's. Is Jim Hall, still living?

Seems like I am missing one other.

[cabinetman]

• A. J. Foyt (I think he is the referenced one.)

• Jim Hall (and Hap Sharp, originally from OK) - introduced the "Wing" on the back of racing vehicles to keep them on the ground. Did this with the Chaparral's. Is Jim Hall, still living?

Seems like I am missing one other.

A.J. Foyt and Jim Hall are both still alive...so, no R.I.P's. BTW...they are both about the same age.

.

[TB Roye]

Lone Star JR, Johnny Rutherford won Indy in the Hall's Chaparral, I have to look but I think he did twice. Flrst ground effects Indy car. Those were the golden years of racing. The late Lloyd Ruby, called the best driver never to win Indy was also a Texan.

Tom

[wardprobst]

Yep, Mr. Lloyd Ruby was a hometown hero here. Genuinely fine individual and got so close so many times.
DP

[Pappy]

Yep, Mr. Lloyd Ruby was a hometown hero here. Genuinely fine individual and got so close so many times.
DP

I was just thinking of him. One of my uncles went to Indy a couple of times as Ruby's body man on the crew.

Another from Wichita Falls, now retired and living there, is Eddie Hill. Held records in drag boats before a near fatal accident made him switch to something safer...Top Fuel Dragsters.

[os1kne]

I'm very sorry to hear this. RIP.