Chassis no. 5CXSA1810XL000075

244-cid, 320-hp DOHC V-8 engine, six-speed manual transaxle, four-wheel independent coil spring suspension and four-wheel power hydraulic disc brakes Wheelbase: 96.2-inches.

The only clean-sheet-of-paper design to bear the Shelby name, the Series 1 also proved to be the most vexing. Begun in 1994 after eight years of false starts and mis-directions the effort ended with only 249 production cars built.

After his 1969 split with Ford, Carroll Shelby heeded a call from his old friend Lee Iacocca to come breathe some life into the product line at Chrysler, Iacocca’s new employer. This resulted in the Chrysler Shelby California Design Center at Santa Fe Springs, working with Chrysler engineers on new technology and performance packages. The first were the 1983-86 Shelby Chargers and the Omni GLH, a hotted-up front-drive subcompact. There were others, including a Shelby Lancer and a hot-rod Dodge Durango, not to mention influence on the Viper, but eventually Shelby’s heart transplant and Iacocca’s departure from Chrysler effectively ended that relationship.

The idea for the Series 1 included a twin-turbo V-8, a carbon fiber chassis and a price tag of $200,000. The engine was to come from Oldsmobile, a twin-cam Aurora four-liter unit. The carbon fiber chassis soon gave way to an extruded aluminum frame under a carbon fiber body, and the price was downsized to $50,000. But by the time the design was complete and development had been painfully completed the cost had soared over $100,000. Venture Industries, supplier of the carbon fiber body, put in $10 million for a 60 percent stake in Shelby American, allowing orders to be filled.

The Aurora V-8 was boosted to 320-hp with new camshafts, intake manifold, exhaust system and an up-rated control chip. Brakes were Corvette discs, and the six-speed Corvette transaxle came from German gear manufacturer ZF. The suspension was four-wheel independent with coil springs and control arms, and adjustable shock absorbers.

This Series 1 Shelby, the 75th of the 249, is silver without stripes. The interior is light and dark gray leather, all in very good condition with the requisite Carroll Shelby autograph on the passenger dashboard. The manual convertible top is black canvas. The engine compartment and undercarriage remain very good as well. It is equipped with the standard features of air conditioning, AM/FM/cassette stereo, power windows, power door locks and remotely operated exterior mirrors. Goodyear Eagle F1 tires are mounted on Shelby American alloy wheels. Drivers of early Series 1 Shelbys reported that they had “all the thrills the name implies.” This car holds true to the form.