1999 Shelby Series 1

1999 Shelby Series 1
VIN. 5CXSA1819XL000043
244ci DOHC Oldsmobile L47 Aurora V8
Computer Controlled Fuel Injection
600bhp at 6,500rpm
6-Speed ZF Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Double Wishbone Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes

*1 owner from new with less than 15,000 miles
*1 of very few examples fitted with a supercharger
*Number 43 of only 249 Series 1s Built - CSX5043
*The spiritual successor Carroll Shelby's Cobra and the only car he designed from the ground up

THE SHELBY SERIES 1

Carroll Shelby is an automotive legend who needs no introduction. His formative creations in the 1960s that injected greater power into existing platforms such as the V8-powered AC Ace that became the Cobra and the performance enhanced Ford Mustangs that became GT350s and GT500s cemented the Texan and former chicken farmer as one of the greatest car builders in history. After remaining quiet on the sidelines for quite some time, in the early 1980s Shelby began working with Chrysler before deciding to design his first all-new car from the ground up.

With development beginning in 1994 and a proposed release date of 1998, Shelby set out to create an enviable machine that would provide performance capable of trouncing the fastest cars coming from Europe—just as he had done decades earlier. Beginning with a chassis of extruded and formed 6061 aluminum, it was clothed with a skin of aluminum and carbon-fiber underpinned by bonded aluminum honeycomb for added stiffness and Kevlar floor panels for lightness. Under the hood sat an Oldsmobile Aurora-derived V8 attached to a ZF 6-speed manual gearbox from a Corvette. Altogether, the car weighed in at just 2,650 pounds and rocketed to 60mph in just 4.4 seconds while the buttoned down chassis and suspension allowed it to turn 0.92 g on the skid pad.

In the end, production delays and compromises forced upon the car to meet EPA and DOT standards for 1999 pushed the delivery date a year back, the weight up a few hundred pounds, and the price up to $181,824—nearly double the initial estimate. The car would last only one model year with a mere 249 rolling off the production line. Over a decade and a half hence, it remains as Carroll Shelby's last home-grown sport scar and the only one he created from soup-to-nuts.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This Shelby Series 1, which carries the Shelby serial number CSX5043, was the 43rd Series 1 to roll off the production line, as evidenced by the plaque placed in full view on the dash. CSX5043 was gifted to the CEO of Carroll Shelby Licensing by Carroll Shelby himself, and has been under his ownership for the entirety of the vehicle's life. CSX5043 is finished in Centennial Silver with Garnet Red racing stripes. Inside the carbon fiber trimmed interior, racing style Carroll Shelby bucket seats with a 4-point belt system ensures the occupants are strapped in for a wild ride. The car is also fitted with a unique roll bar, which Carroll's personal car also had, giving its pilot a bit of added security. With the addition of forced induction, and a special tune for the Shelby CEO, power was reportedly increased to a seriously impressive 600hp and the 0-60 time was dropped to 3.2 seconds. It is believed that fewer than 12% of Series 1s were fitted with the supercharger which carried a cost of over $20,000. To cope with all of the forced induction power, the car was fitted with a beefed up 4-piston 4-wheel disc brake setup. To this day, the Series 1 still offers supercar performance. The utilization of advanced materials and resulting performance figures truly put the Series 1 ahead of curve and is sure to go down in history as one of the greats. Having covered fewer than 15,000 miles, the car is fantastic condition. When considering CSX5043s rarity and incredible provenance, it quickly becomes a must have for any Shelby Collector.