Roland;
-I heard the first "fact" below with these additional "details":
-Shelby went to GM for engines for his COBRA's; he was turned down
because GM was just then entering into a market expansion &
advertising blitz for their Corvette program and didn't want some
"hotshot" taking any publicity away from them with another car.(GM
& Pontiac also thought John DeLorean a pariah for his GTO program).
-I fuzzily remember that Shelby was most impressed by the Corvettes he
had raced against and originally wanted a small-block Chevy in the
lighter A.C. chassis for competitive reasons.I don't think he was
impressed much by the other European offerings; he figured his desired
power/weight ratios mated to a race-prepped chassis would clinch wins
for him. By the way, a couple years ago I saw a great special on
Shelby's WHOLE career up to about 1993? on the A & E cable channel.
-A couple years ago helping a friend as "crew-chief" on his GT-350 at
the Palm Springs Road Races, one of the two surviving (so I was told)
Grand Sport Corvettes was running. What history can you fill me in on
about these? I also got a photo or 2 of the Daytona model Cobra's.When
we ever get together for lunch with Gary W. & Steve W., remind me to
bring my photos.
Phil
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: RE: The 215 thread/ Super 'Crosser
Author: Roland Dudley <cobra@cdc.hp.com> at ~INTERNET
Date: 6/26/96 9:20 AM
>
> Shelby's association was always with Ford. I don't know of any Shelby
> car without one.
>
> Rich
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding something here.
Initially Shelby approached GM about supplying engines for the Cobra.
Shelby race prepared Porsche 914-6s in the late '60s
Shelby had an arrangement with Chrysler (Dodge & Viper) until recently.
Shelby is currently developing a "new" Cobra for GM (Oldsmobile).
And these are just post Shelby race driving associations.
Roland
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