Carroll Shelby, dead at 89

[jayb]

RIP, Carroll.

LOS ANGELES– May 11,2012 – Carroll Shelby International, Inc., (OTC: CSBI.PK) announced today that Carroll Hall Shelby, a man whose vision for performance transformed the automobile industry, has died at age 89.   Mr. Shelby passed away yesterday at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Born on Jan. 11, 1923, Carroll Shelby was one of America’s greatest success stories.  Championship-winning racecar driver, “flying sergeant” wartime pilot, philanthropist, entrepreneur, car manufacturer and racing team owner, he embodied the ingenuity, tenacity and grit to overcome any obstacle.  He is perhaps the only person to have worked at a visible level with all three major American automobile manufacturers. 
 Carroll Shelby founded Carroll Shelby International, a publicly held corporation involved in many industries.  His licensing arm has agreements with industry giants, such as Mattel, Sony, Ford Motor Company and Electronic Arts.  His car company, Shelby American, has a thriving parts business as well as a line of muscle cars including the Shelby GT500 Super Snake, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GTS.  The Las Vegas-based company also manufactures a limited number of the 1960s Shelby 289 “street,” 289 FIA, 427 S/C and Daytona Coupe Cobras.

Shelby considered his greatest achievement to be the establishment of the Carroll Shelby Foundation™.  Createdin 1992 while Shelby was waiting for a heart transplant, the charity is dedicated to providing medical assistance for those in need, including children, educational opportunities for young people through automotive and other training programsandbenefitting the Carroll Shelby Automotive Foundation.

Shelby remained active in the management of each of his companies and the Foundation until his death, even though he endured both heart and kidney transplants in the last two decades of his life. 

“We are all deeply saddened, and feel a tremendous sense of loss for Carroll’s family, ourselves and the entire automotive industry,” said Joe Conway, president of Carroll Shelby International, Inc. and board member.  “There has been no one like Carroll Shelby and never will be.  However, we promised Carroll we would carry on, and he put the team, the products and the vision in place to do just that.”

Shelby is survived by his three children Patrick, Michael and Sharon, his sister Anne Shelby Ellison of Fort Worth and his wife Cleo.  Funeral plans are not currently available.  Donations to the Carroll Shelby Foundation are encouraged in lieu of flowers.  Information about the Carroll Shelby Foundation is available at www.carrollshelbyfoundation.org. 

[Kerry j]

I've heard a lot of people carp about Carroll, but I have a personal experience with him I posted over on the FE Forum; here's the jist of it:

I bought a plane from Carroll about 18 months ago. It's a 1982 Aerostar; he used it to commute from LA to Vegas a few years back. It hadn't been flown for quite awhile and needed work; we agreed on a price and then he would be responsible to make it airworthy. It was a very good deal for me but I think he ended up with very little left over because the plane needed so much work to get it airworthy.

Because of all the negative stuff I had heard and read, I was expecting some kind of a trick or fight when it became apparent that this was going to cost him a bundle. But nothing ever happened, he was straight as an arrow with me and did everything he said he would do. I can't say that for a lot of other car and plane deals I've been involved in.

I only met him once; the rest of the business was done through a dealer he used quite a bit, but he did have the final say on everything, so this was his deal with me. I will say that he seemed pretty feeble, but still sharp when I met him.

We all have to die some day and from my experience he was one of the good guys, so I think he is leaving with a legacy anyone would be happy to have. I can also say that I'm sad he's gone and I believe he will be missed and that he contributed a lot to the sport and hobby we love.

Godspeed Carroll, I know you're feeling better now than you've felt for a very long time.

[Hemi Joel]

The man was a giant. Imagine what we would be missing if he never existed. 

[mammyjammer]

He had one heck of life and he did a lot for not only Ford, but the entire hobby.

[WConley]

I agree.  The man was an icon!  It just seems strange to me that ole' Shel is gone.

You've got to admit, he sure ran out way past his warranty.

[fetorino]

An Icon and a visionary.

He had a great run even going a couple decades on borrowed time with a borrowed heart.  Wasn't he the longest surviving heat transplant recipient on top of everything else he did?

RIP and thanks for the cars.

[BigNate]

Love him or hate him - he built some ridiculous cars and changed motor-sports history...  There are a very small number of cars from his life's work I would not be glad to drive.

Prayers for comfort for his grieving family and friends.