Carroll Shelby Dies at 89
Racer, car builder, team owner and entrepreneur was one of the car world's last living legends.
Automotive legend Carroll Shelby, perhaps best known for creating the Shelby Cobra during an expansive and successful career as a race-car driver, automaker, team owner and entrepreneur, died Thursday night at Baylor Hospital, in Dallas. He was 89.As a race-car driver, the high-performance legend won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Aston Martin in 1959 with co-driver Roy Salvadori. Shelby also won U.S. sports-car championship titles with Ferrari and Maserati and raced in Formula 1 for two seasons.
In the 1960s, Shelby created the iconic Shelby Cobra, which dominated the racetracks of the era and defeated Ferrari for the world manufacturer's title. Shelby went on to lend his name and tuning expertise to existing models, most notably the Ford Mustang with the Shelby GT350 Mustang -- a modern version of which, the 650-horsepower V8-powered Shelby GT500 Mustang, exists in the Ford stables to this day. During his longstanding association with the Blue Oval, Shelby also presided over the Ford team's incredible Le Mans wins in 1966 and '67. According to Autoweek, "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)."
The man's accomplishments and technical achievements with companies such as Shelby American and Shelby Automobiles, as well as with educational and charitable foundations such as the Carroll Shelby School of Automotive Technology at the Northeast Texas Community College and the Carroll Shelby Heart Fund (now Carroll Shelby Foundation), tell the story of a charismatic risk-taker and envelope-pusher -- a man for whom "faster" was a challenge, a directive and a lifelong mission. 
Carroll Hall Shelby was born Jan. 11, 1923, in Leesburg, Texas. He is survived by Cleo Shelby, his wife; sister Anne Shelby Ellison; daughter Sharon Levine and sons Michael and Patrick Shelby. You can find out more about the Carroll Shelby foundation here.
I write this as a tribute, a thank you for the man who made my life so much fun and also safe!
All of California was our race track!!! Gas was 25 cents a gallon, only 11 million people here but the entire highway grid was already built - brand new and nobody on it. Sometimes, now, late at night you can travel the roads alone but not often.
In those days you could. Fun doesn't describe it. We became legend because he made the legend.
God bless you, thank you for creating the experience that has been in my life because of you.
Just thinking of it, makes all of us want to get out there again, laugh, watch the surf come up and listen to the Beach Boys, "little GTO!!!" , surf ourselves, etc., and then jump back into these amazing cars - mine never broke down and I could beat anybody out there!!! And I did!!! and we learned how to drive and how to care and how to love in a place that had your cars in it. LOL
It's like you made another family that few know about unless you are one of those who became part of it alongside you.
I hope my words fill the hearts of all your loved ones for those of us who are this other family will never forget your contribution to our lives!!!
I don't think "Rest in Peace" says it for you!!! I think Heaven lets you finally go as fast as you want and you will for forever!!! Amen!!!
My brother and I grew up reading about Carroll Shelby and wanting to do things like he did - racing, building cars, etc - I never met the man but every time I saw him he always was charming and very down to earth. My brother was the lucky one and got to know Mr. Shelby quite well and said that he was everything that I perceived him to be. A real prince of a guy. A real loss to the automotive world and to the world at large that such a classy guy has left us. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
About 12 years ago when I was a workaholic 22 year-old with a 1990 Nissan 300zx and a Ferrari 328, my friend's stepfather owned and still has a mint, original Cobra with the 289. Black with dark red interior and absolutely gorgeous.
I had the privilege of going for a ride in it about 12 years ago as thanks for helping him swap out the brake fluid. He was so careful of the featherweight aluminum body that he insisted on closing the passenger door after I got in. Having been on both sides of the shifter in so many nice sports cars I have to say, I sure do, that Shelby Cobra was surreal to ride in. Amazing.
I thank my friend's stepfather for the brief ride down the road and just the same, I thank Carroll Shelby for his passion that made so many phenomenal cars and memories.
Without a doubt he is a life to celebrate for any automotive enthusiast.
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