The Last Shelby Cobra

Carroll Shelby — legendary driver, race team owner, and creator of the Shelby Cobra, Daytona, and Mustang GT350 — is revered by automotive enthusiasts around the world. Yet little has been written about the final 25 years of his remarkable life. During that time, Chris Theodore, Vice President at Chrysler and Ford, developed a close personal friendship with Shelby.

The Last Shelby Cobra chronicles the development of the many vehicles they worked on together, including the Dodge Viper, Ford GT, Shelby Cobra Concept, Shelby GR1, and Shelby GT500. It provides an insider’s account of how Shelby was reunited with the Ford family and the intrigue behind the five-year journey to get the Shelby badge back on a Ford production car.

The author shares new stories and insights into Shelby’s larger-than-life personality, energy, and passion, as well as many of the unpublished projects he was involved with up until his passing. The book also tells the story of their unfinished project, the Super Snake II Cobra, and the extraordinary circumstances that allowed Theodore to acquire Daisy, the last Shelby Cobra ever built.

To his many fans, Carroll Shelby truly was “the most interesting man in the world.”

The inside story of Carroll Shelby’s last quarter century — the man, his cars, and his secret projects. Shelby, Chrysler, and the Dodge Viper story. The intrigue behind reuniting Shelby with Ford. Shelby’s role as “Chief Technical Advisor” to Project Petunia — the Ford GT40. Codename Daisy, the Shelby Cobra Concept — its creation and how the author came to own it. The backstory of Project Condor — how Shelby’s name finally appeared on the Mustang Shelby GT500. Carroll and the GR1 — the spiritual successor to the legendary Shelby Daytona. Secret projects including the Shelby GT Mark IV, successor to the Ford GT, and Shelby American Mustangs such as the GT, GTH, GT500KR, Super Snake, Terlingua, 1000, and GT/SC. Includes the author’s first-hand account of his 24-year friendship with Carroll Shelby.

Industry Reviews: “This is a well-researched labour of love on a niche subject, bolstered by a good selection of period and modern photographs.” – Auto Express “The iconic character of Carroll Shelby (1923–2012) and the famous cars he helped create are the subject of this book written by a real insider. Author Chris Theodore worked with Shelby during his career at Ford and Chrysler, providing an ideal perspective on Shelby, the Ford GT, Shelby Cobra Concept, Shelby Mustang GT500, and much more. A fantastic book!” – Autoliefhebbers.be “Or more accurately, what Carroll did next – a history of Shelby that picks up where most leave off, with the Chrysler projects and the return to Ford.” – Classic Cars

• Hardback
• 25 x 20.7 cm
• 160 pages
• 180 pictures

Book Details

• Published: 19 September 2019
• ISBN: 9781787114500