Carroll Shelby

Carroll Hall Shelby (January 11, 1923 – May 10, 2012) was an American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur.

Shelby was involved with the AC Cobra and Mustang for the Ford Motor Company. With driver Ken Miles, he developed the Ford GT40, the car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969. As of 2026, it remains the only American-built car to win at Le Mans. Their efforts were dramatized in the 2019 Oscar-winning film Ford v Ferrari (titled Le Mans '66 in some European countries).

Shelby and co-driver Roy Salvadori won the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans driving an Aston Martin DBR1. He won the 1960 Sports Car Club of America United States Auto Club Road Racing Sports Car Championship by winning the round-one race at Riverside International Raceway in a Maserati Tipo 61 "Birdcage" and winning round two at Continental Divide Raceways in a Chevrolet Scarab Mark II.

In 1962, Shelby established Shelby American to manufacture and market performance vehicles. His autobiography, The Carroll Shelby Story, was published in 1967.

Early life and career

Carroll Hall Shelby was born on January 11, 1923, to Warren Hall Shelby, a rural mail carrier, and his wife, Eloise Shelby (born Lawrence), in Leesburg, Texas. The younger Shelby suffered from heart valve leakage problems by the age of seven and related complications throughout his life. From a young age, Shelby was fascinated with speed, which led to an interest in cars and airplanes. He moved to Dallas, Texas, at the age of seven with his family, and around the age of ten, he rode his bicycle to dirt tracks nearby to watch races. At the age of 15, he was driving and taking care of his father's Ford. Shelby honed his driving skills with his Willys automobile while attending Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas. He graduated in 1940.