The Shelby Series 1 is a roadster designed by Carroll Shelby and produced by Shelby American. It was unveiled at the 1997 Los Angeles Auto Show as a modern-day reinterpretation of the original Shelby AC Cobra, and was powered by an Oldsmobile 4.0-litre Aurora V8.
Shelby Series 1 at a glance
| Maker | Shelby American |
|---|---|
| Shown | 1997 Los Angeles Auto Show |
| Production | 249 cars, all as 1999 models |
| Engine | 4.0 L Oldsmobile L47 Aurora V8, DOHC |
| Power | about 320 hp at 6,500 rpm |
| Torque | 393 N·m at 5,000 rpm |
| Gearbox | six-speed ZF transaxle |
| Chassis | welded 6061 aluminium with bonded honeycomb panels |
| Body | carbon fibre and fibreglass laminate |
| Weight | about 1,202 kg |
| 0–60 mph | 4.4 seconds |
| Top speed | about 274 km/h (170 mph) |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Shelby Series 1.
History of the Shelby Series 1
A modern Cobra
The Series 1 was intended as a modern interpretation of the Shelby AC Cobra. Although it was first presented as an entirely in-house project, much of the production run was overseen by General Motors, and many components came from its parts bin, including the engine. The car had a welded aluminium chassis of extruded and formed 6061 alloy, post-heat-treated for strength, with aluminium honeycomb panels bonded into the floor and rocker panels. The body panels were a carbon fibre and fibreglass laminate. The engine sat completely behind the front axle, giving a 50/50 weight distribution, and drove through a torque tube to a six-speed ZF transaxle.
Problems and production
Before production began, significant costs went into testing and certification for the 1999 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. In early 2000 Shelby announced a retroactive price increase but had to back down within weeks. The soft top did not attach properly and had to be re-engineered after the first sixty-odd cars were built, and thirty cars were delivered without tops, with technicians sent to buyers’ homes to fit them. A run of 500 cars had been announced, but 249 were built, all as 1999 models.
After the original run
During production the Venture Corporation bought Shelby American, including the rights to the Series 1 but not to the Continuation Series Cobras. After Venture went bankrupt in 2004, Carroll Shelby’s new company, Shelby Automobiles, bought the Series 1 assets and enough components to build several more cars. Because the safety certificate had expired and re-certification was too expensive, later cars were completed as component cars without engine or transmission, with seven-digit VINs and CSX5000 serial numbers.
Design and features
- Oldsmobile Aurora V8: a 4.0-litre DOHC unit tuned to about 320 hp.
- Light construction: aluminium chassis with bonded honeycomb panels and composite body.
- Balance: front-mid engine mounting and a transaxle for 50/50 weight distribution.
- Upgrade packages: the X50 performance kit and a supercharged version.
Shelby Series 1 versions
- Standard Series 1: 320 hp, six-speed transaxle.
- X50: a $20,150 package advertised to add 50 hp.
- Supercharged: a $35,100 option rated at 450 hp.
- X50 and supercharged: 11 cars, producing just over 540 hp.
- Component cars: later cars delivered without engine or transmission.
The Series 1 was meant as a successor to the Shelby Cobra. The other modern Shelby is the Shelby GT500, and the whole range is in the Shelby collection.
Sources
- Shelby Series 1, English Wikipedia: development, production, specification
