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Shelby Cobra, Mustang and Supersnake: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Explore the best illustrated books on the Shelby Cobra, Mustang and Supersnake. Discover the history, models and evolution of Shelby sports cars. Perfect for enthousiasts, collectors, and anyone passionate about Shelby..

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

This updated and expanded edition provides deep insight into the life of Carroll Hall Shelby, from his humble beginnings as the son of a rural Texas postman to his death in 2012.

The updates include 16 additional pages of photos, updated information, larger text, a 50-question Shelby trivia quiz, a new foreword by Bob Bondurant, and coverage of Mustangs through 2013.

Discover the detailed stories only an unauthorized biography can offer.

Product details

Author:Wallace A. Wyss
Details:320 pages, 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.63 in (23 x 15.5 x 1.6 cm), paperback
Illustrations:78 b&w photos
Language:English
Publisher:Iconografix (USA, 2007)
ISBN:9781583881828
Book cover: Shelby: the Man, the Cars, the Legend (2nd Edition) | Iconografix

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

Language: English

Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography

Motoring author Rinsey Mills' passion for AC cars and motorsports history led to his first meeting with Carroll Shelby. Initially, Shelby rebuffed Mills' suggestion to collaborate on an accurate record of his life and achievements, but later embraced the idea enthusiastically. This authorized biography is the result, featuring fascinating photographs from Shelby's personal collection.

Mills left no stone unturned in his quest to produce a complete study of Shelby's remarkable life. He conducted extensive research and numerous interviews, capturing Shelby's narrative within and outside 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
- Release of the first Cobra and formation of Shelby American in 1962
- Long-lasting partnership with Ford
- Personal interests and travels
- Present-day legacy

Product details

Author:Rinsey Mills
Details:552 pages, 9.25 x 6.3 x 1.26 in (23.5 x 16 x 3.2 cm), paperback
Illustrations:illustrated
Language:English
Publisher:Motorbooks International (USA, 2014)
ISBN:9780760346464
Book cover: Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography | Motorbooks

Carroll Shelby: The Authorized Biography

Language: English

The Shelby American Story

Le Mans winner Carroll Shelby was one of the best American drivers in the 1950s. Unfortunately, his racing career ended after the 1960 season due to a heart condition.

Shelby, always interested in car design and construction, created the successful Cobra, followed by the King Cobra, Cobra Daytona Coupe, and Shelby Mustangs. His company, Shelby American, won the World Manufacturers Championship in 1965. Leading the Ford GT program, he achieved victories at Le Mans, Sebring, and Daytona.

This book covers both the triumphs and tragedies, profiling key figures such as Mario Andretti, Phil Hill, Ken Miles, Dan Gurney, and many others.

Product details

Author:Art Evans
Details:128 pages, 8.7 x 11 x 0.43 in (22 x 28 x 1.1 cm), hardback
Illustrations:200 b&w photos
Language:English
Publisher:Iconografix (USA, 2010)
ISBN:9780979721939
Book cover: The Shelby American Story | Iconografix

The Shelby American Story

Language: English

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

In recent years, interest in Shelby-American cars has surged. Good Shelbys are becoming increasingly rare, and their values are rising significantly. With only about 1.000 A.C. Cobras made, they are nearly impossible to find. Consequently, replicas have emerged, and there is intense competition among replica owners to create the most faithful reproductions.

This book not only showcases the originals but also highlights the creativity of replica Shelby and Cobra owners in modifying their cars to capture the spirit of the originals. It also includes the replica Cobras and Shelbys sold by Shelby himself.

Any enthusiast who reads this book will be inspired by the spirit and enthusiasm that characterized the Shelby-American plant from 1962 to 1967 - a period when they rose from obscurity to lasting fame. The book also covers Ford's 2007 Shelby Mustang GT500, developed with Carroll Shelby as a consultant.

Product details

Author:Wallace A. Wyss
Details:128 pages, 8.7 x 10.25 x 0.39 in (22 x 26 x 1 cm), paperback
Illustrations:230 b&w photos
Language:English
Publisher:Iconografix (USA, 2007)
ISBN:9781583881989
Book cover: Cobra and Shelby Mustang 1962-2007 Photo Archive - Including Prototypes and Clones | Iconografix

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

Language: English

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

In 1962, retired racing legend Carroll Shelby sought his next venture. He had started a racing school at Riverside Raceway in California but aspired to build his own sports and racing car. He found a promising platform in the British AC Ace and installed an American V-8 engine, creating the Shelby Cobra.

