2004 Detroit Auto Show: Ford Shelby Cobra Concept Named Best in Show
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15, 2004 -- Carroll Shelby International, Inc.'s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Carroll Shelby, saw the concept car he and Ford created just five months ago receive its first distinguished award. AutoWeek announced its Editor's Choice awards for this year's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and the Ford Shelby Concept Car unveiled in Detroit took top honors, being named "Best in Show."
"With the debut of the Shelby Cobra concept, Ford completes a power trilogy of sorts, reliving its performance past with the new Mustang, Ford GT and now this homage to the legacy of Carroll Shelby," said AutoWeek Editor Mike Floyd.
"Unlike the GT, this Cobra is modern in its design philosophy. But there are cues to past Shelby creations, like the yawning, semicircular air dam, side vents and all the curvaceous sheet metal needed to cover the 19-inch meats in the rear. There's gobs of power thanks to a 6.4-liter, aluminum- block V10 pumping out 605 hp and 501 lb-ft torque. Developed in just five months by the Ford Advanced Product Creation team, with a healthy dose of input from Shelby, the car has already been in track with none other than ol' Shel himself at the controls doing smoky burnouts," added Floyd.
"I am very pleased that the way the Cobra turned out and how well it was received by everyone, especially enthusiasts and the media," said Shelby.
In the 1960s Carroll Shelby and Ford worked together on both racing and production vehicle programs, from the original Ford-powered Shelby Cobra to the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40 racing cars and the Shelby GT350 and GT500 Mustangs that kick-started the pony car craze. It was a decade of performance punctuated by Ford muscle and Shelby's engineering prowess.
<About Carroll Shelby International, Inc.
Carroll Shelby International, Inc. is the parent company of Shelby Automobiles and Carroll Shelby Licensing.
Shelby Automobiles Inc. is manufacturing high performance Shelby vehicles under the guidance of the legendary Carroll Shelby and will be involved in prototype manufacturing, design and engineering projects; and plans to increase production and availability of these Shelby products through an expanded dealer network and direct sales under a license agreement with Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc. For more information, call 702/325-4851 or visit the company's web site at www.shelbyautos.com .
Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., founded in 1988, is the exclusive holder of automotive manufacturer and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby's trademarks and vehicle design rights, which include some of the world's most famous muscle cars and high-performance vehicles, including the car that brought home to the U.S. its first and only FIA World Manufacturers Championship in 1965, the famous Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. It also holds trademark rights for Shelby- branded apparel, accessories and collectibles. For additional information about the company or licensing opportunities, call (310) 914-1843, or fax (310) 914-1853 or write to Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc., 11150 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 1050, Los Angeles, CA 90064 or visit www.carrollshelbyinternational.com or www.carrollshelby.com .
