Automotive Legend Carroll Shelby Dies

Carroll Shelby, an auto racer, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose name is synonymous with old-school muscle-car performance, has died at age 89. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Shelby was most famous for the high-performance Cobras and Mustangs bearing his name, but he also was a high-profile consultant who worked with all three Detroit auto makers at one time or another.

Shelby most recently collaborated with Ford on the ’13 Shelby GT500, powered by the most powerful production V-8 in the world, rated at 662 hp.

Working with SVT engineers at Sebring and the Arizona Proving Grounds, at times he drove for more than eight hours – at the age of 88.

Shelby founded Carroll Shelby International, a publicly held corporation involved in many industries.

His licensing arm has agreements with Mattel, Sony, Ford and Electronic Arts. His car company, Shelby American, has a parts business as well as a line of muscle cars including the Shelby GT500 Super Snake, Shelby GT350 and Shelby GTS.

Shelby considered his greatest achievement to be the Carroll Shelby Foundation. Created in 1992 while he was waiting for a heart transplant, the charity is dedicated to providing medical assistance for children, and educational opportunities for young people through automotive and other training programs.

Shelby remained active in the management of each of his companies and the foundation until his death, even though he endured both heart and kidney transplants in the last two decades of his life.

Shelby is survived by his three children, Patrick, Michael and Sharon; his sister Anne Shelby Ellison of Fort Worth, and his wife Cleo.