DETROIT, 2:57 PM, TUE MAY 13 | 39 POSTS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS | tips@jalopnik.com | SUBMIT A TIP | RSS
Posts Tagged “

carroll shelby

unique performance

Unique Performance Assets Going Up For Auction, Again

Though Unique Performance the company may be dead, the drama lives on. At least until Doug Hasty goes to jail, if that's what ends up happening. We mentioned earlier that an auction of Unique Performance equipment netted more than a million dollars, which was unfortunately only enough to cover taxes and not screwed over employees. But wait, there's some hope. More items are going up for auction for a second round.

More »

carroll shelby

Carroll Shelby Buys A Replica, Will He Sue Himself?

Just about every time Carroll Shelby smells merely a whiff of somebody using the name "Shelby" or "Cobra" or "Automobile" without paying through the nose for it his permission, ol' Shel' slaps em' with a good old 'merican-style lawsuit. Remember the case against Wilhelm Motor Works? There was even a suit against the Shelby American Automobile Club. So between all the replica Shelby Mustangs and Cobras out there, Carroll must be too busy taking people to court to even consider buying any of their lesser re-creations, right? Well, apparently not, as Shelby has just recently acquired a Superformance Brock Coupe, a car that's essentially a fake Shelby Cobra 'Daytona' Coupe. Ok, to be fair, the Superformance Coupe was designed by the same Peter Brock that penned the original '60s special, but we still can't help but find this ironic. Maybe it happened because the guy is getting old. We say that because this Daytona was fitted with a paddle-shift automatic transmission designed by MasterShift, which means 85-year old Carroll doesn't have to use a heavy clutch pedal to swap cogs now. Press release from Shelby below the jump.

More »

unique performance

Unique Performance Federal Felony Update

Monday we reported that the feds weren't pursuing Unique Performance in the ongoing Unique Performance drama. We had some guesses for why federal prosecutors might pass on this particular case given the fact that a spokesperson said that federal crimes were obviously committed. Our best guess was that they looked at the 25 state felony charges against the company and decided it wasn't worth it. Our source sort of confirms this below the jump. More »

unique performance

Unique Performance To Avoid Federal Prosecution, Local Authorities Still Building A Case

An update on the Unique Performance saga, it turns out that the U.S. Attorney's office in Dallas will not be prosecuting Doug Hasty or the company, saying "Even though federal crimes have been committed" they're not going to pursue them. Though they haven't given a reason why, we've got a couple of guesses. The most obvious is that it would be redundant given the 25 felony charges against Unique Performance submitted by local prosecutors, who are apparently still vigorously pursuing the cars. Slightly less likely, federal prosecutors agreed to back off if Hasty and company agreed to a plea bargain. Another real possibility is that the U.S. Attorneys office would rather be pursuing political corruption or terrorism cases than some crooked carmaker whose assets have been auctioned off.

More »

unique performance

Unique Performance Customers Suing Carroll Shelby

Having invested millions of dollars in cars that, if they were ever started, have probably been auctioned off or are sitting in an evidence locker, at least two Unique Performance customers have put together a lawsuit against Carroll Shelby. Why? Shelby licensed his name to some of the vehicles. To his credit, Shelby did pull his licensing agreement after receiving complaints. But was he paid royalties? How long did he know? We're not sure if these suits will have standing, but so far we've yet to get a comment out of Carroll Shelby and are awaiting a comment from his lawyer. [CBS-11]

novelties

Kid Car Design Contest: Get Ready for Dinosaur Jet Sleds and Convertibles Fit for Fairy Princesses

"We want to ignite a passion for design among American children and also raise money to help families cope with serious illnesses." Thus spake Carroll Shelby, announcing his partnership with Road & Track and the Automotive Fine Arts Society to sponsor the sixth annual Kids Automotive Art Contest, which has been on hiatus since 2002. A modest $5 entry fee will fund Shelby's foundation, which combats children's illnesses worldwide. So, got an aspiring little Chris Bangle or J Mays frolicking about the house? Get them to stop scribbling their budding "form vocabularies" on the living room wall and put 'em to work dreaming up the car or truck they'd drive "when they grow up." The grand prize ain't chump change: a $5000 savings bond. More »

retro

World's Only 1967 GT500 Super Snake Could Be Yours... For $3 Million

With all this Barrett-Jackson brouhaha around here, we mustn't forget that there are other places to spend torrents of money on a vintage car. Say, on eBay Motors, where $3,000,000 will buy you the only GT500 Super Snake that Carroll Shelby ever made. You get the 520-horse 427, the rights to the SuperSnake.org website, and about a million tons of history with the deal. But still, we can't help wondering how many Omni GLHSs you could buy with 3 megabucks and still have enough left over for a mansion and a couple of Zimmer Golden Spirits- probably all of them! [eBay Motors]


barrett-jackson

Barrett-Jackson: First 2008 Shelby GT500KR Goes For $550,000

The one-off glass-roofed 2008 Shelby GT500KR that's the first off the we showed you this past week, just went for a final sale price of $550,000 after bidding started at a mere $100,000. This despite a custom Fender Stratocaster with a pretty matte black case and all the money going to Edsel Ford's juvenile diabetes charity. We're a wee bit underwhelmed — despite Dr. McDreamy driving it up to the auction block. OK, we're kidding — nowe we're wondering what this bodes for the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 #01 that'll be hitting the auction block shortly as the Muscle Car Wars continue to heat up. Maybe if they'd offered it up with Will Arnett it might've made a bigger difference. Nah, probably not. Full BJ from BJ after the jump. Oh, and you want to know who bought it? That's right — Ron Pratte. That man loves Carroll Shelby.

More »

barrett-jackson

Barrett-Jackson: Ford, Shelby to Auction One-Off Glass-Roof Shelby GT500KR on Saturday at the Big BJ

Looks like Ford's puckering up to take on every inch of the big BJ auction this weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona. Highlighting their car-love for the weekend will be their auction of a one-of-a-kind 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR with one of them new-fangled Mustang glass roods everyone's been talking about. We would like to thank Ford for claiming their rightful place in the lead of the "muscle car wars" — but we would like to remind them, as we reminded Dodge a month or so ago, that the use of our trademark and patent-pending term is exclusively prohibited. So pay up. We'll take cash, or a GT500KR of our own. Don't make us call our lawyers and get all cease-and-desist on your non-independent rear suspensions. Also, Pontiac may have something to say about headlining the press release with driving being in any way exciting. Full press release below the jump — including some love from Dr. McDreamy.

More »

gt500kr

Ford GT500KR Goes Into Production, Happy Birthday Carroll

What better way to celebrate the 85th birthday of Carroll Shelby, the man responsible for some of the best American muscle (and the Omni GLH), than with the production of the mean GT500KR? A King of the Road for a King of American Muscle. Works for me. 540 horsepower and 510 ft-lbs of torque for the first 79 years and a six-speed Tremec manual tranny for the last six. Only 1,000 of these sexy beasts will be available, so expect to pay a king's ransom for the privilege. Press release below the jump.

More »

classic ad watch

Carroll Shelby Thinks You'll Like What He Did To The 1968 Mustang

According to Mr. Shelby in this ad for the '68 Shelby Mustang GT: "I could have chosen any set of wheels I wanted. I chose Mustang!" What if he'd selected, say, the Pontiac Executive station wagon? Or the SEAT 850? Would the Shelby Mopars of the 80s have happened? Whew, this alternate-future thing gets complicated!

unique performance

Unique Performance Employees Ask For Owed Wages

Many people have read All The President's Men, which covers the investigation into the Watergate scandal that eventually forced President Nixon to resign. Less people have read Final Days, the sequel, which chronicles the final months of the administration and the eventual decision to step down. But those who have read that novel will undoubtedly see similarities between that tale of executive confusion and misdirection and what's been going on at Unique Performance, which until recently was creating ersatz Elanores for wealthy car collectors. More »

knight rider

It's Official! Knight Rider's KITT is a Shelby GT500KR Mustang

UPDATE: Official press photos added in the gallery below and the shot above. Supposedly we'll have Cylon-like red lights in a video coming shortly. Also press release now below the jump. UPDATE 2: Now we have video here! The Knight Rider Mustang story we first broke last month, and then brought you the first pictures of a week later, is now officially official, KITT from the new Knight Rider series is a Shelby Mustang GT500KR. Goodbye, F-Body. Hello, Ford body. We've got a reporter live at a press conference going on right now in sunny California so we'll have her video and photos shortly. We're also assuming we'll have the full press release up after the jump in a few minutes. For now, sit back and reminisce — and whatever you do, don't go here.
More »

