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Shelby Cobra, Mustang and Supersnake: books - history

A book on the Shelby Cobra, Mustang or Supersnake? Here are illustrated books on the history and technology of Shelby cars.


The Shelby American Story

Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby was one of the best American drivers during the fifties. But unfortunately, his racing career was cut short after the 1960 season due to his heart condition.

Always interested in car design and construction, Shelby conceived one of the most successful sports cars, the Cobra, followed by the King Cobra, the Cobra Daytona Coupe and Shelby Mustangs.
His company, Shelby American, won the World Manufacturers Championship in 1965. At the helm of the Ford GT program, he won the triple crown of racing: Le Mans, Sebring and Daytona.

This book details not only the triumphs, but also the tragedies as well profiling those involved including Mario Andretti, Phil Hill, Ken Miles, Dan Gurney and many others.

Author:Art Evans
Specs:128 pages, 22 x 28 x 1.1 cm / 8.7 x 11 x 0.43 in, hardback
Illustrations:200 b&w photographs
Publisher:Iconografix (USA, 2010)
EAN:9780979721939
Book: The Shelby American Story

The Shelby American Story

Language: English

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Shelby American Up Close and Behind the Scenes - The Venice Years 1962-1965

In 1962 retired racing great Carroll Shelby was looking for his next big move. He'd started a racing school at Riverside Raceway in California, but he really wanted to build his own sports and racing car.
He found a promising platform in the British AC Ace, and set about stuffing an American V-8 between the AC's dainty fenders. Thus was born the Shelby Cobra.

Shelby set up shop in Venice, California, later in 1962, marking the beginning of the classic Cobra era. It was a near supernatural combination of brilliant designers and wrenches, ever-faster cars, championship-winning teams and drivers, and sheer chutzpah.

The Venice shop spawned the 289 Cobra, Daytona Coupe, 427 Cobra, Mustang GT350, Sunbeam Tiger, and more. Eventually the Venice facility could not handle the work, especially when Ford tapped Shelby to create a high-performance version of its new and wildly successful Mustang.
Moving to a larger facility and the closer relationship with Ford seemed to diminish the fast and loose nature of the original enterprise. Some of the mojo was lost.

"Shelby American Up Close and Behind the Scenes" takes the reader inside the Venice shop in the critical 1962-1965 period. Author/photographer Dave Friedman was Shelby's official shooter, and he documented everything from Cobra construction to paddock wrenching to race wins.
This is an insider's look via Friedman's documentary photography and first-person stories from Shelby's key players. It's a must-have review of this critical period in both Shelby's history and the history of American racing.

Author:Dave Friedman
Specs:240 pages, 26 x 32.5 x 2.7 cm / 10.25 x 12.8 x 1.06 in, hardback
Illustrations:200 b&w and 100 colour photographs
Publisher:Motorbooks International (USA, 2017)
EAN:9780760351987
Book: Shelby American Up Close and Behind the Scenes - The Venice Years 1962-1965

Shelby American Up Close and Behind the Scenes - The Venice Years 1962-1965

Language: English

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Shelby: Cobra - Mustang - GT40

Carroll Shelby, der 2012 verstorbene texanische Rennfahrer und Geschäftsmann, hat den größten Teil seines Lebens damit verbracht, Performance-Cars auf die Räder zu stellen - und er hat Ikonen geschaffen: Mit seinem Namen verbunden ist die legendäre Cobra, dem Ford Mustang hat er sein praktisch unzerstörbares Image als der amerikanische Sportwagen verschafft, und mit dem GT40 hat er Ferrari das Fürchten gelehrt.

Pages of the book Shelby: Cobra - Mustang - GT40 (1)

Aber kennen Sie auch den Sunbeam Tiger? Die Viper-Connection? Den Cooper Monaco "King Cobra"? Den Talbot Horizon, der in den USA als Shelby-Dodge dem Golf GTI Paroli bot? Wussten Sie, dass Shelby den sagenhaften Toyota 2000GT zum Rennwagen machte?
Lesen Sie die mitreißend geschriebene Geschichte und schwelgen Sie in phantastischen Fotos aus mehr als fünf Jahrzehnten.

