This does not seem to have been distributed. Sorry if it is redundant.
-----Original Message-----
From: Teepen, Jere
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 2:02 PM
To: 'Carlo Bernardino'; tigers@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: [Tigers] Shelby Obits
Ooh, sore spot.
I would be more than willing to say with very high confidence that Carroll
Shelby was more involved with the Shelby/Dodge cars than he was with the
Sunbeam Tiger. The Alpine project was given to others at his shop to
determine how to make it work. He may have had some input, but this was a
contracted job, not an effort he was pursuing on a personal level. The racing
efforts for the Shelby Tiger were not a high priority and they only raced it
for one season (I think).
Shelby's efforts with Dodge were much more than "lending his name". He was
directly involved with the concept and execution of the Shelby Dodges. This
is not to say he was wrenching on them, he was rarely hands on with any of the
cars bearing his name. The Shelby Dodges were a strong contender in the SCCA
battles from 1984 with the Shelby Charger and Omni, through 1992 with the
Shelby Shadow. And then there were the Shelby Can Am cars that were built at
the Shelby Performance Center in Whittier, CA. These were purpose built
racecars, designed in part by Pete Brock, using Chrysler sourced V-6 engines
and dedicated transaxles. This race series lasted until the late nineties, I
believe, and there are many still being campaigned. There is (was?)a Shelby
Can Am website that lists the cars and their current owners/whereabouts, but I
have not looked at/for it for a couple of years. Shelby's relationship with
Dodge lasted longer than his initial relationship with Ford. Sadly these cars
have not survived well and are only sought after by a relatively few dedicated
souls. If you have never driven a GLHS then you are missing a very different
treat.
As for the late model stuff, I have not paid a lot of attention to them, but
they also have a lot of Carroll Shelby input into the direction they have gone
with the cars. And they are modified at a dedicated Shelby American facility
in Las Vegas, NV. Again, more than "lending his name".
I am not writing this to minimize Shelby's contribution to the Tiger. I
believe the Sunbeam Tiger is rightfully recognized as having a claim to a
Shelby American birthright and I am a proud member of the LASAAC. But let us
keep a proper perspective of the efforts of Carroll Shelby and Shelby
American.
Jere
-----Original Message-----
From: tigers-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:tigers-bounces@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Carlo Bernardino
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2012 8:41 PM
To: tigers@autox.team.net
Subject: [Tigers] Shelby Obits
Like everyone in the Tiger community, I was saddened to hear of his passing.
I also was saddened that I will not be able to meet the man, at a show or
elsewhere. It would be need to shake the hand of one of my automotive heroes.
However, one things that I find interesting that none of his obituaries in the
press even mention remotely the Tiger and his involvement. Some mention great
minute details of his life in Africa, or his chili pursuits, or how he helped
with the Omni GLH and other cars. But no Tiger. I know I am speaking to the
choir, but it is as good a time as any to set the record straight.
Autoweek just posted a list of Shelby's 10 most important cars, and I wrote
Dutch Mandel, one of the editors, mentioning the Tiger's omission. He
countered that the tiger was like the Toyota 2000 GT that Shelby raced. I
wrote back saying the two are not at all analogous. Furthermore, we could
argue that he did more engineering in the tiger's case than lending his name
on the modern Shelby mustangs or Omni pocket rockets.
Rob
Rob in Carmel, CA
1966 Mk1A Tiger
B382000262 LRXFE
JAL660245
Color Code 39: Carnival Red
TAC# 0519
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