Carroll Shelby, an automotive legend, passed away at the age of 89 in Dallas, Texas. Dallas was home to Shelby’s first sports car business and was always considered one of his homes. The entire team at TheGentlemanRacer.com, send Cleo and the rest of the Shelby family our prayers and best wishes.

Godspeed Carroll

Please see the official release below:

Legendary Entrepreneur Carroll Shelby Passes Away

LOS ANGELES – May 11, 2012 – Carroll Shelby International, Inc. (OTC: CSBI.PK) announced today that Carroll Hall Shelby, a man whose vision for performance transformed the automobile industry, has died at age 89. Mr. Shelby passed away yesterday at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Born on January 11, 1923, Carroll Shelby was one of America’s greatest success stories. A championship-winning racecar driver, wartime pilot, philanthropist, entrepreneur, car manufacturer, and racing team owner, he embodied the ingenuity, tenacity, and grit to overcome any obstacle. He is perhaps the only person to have worked at a visible level with all three major American automobile manufacturers.

Carroll Shelby founded Carroll Shelby International, a publicly held corporation involved in many industries. His licensing arm has agreements with industry giants such as Mattel, Sony, Ford Motor Company, and Electronic Arts. His car company, Shelby American, has a thriving parts business as well as a line of muscle cars, including the Shelby GT500 Super Snake, Shelby GT350, and Shelby GTS. The Las Vegas-based company also manufactures a limited number of the 1960s Shelby 289 “street,” 289 FIA, 427 S/C, and Daytona Coupe Cobras.

A Life Well Lived

Carroll Shelby was born in East Texas in 1923, the son of a postal worker in the hamlet of Leesburg, Texas. He attended high school in Dallas and joined the Army Air Corps, serving as a “Flying Sergeant” during World War II.

After the war, Shelby dabbled in various businesses, including a dump truck operation, a chicken farm, and a sports car dealership. His first race was at a drag strip in a 1932 Ford, and he soon transitioned to road racing. After a heart condition forced him to retire from driving in 1960, he shifted his focus to car design and manufacturing.

Shelby approached General Motors about building a small-block-powered sports car but was turned down. He then pitched the idea to Ford, proposing a high-performance roadster using Ford’s new small-block V8. The result was the legendary Shelby Cobra, which debuted at the New York Auto Show in 1962.

Shelby’s Racing and Automotive Legacy

Shelby American quickly became a dominant force in motorsports, competing against Europe’s best. The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe won the 1965 FIA World Sports Car Championship, and Shelby’s team, in partnership with Ford, won Le Mans in 1966 and 1967 with the Ford GT40. Carroll Shelby remains the only person to have won Le Mans as a driver, team owner, and manufacturer.

Shelby’s influence extended beyond racing. He developed the Shelby Mustangs at Ford’s request, creating iconic cars such as the GT350, GT500, and later the GT500KR. He also helped Chrysler develop performance models in the 1980s, including the Dodge Viper, which he drove as the pace car at the 1991 Indianapolis 500.

In 1988, Shelby revived production of the Shelby Cobra, building a continuation series of 427 S/C models. In the 2000s, he partnered with Ford again to introduce new Shelby Mustangs, including the GT-H, GT500, and Super Snake.

A Legacy of Giving Back

Shelby considered his greatest achievement to be the creation of the Carroll Shelby Foundation™. Established in 1992, while he awaited a heart transplant, the foundation provides medical assistance for children and scholarships for students pursuing automotive careers.

“Carroll formed a foundation to give something back to those who have not been as fortunate as him, in both medicine and education,” said M. Neil Cummings, Esq., a board member of the foundation.

A Lasting Impact

Shelby remained active in his businesses and foundation until his death, despite undergoing heart and kidney transplants in the last two decades of his life. His career spanned over 60 years, influencing generations of enthusiasts, racers, and car builders.

“We are all deeply saddened and feel a tremendous sense of loss for Carroll’s family, ourselves, and the entire automotive industry,” said Joe Conway, president of Carroll Shelby International, Inc.

“Carroll was a visionary who never stopped seeking ways to build faster, better cars,” added John Luft, President of Shelby American. “His spirit will continue to guide our company.”

Carroll Shelby is survived by his three children, Patrick, Michael, and Sharon, his sister Anne Shelby Ellison of Fort Worth, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and his wife Cleo.

Funeral plans are not immediately available. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his name to the Carroll Shelby Foundation.

 Image Courtesy of Carroll Shelby Foundation