Shelby established his workshop in Venice, California, later in 1962, marking the start of the classic Cobra era. This period saw a remarkable blend of talented designers, rapid car development, championship-winning teams and drivers, and bold innovation. The Venice shop produced the 289 Cobra, Daytona Coupe, 427 Cobra, Mustang GT350, Sunbeam Tiger, and more.
Eventually, the facility could not handle the workload, especially when Ford enlisted Shelby to develop a high-performance version of its successful Mustang. Moving to a larger facility and closer ties with Ford somewhat diluted the original spirit.

This book explores the Venice shop during the crucial 1962-1965 period. Author and photographer Dave Friedman, Shelby's official photographer, documented everything from Cobra construction to race wins. It offers an insider's view through Friedman's photos and firsthand accounts from Shelby's key players. This book is essential for understanding this pivotal period in Shelby's history and American racing.

Product details

Author:Dave Friedman
Details:240 pages, 10.25 x 12.8 x 1.06 in (26 x 32.5 x 2.7 cm), hardback
Illustrations:200 b&w and 100 color photos
Language:English
Publisher:Motorbooks International (USA, 2017)
ISBN:9780760351987
Book cover: Shelby American Up Close and Behind the Scenes - The Venice Years 1962-1965 | Motorbooks

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

Language: English

The last Shelby Cobra: My times with Carroll Shelby

Carroll Shelby, the famous racing driver, team owner, and creator of the Shelby Cobra, Daytona, and Mustang GT350, is widely admired by car enthusiasts. However, little attention has been given to the last 25 years of his life. During this period, Chris Theodore, a senior executive at Chrysler and Ford, formed a close personal friendship with Shelby.

This book tells the story of the many vehicles they developed together, including the Viper, Ford GT, Shelby Cobra Concept, Shelby GR1, and Shelby GT500. It offers an insider view of Shelby's return to Ford and the complex five-year effort to place the Shelby name on a Ford production car.

The author shares new insights and previously untold stories about Shelby's strong character, drive, interests, and several unpublished projects he worked on until his death. The book also covers their final unfinished project, the Super Snake II Cobra, and the unexpected events that allowed the author to acquire "Daisy, " the last Shelby Cobra. For his admirers, Carroll Shelby truly was "the most interesting man in the world."

Product details

Author:Chris Theodore
Details:160 pages, 9.8 x 8.1 x 0.43 in (25 x 20.5 x 1.1 cm), paperback
Illustrations:extensively illustrated
Language:English
Publisher:Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2021)
ISBN:9781787117501
Book cover: The last Shelby Cobra: My times with Carroll Shelby | Veloce

The last Shelby Cobra: My times with Carroll Shelby

Language: English

Shelby: Cobra - Mustang - GT40 ...

Carroll Shelby, the Texan racing driver and businessman who passed away in 2012, dedicated his life to building performance cars and creating icons. He is known for the legendary Cobra, the Ford Mustang's robust image as an American sports car, and challenging Ferrari with the GT40.

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

Pages of the book "Shelby: Cobra - Mustang - GT40 ..."

But did you know about the Sunbeam Tiger, the Viper connection, the Cooper Monaco "King Cobra, " or the Talbot Horizon, which competed with the Golf GTI in the USA as the Shelby Dodge? Shelby also transformed the Toyota 2000GT into a racing car.
Read the captivating story and enjoy fantastic photos spanning more than five decades.

Product details

Author:Colin Comer
Details:256 pages, 11.6 x 10.25 x 1.38 in (29.5 x 26 x 3.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:350 b&w and color photos
Language:German
Publisher:Heel-Verlag GmbH (D, 2013)
ISBN:9783868528107
Book cover: Shelby: Cobra - Mustang - GT40 ... | Heel

Shelby: Cobra - Mustang - GT40 ...

Language: German

More titles on Shelby:

Book cover: Shelby Cobra (1962-1969) | Gold Portfolio

Shelby Cobra (1962-1969)

English | paperback | 180 p. | 1992

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

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

Gordon Bruce | English | hardback | 128 p. | 2017