Fans of performance and racing worldwide know a handful of names seemingly without fail: Enzo Ferrari, Henry Ford, Ayrton Senna, and so many more. However, one name should hold special reverence in nearly every petrol head’s heart. That name is Carroll Shelby, and it’s not an understatement to say that he changed the face of motorsport and the American performance car market. However, there are some things you may not have known about the Le Mans legend, car-building master, and man, Carroll Shelby.

5 things you didn’t know about carroll shelby

Carroll Shelby during the 1973 Monaco Grand Prix | Paul-Henri Cahier, Getty Images

Carroll Shelby: the bomber pilot, the veteran, the romantic

You probably heard that Mr. Shelby was a pilot, but you might not have known he was an Army Air Corps pilot during WWII. He flew bombers, everything from the B-18 to the B-25 to the B-29 Superfortress. Better yet, Petrolicious says that he used to drop love letters over his fiancé’s farm while he was stationed near San Antonio, Texas. What a romantic.

5 things you didn’t know about carroll shelby

B-25 Mitchell | Smith Collection, Gado, Getty Images

Carroll Shelby may have had a hand in the first celebratory champagne spray after a race

After the American duo A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney won the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans battle against Ferrari, Gurney involved Carroll Shelby in one of the most beloved post-race traditions. Gurney sprayed Shelby, Henry Ford II, and bystanders with the well-shaken beverage bottle. Nowadays, you can’t watch a major race without the celebratory champagne spray. Shelby was right in the middle of what may have been the very first one.

He built two Supersnakes; one for him and the other for Bill Cosby

Over the years, Carroll Shelby built his Cobra design into one of the most recognizable American cars ever. He put a 427 cubic inch motor in it and made one of the fastest cars of the 1960s. However, he created two of the wildest Cobras after a duel with a Ferrari. His twin supercharged 427 Supersnakes, CSX3015 and CSX3303, were absolute beasts.

5 things you didn’t know about carroll shelby

Shelby Cobra CSX3303 | Barrett-Jackson

CSX3015 went to Shelby’s personal collection, and the CSX3303 Cobra went to then-comedian Bill Cosby. Although here’s where things get wild, Cosby returned it, and the following owner died by driving it off a cliff.

Shelby had a hand in developing the Dodge Viper

You know about Carroll Shelby’s long relationship with Ford Motor Company, but you might not know that, after a sabbatical in South Africa, Shelby went to work for Chrysler. According to MotorTrend, he started working with Chrysler and Dodge in 1982, first working on little gas-sippers like the Dodge Omni GLH. However, in the late 1980s, Shelby took part in the design of what would become the venerable Viper.

He not only won Le Mans, but he was also the first American to do so

Shelby drove on a team with Ray Salvadori in an Aston Martin DBR1/300 to win the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was undoubtedly a personal victory for the Texan. However, it also represented the first time an American would win at Le Mans. Carroll Shelby won Le Mans and then went on to put his own cars in the winner’s circle just seven years later.

Scroll down to the following article to read more about Carroll Shelby’s legacy!

Keyword: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Carroll Shelby

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

1966 Shelby GT350 Fastback | Muscle Car

1966 Shelby GT350 Fastback muscle car. – No expense spared professionally rotisserie restored to original specifications completed in the Fall of 2013 – Motor and drivetrain have correct dates and part numbers – Rebuilt 289 CI 4V HiPo engine and 4-speed manual transmission – Rust free original body panels – ...

View more: 1966 Shelby GT350 Fastback | Muscle Car

Forget Shelby Mustangs, Buy A Shelby-Tuned Dodge Durango Instead

Photo: Cars & Bids Shelby American may be best known for the work it does on Mustangs, but Carrol Shelby didn’t always stick to Fords. Back in the late 1990s, you could also get a Shelby-tuned Dodge Durango. Was it necessary? Not at all. But then again, what about ...

View more: Forget Shelby Mustangs, Buy A Shelby-Tuned Dodge Durango Instead

Vintage Shelby Mustang 350E

Vintage Shelby Mustang 350E. A blend of sports car and muscle car, the 1967 Shelby GT 500 satisfied a maturing taste for high performance muscle car lovers.

View more: Vintage Shelby Mustang 350E

First it was Ford vs Ferrari – Now it’s Ford vs Porsche

Right, because that’s not how Porsche is at all. You just described a timeline at Porsche that you’ve followed closely. Where is Ford right now, on a parallel timeline? Perception trails reality. Is winning races about proving equipment and engineering, or is it about gaining attention from consumers as a ...

View more: First it was Ford vs Ferrari – Now it’s Ford vs Porsche

Mustang Shelby GT350 Owner Doesn't Regret Buying Car Instead Of House

After six years of ownership, this remains his most valued car.

View more: Mustang Shelby GT350 Owner Doesn't Regret Buying Car Instead Of House

North Carolina Files More Than 400 Charges Against Shelby Nissan Dealership Employees

Screenshot: Queen City News Earlier this week, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles announced that it had filed more than 400 charges against 12 employees of the franchise dealer Nissan of Shelby. According to the release, “[t]he initial investigation centered around the process used by individuals or dealers ...

View more: North Carolina Files More Than 400 Charges Against Shelby Nissan Dealership Employees

1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR

1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR 1968 SHELBY MUSTANG GT500KR – KING OF THE ROAD The “KR” suffix stands for “King of the Road” and Ford meant it. The hot new GT500KR got the best of everything. Standard equipment for the GT500KR started with Ford’s new 428 Cobra Jet V8 with Ram Air Induction ...

View more: 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR

Shelby Cobra | Muscle Car

Shelby Cobra muscle car.

View more: Shelby Cobra | Muscle Car

The 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H

Sobbing Collects Shelby County Cash

Japanese Toyota Starlet Racer Beats Shelby F-150 Super Snake at Pikes Peak

New Ford F-150 Shelby Centennial Edition Revealed; Develops Up To 789 bhp

Carroll Shelby Used a Screwdriver To Sign the Hood of this CSX Prototype

1969 Shelby GT500 Fastback| Muscle Car

Mustang Mach-E Gets the Shelby Tuning Treatment, But Only for Europe

Shelby’s first electric car is a Mustang Mach-E for Europe

Electric Shelby Mustang Mach-E revealed starting under $30K, but there’s a caveat

Europe-Only Shelby Mustang Mach-E GT Unveiled With Fake Engine Noise

This Modified Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Is Shelby's First Electric Car

2023 Shelby Mustang Mach-E GT Debuts As Tuner's First Production EV

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel