Shelby American book review
Shelby American’s history is often told, but rarely as comprehensively as in this well-researched volume
Daytona Cobra of Johnson and Payne, Le Mans 1965. Shelby coupés would win that year’s GT title
My name is Shelby, and performance is my business.” That’s what the lanky Texan says into camera on a promotional film, and it’s the line with which Preston Lerner wraps up this very comprehensive tale of Shelby American’s great years.
How many Cobra, GT40 or Shelby books have there been? Too many, I’d say. Here, though, Lerner presents the whole history in one 325-page hardback. A respected author and Motor Sport contributor, he interviewed dozens of people, and it feels like the inside story, packed with quotations from everyone from the man himself, team linchpins like legendary fabricator Phil Remington to team truck drivers, written in his entertaining prose: “Miles swept past as placid as a soccer mom driving a minivan” and “Ford waltzed into the new season fat, dumb and happy”.
Of course it’s as much the story of the man as the company, a man he calls “dangerously charismatic”, with “a vast coterie of powerful friends and beautiful women – and seven official wives”. Acutely aware of his image Shelby was quick with a quote – Lerner calls him “catnip for reporters”.
But his persuasive powers made his team work all hours to field race-winning cars, and could charm backing from anyone up to the vast Ford company, delivering for them that stunning if controversial 1966 Le Mans victory. Giving fair play to everyone’s viewpoints Lerner stays neutral on that debate. Equally, the failures are there too: the disaster of Le Mans ’65, the unsuccessful Toyota 2000 GT scheme and the one-off Can-Am car that couldn’t complete one race.
From text that slips easily from technical to diplomatic to financial matters I learned new things: it was talented development driver Ken Miles who pushed Shelby to build Peter Brock’s dramatic Daytona coupé, which took the 1965 FIA GT title. A shame the format means photos are small and grainy, though.
Lerner does an excellent job of dovetailing development with racing but importantly also the financial affairs and the interplay with Ford which slowly subsumed the enterprise. Explaining his reducing interest Shelby said, “It’s gotten too big and isn’t as much fun any more. Too much money and too much work.”
Shelby American quit competition after ’69, Shelby himself soon leaving the car world. Yet the Shelby image and the cars he built formed an enduring legend, and if you want to learn how it happened, start here. GC
Shelby American
Preston Lerner
Octane Press, £33
ISBN 9781642341218