Author:Colin Comer
Specs:256 pages, 29.5 x 26 x 3.5 cm / 11.6 x 10.25 x 1.38 in, hardback
Illustrations:350 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:Heel-Verlag GmbH (D, 2013)
EAN:9783868528107
Book: Shelby: Cobra - Mustang - GT40

Shelby: Cobra - Mustang - GT40

Language: German

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Cobra and Shelby Mustang 1962-2007 Photo Archive - Including Prototypes and Clones

In this book are perhaps the world's most desirable high-performance cars. From the first of Shelby's A.C. derived Cobras up through today's Ford Shelby Mustangs and all of the replicas and clones in between, this book shows them all.
For raw excitement, nothing beats these cars. Enjoy!

Author:Wallace A. Wyss
Specs:128 pages, 22 x 26 x 1 cm / 8.7 x 10.25 x 0.39 in, paperback
Illustrations:230 b&w photographs
Publisher:Iconografix (USA, 2007)
EAN:9781583881989
Book: Cobra and Shelby Mustang 1962-2007 Photo Archive - Including Prototypes and Clones

Cobra and Shelby Mustang 1962-2007 Photo Archive - Including Prototypes and Clones

Language: English

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Shelby: the Man, the Cars, the Legend (2nd Edition)

This newly updated and expanded edition gives incredible insight into the life and times of Carroll Hall Shelby, from his humble brith as the son of a rural Texas postman up through his death in 2012.
Updates include 16 additional pages of photos, updated information and larger text, Bonus 50 question Shelby trivia quiz, new Foreword by Bob Bondarant, and coverage through 2013 Mustangs.
Get the nitty-gritty details only an un-authorized Biography (as this book is) would include!

Author:Wallace A. Wyss
Specs:320 pages, 23 x 15.5 x 1.6 cm / 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.63 in, paperback
Illustrations:78 b&w photographs
Publisher:Iconografix (USA, 2007)
EAN:9781583881828
Book: Shelby: the Man, the Cars, the Legend (2nd Edition)

Shelby: the Man, the Cars, the Legend (2nd Edition)

Language: English

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Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography

It was motoring author Rinsey Mills' passion for AC cars and motorsports history that led to his first meeting with Carroll Shelby. His suggestion that they should collaborate in order to create an accurate record of Shelby's life and achievements at first was rebuffed but later taken up with enthusiasm. This authorized biography is the result. Fascinating photographs from Shelby's personal collection complete the book.

This work was a long time in the making, as Mills left no stone unturned in his quest to produce the complete study of Shelby's remarkable life. He carried out extensive research and conducted numerous interviews, fully capturing the narrative of Carroll Shelby within and outside of the automotive racing world, including his:
- Childhood in Texas
- Wartime service with the Army Air Force
- Postwar entrepreneurship
- Earliest race wins in 1952
- Legendary 1959 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
- Monumental release of the first Cobra and the formation of Shelby American in 1962
- Historical partnership with Ford that would last for decades
- Personal interests and travels
- Present-day legacy.

Author:Rinsey Mills
Specs:552 pages, 23.5 x 16 x 3.2 cm / 9.25 x 6.3 x 1.26 in, paperback
Illustrations:illustrated
Publisher:Motorbooks International (USA, 2014)
EAN:9780760346464
Book: Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography

Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography

Language: English

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Related titles:

Shelby Cobra 1962-1969

Shelby Cobra (1962-1969)

English | paperback | 180 p. | 1992

Shelby Cobra 50 ans

Shelby Cobra 50 ans

Colin Comer

French | hardback | 256 p. | 2013

Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe: CSX2300

Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe : The autobiography of CSX2300

Rinsey Mills

English | hardback | 320 p. | 2020

The First Three Shelby Cobras

The First Three Shelby Cobras : The Sports Cars That Changed the Game

Gordon Bruce

English | hardback | 128 p. | 2017

Shelby and AC Cobra

Shelby and AC Cobra

Brian Laban

English | hardback | 208 p. | 2015

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The TMB Bookshop offers not only general books about Shelby . Click here to discover all books about Shelby (including technical books like workshop manuals, restauration manuals, driver's handbooks, parts catalogues, etc.).


Last update:27-03-2024