knight rider

The Knight Rider Stripper Helps Us Banish our Pre-Mustang KITT Memories


So we had kind of a big n' exclusive story yesterday — something about K.I.T.T. being a Shelby GT500KR Mustang in the new TV series. Yeah, that was it. Despite what we're sure will be a great deal of hoopla surrounding the arrival of the new talking Knight Rider ride, a great number of us still have fond memories of the old F-body Pontiac. We wanted to give you an opportunity to breathe in those fond memories and let them alight in your brain one more time — and then watch as they get ripped to shreds by the unbelievably horrifying Knight Rider stripper. America may have talent, but she certainly did not. Watch the full train wreck above which may or may not be safe for work, depending on if you're allowed to see ladies wearing next to nothing.


knight rider

Exclusive First Pictures of KITT From The New Knight Rider TV Series: Yes, It's a Shelby GT500KR

UPDATE: Sources with the involved companies tell us this is the real car — the actual car to be used in the show. But, because "it wasn't working at the effects studio yesterday," someone did photoshop the red light. UPDATE #2: We now have the official first images from the folks at NBC and Ford here, and the exclusive first video of the new KITT available here. Our detective work's paid off on yesterday's rumor on the new KITT. Now not only do we have off the record confirmation from the "involved parties" that KITT will lose the GM third generation F-body (and legions of mullet-swinging fans), but also that he'll be moving up a few steps on the horsepower ladder. That's right, everyone's favorite talking car (no, not spelled K-A-R-R) will be played by a black-with-gray-stripes 550 HP Ford Shelby GT500KR Mustang in the new Knight Rider TV show. And thanks to a very helpful tipster who's preference is to remain anonymous (we don't blame 'em) we've got the proof to show you — photos taken from inside of the vehicle build facility out in LA where they're prepping the new Knight Industries 'stang for Cylon-like close-ups. Yes friends, this is the new KI Two Thousand — who wants to touch it? I said, who wants to touch it? OK, well how about just your two cents? Anybody?


barret-jackson

Carroll Shelby's Personal GT-500 to Be Auctioned Off

With Shelby-mania still at a fever pitch, we can imagine it's getting harder and harder for the uber-wealthy car collector to show up fellow affluent auto aficionados. Thus, we present Carroll Shelby's own 1969 Shelby GT500 convertible. Mr. Shelby apparently drove it extensively, putting nearly 69,725 miles on the 428 Cobra Jet-powered beauty. The car was recently renovated and even comes with an AM-FM stereo radio! The car goes up at the Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson event next January with no reserve, so make sure to bring a checkbook and an extra kidney. Full release after the jump
More »

racing

Shelby's Terlingua Racing Team Returns

Don't call it a Jackalope, or a mutant lion with a thyroid problem. We're of course talking about the barking rabbit on the crest of Terlingua Racing. To those unaware, Terlingua was a team named after a rogue Texas border town founded by a friend of Carroll Shelby's. In fact, the first Shelby Mustang GT 350 ever raced wore the black-and-yellow crest when it hit the Texas tarmac piloted by Ken Miles. Later, it adorned Parnelli Jones's King Cobra at the 1964 LA Times Grand Prix, four Indy 500 winners, and cars that won LeMans, Sebring, Riverside and Laguna Seca. It also signified the Shelby Mustangs fielded during the 1967 and 1968 Trans-Am seasons. Last week at SEMA, Shelby introduced a new series of cars and products geared toward the grassroots-racing community. The brand will reflect the erstwhile team's anti-establishment bend, while remaining firmly in the establishment. Impossible? We'll see, but Shelby introduced a raceable V6 Mustang package, producing 375 horsepower, for about eight grand. Not quite grassroots, but not a bad proposition for race pirates with a few bucks. [via Shelbyautos.com] More »

jalopnik fantasy garage

Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

Last week we asked you to name your favorite automotive legends. While the answers were (of course) stellar – Smokey Yunick rules – we're a little disappointed that no one mentioned the genesis of this week's Fantasy Garage candidate, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. Though, it is worth mentioning that almost everything Carol Shelby does eventually winds up as someone's favorite anecdote (let's just forget the Shelby GLHS). For instance, Carroll used to place a $100 bill on the Cobra's dashboard while demoing the car to potential customers. If a customer could reach forward and snatch the Franklin before the Cobra could hit 100 mph, he could keep it. No one ever got the cash. But we're not here to talk about the Cobra. More »