Shelby: A Retrospective at the AACA Museum, Road trip April 16 or 17, 2011

[Scott Harrison]

REVISED 4-13-11
Here's the preferred days voted so far...
Hershey AACA Shelby Show   
   
Scott Harrison      Either
Kevin Moses      Sat
Allen Bishop      Sun
Doug Wheeler      Sat
Larry White      Sat
Ken Caniglia      Sat
John Evans      Sat
Vic Chambers      Sun
Hector Rodriguez      Either
Bill Wemhoff      Sat
Corey Zimmerman      Either
Mike Kidwell                 Either      
Rex Turner                  Sun      
      
Totals      Sat: 10, Sun 7




Shelby: A Retrospective at the AACA Museum February 11 - April 24, 2011


Hershey, PA (December 20, 2010).  Carroll Shelby is an icon of the automotive world.  For over 50 years his name has served as a virtual synonym for the term “automotive performance.”  Shelby began his career as a race car driver and before being forced to retire due to health reasons, won the prestigious 1959 24 Hours of LeMans driving for Aston Martin.  Although he was twice named Sports Illustrated’s Driver of the Year (1956 and 1957) he is much better known worldwide for his work in his second career as an automobile builder.  From his first project that combined the British built two-seat AC Bristol with a Ford V8 to create the “Cobra,” to his current partnership with Ford, Shelby has always had his sights set on building the ultimate American sports car.  Along the way he has created a long line of popular and extremely successful street and race vehicles bearing the names Cobra, Daytona Coupe, GT40, GT350 and GT500 Mustangs and the Chrysler Omni GLHS.

Beginning on February 11th this compelling story will be told at the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum through the special exhibition, Shelby: A Retrospective.  The exhibition will feature approximately 18 cars representing  the manufacturers and body styles that chronicle Shelby’s history as a sports car manufacturer and performance tuner.  The exhibition will include cars from all phases of Shelby’s career.



 We will have an example of the first car to bear his name - the two-seat English made AC Bristol that he imported to the States, outfitted with Ford’s 260 and 289 cubic inch V8s and successfully sold and raced as the AC Cobra.  Shelby continued with larger-engined versions of the Cobra while also turning his attention to the Mustang.  From 1965 to 1970, specially modified Mustangs bearing the names Shelby GT350 and GT500 were produced either in his shop or by Ford under licensed contract.  Outstanding examples of all of these cars will be included in the exhibition; including a car owned by Chuck Cantwell who was the project engineer and test driver on the 1965 though 1967 GT350s and GT500s.

During the mid 1960s Shelby was extremely active in motorsports racing.  His cars competed and scored major victories in venues as diverse as the Trans Am series and major drag racing series.  He was also a part of Henry Ford II’s all out campaign to best Ferrari and win the 24 Hours of LeMans, which culminated in the 1967 victory with the GT40/MKIV.  A 1968 Mustang Coupe Trans-Am Car is among these highly desirable competition vehicles acquired for the display.


Shelby continued with personal projects throughout the 1970s then partnered with the Chrysler Corporation beginning in 1983 for a host of special performance production cars such as the Shelby Charger, Daytona Turbo and the Omni GLHS.  During his stint with Chrysler he was also part of the team that designed the Dodge Viper.  In 1999 he built his first ever completely new vehicle, the Shelby Series 1, a roadster powered by Oldsmobile’s 4.0L engine.  In 2004, Shelby rejoined Ford for a new generation of GT500 cars based on the retro Mustang.  This partnership is still active and will be represented in the display.


Our tribute exhibition will also tell the Shelby story through an historical timeline supported by graphics, period photographs and large collection of memorabilia specially gathered for this display.  Specific items include the hand painted original sign from the California Fabrication Workshop, Team jackets Team shirts and the like.   We plan to make this the most inclusive Shelby tribute ever assembled by a museum.  Another unique aspect of this exhibit will be “Hi-Performance Motors” our re-creation of a 1965 Era Ford Dealership Showroom complete with 1965 Ford product literature.

