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Shelby American

Shelby American was created by Carroll Shelby in California in 1962 to build his Ford-powered Cobra. The company still builds Shelby vehicles and has been based in Las Vegas since late 2013.1

Shelby American Charger GLHS (1987)
Shelby American Charger GLHS (1987)
Photo: Mr.choppers · CC BY-SA 3.0
50Cars documented
6Individual chassissee each car
1962Founded

Model lines

Rare versions grouped by model line. Open a line to see every version and rare factory colour by generation and model year.

GT500 13 rare versions · 1967–2014

All GT500 versions →

GT350 11 rare versions · 1965–1969

All GT350 versions →

Cobra 5 rare versions · 1964–2015

All Cobra versions →

GT-H 3 rare versions · 2006–2016

All GT-H versions →

Shelby 1 rare version · 1 colour variants · 2008

All Shelby versions →

Other cars

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Key facts

Founded
19621 Independently researched
Founder
Carroll Shelby1 Independently researched
Headquarters
Las Vegas, Nevada (since late 2013); originally California1 Independently researched

History

Carroll Shelby created Shelby American in California in 1962 to build his car, the Cobra, which used Ford 260 and later 289 cubic-inch engines. The company produced the Shelby Mustang GT350 for 1965, and on 4 July 1965 the Cobra Daytona Coupe helped Shelby American win the World Manufacturers' GT Championship. By 1966 the Shelby American Ford GT programme was dominant at Le Mans. The 428-engined Shelby GT500 was built from 1967 to 1970. Carroll Shelby died on 11 May 2012, and Shelby American moved to its current headquarters near the Las Vegas Strip in late 2013.

1

Milestones

  1. 1962
    Carroll Shelby created Shelby American in California to build the Ford-engined Cobra.1
  2. 1965
    The Shelby Mustang GT350 was introduced.1
  3. 1965
    On 4 July 1965 the Cobra Daytona Coupe helped Shelby American win the World Manufacturers' GT Championship.1
  4. 1966
    The Shelby American-run Ford GT programme dominated at Le Mans.1
  5. 1967
    The 428-engined Shelby GT500 entered production, built until 1970.1
  6. 2013
    Shelby American moved to its current headquarters near the Las Vegas Strip.1

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Shelby History Level A Shelby American
    • In 1962, Shelby created Shelby American
    • The result was the 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350.
    • July 4, 1965, the Cobra Daytona Coupe helped Shelby American win
    • By 1966 the Shelby American Ford GT program was all conquering
    • The Shelby GT500, powered by a 428 cubic inch engine
    • moved to its current headquarters just off the Las Vegas strip in late 2013
    • Shelby created Shelby American, a new company to build his car
    • a new company to build his car in California
    • Equipped with the Ford 260 and later the 289 cubic-inch engines
    • helped Shelby American win the World Manufacturers' GT Championship
    • The Shelby GT500 ... was built from 1967-1970.
    • Carroll Shelby passed away on May 11, 2012.
    Accessed 2026-11-11

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