Here's an inconvenient truth for all the eco-nuts out there: People love fast cars. They're one of the simple pleasures in life. The more cantankerous and gas guzzling, the better. Who doesn't love planting their right foot on the fast pedal and hearing the wail of an engine big enough to house Snooki and all the dudes that turn her down? Carroll Shelby does. For over four decades, the man behind some of the most amazing cars made in the continental US has defined what American automotive performance is. And at 87 years old, dude doesn't show any signs wanting to stop.
On Monday we learned of his newest creation, the 2010 Ford Shelby GT350 (pictured above). 45 years after he released his first GT350, Carroll and crew are back at it with a Mustang packing a 5.0L engine tuned to push out over 500 horses. Stylistically, it looks to be one of his best. And that's saying a lot, 'cause Carroll Shelby has made some pretty mouthwatering rides throughout the years. Only time will tell if this new one will be able to grab a spot as one his best. For now, take a look at seven of our favorite Shelby cars...
Shelby Cobra Daytona
Year: 1965
Specs: 390 hp, 4.7L Ford V8
• Before he began working on the GT40, Shelby, along with legendary race car designer Pete Brock, built a purpose-built GT racer in Italy to beat Ferrari in the GT Class of World Sportscar Championship. And it did. In two years ('64 and '65) it racked up eight major wins including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Sebring 12 Hours.
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Shelby Cobra 427 SuperSnake
Year: 1966
Specs: 800hp, 7.0L Twin Supercharged V8
• After retiring from driving race cars due to heart problems, Shelby set about his other dream of building the ultimate sports car. He accomplished that by using the body of a British sports car called the AC Cobra and shoehorning a Ford V8 under the hood. The Shelby Cobra was the car that started it all. The most potent Cobra was what Carroll described as the "Cobra to end all Cobras". The 800 hp, 200 mph whip was so powerful, Bill Cosby bought one and returned it the next day because he had trouble keeping it under control. The experience unnerved him so much that he titled one of his albums "200 M.P.H."
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Shelby Mustang GT350 H / Ford Shelby GT-H
Year: 1966/2005
Specs: / 325 hp, 4.6L V8
• Imagine going on vacation and renting a car that did more than tinker around town like a wind up toy. If you went to Hertz you could. What started as a partnership in the 60's with the GT350-H—a slightly modified version of the GT350 in a special black and gold livery—continued in 2006 when Ford introduced the Hertz only GT-H. If you're thinking of renting on and riding it the car to within an inch of its life, you're a little late. There were reports of people renting the car, competing in SCCA race events and returning it.
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Shelby Mustang GT500KR
Year: 1968
Specs: 350hp, 428 cubic-inch Cobra Jet V8
• With the Cobra discontinued in 1967, Shelby and Ford decided to use the Cobra name to sell some more Mustangs and slapped it on the second gen of the Shelby Mustang collaboration. It was during this generation that they introduced the KR (King of the Road) name. Along with some new body art, the KR boasted a huge Cobra Jet V8 putting more than its reported 350 hp.
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Shelby GLHS
Year: 1986
Specs: 175hp, 2.2L Turbocharged Inline 4
• America's been building hot hatches, just look back at the GHLS. The follow up to the Omni based GLH, the GHLS was the product of Shelby taking the final GLH', kitting them out in his factory and selling them as Shelby's at select Dodge dealerships. The turbo hatch put down impressive numbers at the time with a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds, which meant the GHL acronym was pretty spot on. Just what did the GHL stand for? Goes Like Hell. For real. The faster GHLS stood for Goes Like Hell Som'more! Seriously. American car companies need more people like Carroll Shelby.
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Shelby Series 1
Year: 1998
Specs: 320hp, 4.0L V8
• The Series 1 was Shelby's first car made from the ground up. Power was derived from an Oldsmobile sourced V8 that was able to get the car to 60mph in 4.4 seconds. Or, if you opted for the supercharged version, you could get to 60 a second quicker. There were plans and talk of a Series 2 to follow, but turned out to be vaporware as we haven't heard anything about it since.
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Shelby GT500
Year: 2010
Specs: 540hp, 5.4L V8
• The latest GT500 carried on where the previous GT500KR left off. There was a slight bump in power, but where the KR was rough around the edges (and everywhere else), the '10 GT500 was more refined with a better interior package, marginally better fuel economy (every MPG counts, right?) and a more stable, smooth ride at high speeds. Nice.
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*BONUS* Ford Shelby GR-1
Year: 2005
Specs: 605hp, 6.4L V10
• We never heard anything more about a Series two, but in 2005 we thought we may get another original Shelby (albeit a Ford built one with no input from Carroll) when the GR-1 was unveiled. Based on the chassis of the Ford Shelby Cobra concept that debuted a year before, the GR-1 was more attractive—clearly inspired by the Shelby Daytona—and just as powerful with the same 605hp V10.
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