On April 17th, we will continue the celebration by hosting an All Ford Gathering featuring the cars of Carroll Shelby.  This takes placed on the 46th Anniversary of the introduction of the Iconic Mustang.   Anyone with a Shelby-built vehicle, Shelby tribute car or Ford Mustang is invited to participate in this event.   The participation fee will be $10 per car and will include one admission to the AACA Museum to see the exhibit and a commemorative dash plaque. Shelby engineer and test-driver, Chuck Cantwell, will be a featured speaker.  Registration and additional information will be available in early 2011.

Exhibit Contact:

Jeffrey Bliemeister - Museum Curator  717-566-7100 ext. 104

http://www.aacamuseum.org/events/newsstory.aspx?id=235

[vamach1]

Oh yeah - count me in.   

Shelby: A Retrospective Exhibit
February 11 – April 24, 2011
The exhibition will feature approximately 18 cars representing
the manufacturers and body styles that chronicle Shelby’s history
as a sports car manufacturer and performance tuner.
Vehicle List
1964 King Cobra – Cooper Monaco
Courtesy of Beth & Ross Myers 3 Dog Garage

1965 289 Cobra
Courtesy of Dave Lavertue

1965 289 Cobra DragonSnake
Courtesy of Steven Juliano

1965 Shelby GT350 Mustang
Courtesy of Brant Halterman

1965 Shelby GT350R Mustang
Courtesy of Beth & Ross Myers 3 Dog Garage

1966 Shelby GT350 Mustang
Courtesy of Robert “Fritz” Christ

1966 Shelby GT350Hertz Mustang
Courtesy of Joe Penn

1966 Shelby GT350Hertz Mustang
Courtesy of Steve Shanahan

1966 Shelby GT350 Mustang
Courtesy of Chuck Cantwell

1967 Shelby GT350 Mustang
Courtesy of Tim Rubright

1966 427 Cobra S/C Race Car #198 CSX 3035
Courtesy of Mark Dougherty

1968 Shelby GT500KR Mustang Fastback
Courtesy of Tom Brillhart

1968 Shelby Team Trans Am Mustang Racer
Courtesy of Beth & Ross Myers 3 Dog Garage

1969 Shelby GT500 Mustang Convertible with Drag Pack
Courtesy of Ron Paulhamus

1987 Shelby Shadow CSX
Courtesy of Jerry Ayers

1987 Shelby Charger GLHS
Courtesy of Gerry Ayers

1987 Shelby Daytona LSX
Courtesy of Gary Marks

2007 Shelby Cobra GT500 Mustang
Loan Courtesy of Dominic Ciliberto

2007 Shelby GTH Mustang
Loan Courtesy of Terry Welsh

2011 Shelby Mustang
Courtesy of Your Local Quality Plus Ford Dealers

[warreng]

Sounds like a good trip.

[Scott Harrison]

Some photos of the exhibit..... http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110307/COLLECTOR/110309926

[InProcess]

So is CACC planning a road trip for that Saturday to the event  ??

[Scott Harrison]

Yes...either Saturday or Sunday....too soon to start a plan.

[InProcess]

  I'm ready, may bring a friend 

OBTW in my business we are always thinking and planning years ahead.  In fact project the that takes me to your neck of the woods is looking at the year 2030.

[FullChat289]

Would Sunday the 17th be the better day?  Isn't that the day the invitational is open for owners of all shelby and shelby "tribute" cars?

Or do we want to stay out of that riff-raff? 

- Allen.

[FullChat289]

Guys:

Just letting you all know that I am heading out on Sunday the 17th for the Shelby invitational event.  Here's some info in addition to the stuff that was posted earlier:

http://saacforum.com/index.php?topic=12123.0

I would be happy to meet up for a little convoy action in or around the Harrisburg area if any of you would be heading up Rt83 or some alternative..

- Allen.

[Scott Harrison]

OK, DC area folks...do you prefer Sunday or Saturday?

[Ripper]

Saturday always works better for me.  Sunday Soccer

[dcdoug]

I'd prob say Sat and might stay up their with the family for a night.

[InProcess]

Saturday

Now if I can get some of the other southern maryland rednecks to come

[aspenbubba]

Saturday with Sunday being the alternative date

[gt500flyboy]

Saturday seems to be the concensus, though I wonder if we're not missing out on something with the special SHelby gathering Sunday...