I guess you guys didn't get this blurb from the Detroit Free Press -
August 16, 2003
BY MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
The prodigal son has returned. After a 33-year absence, motor racing icon Carroll Shelby has rejoined to Ford Motor Co. to help the automaker add some zest to its model line.
Shelby, 80, will help Ford develop high-performance models, much as he did in the 1960s, when he created the legendary Ford-powered Shelby Cobra and worked on the GT40 race cars that dominated the famous 24-hour Le Mans race in France.
While Shelby made his name building cars with big '60s-era V8s, he said he's most interested in the compact tuner scene today. Compact tuners -- mostly young people with their first or second car -- go to great lengths to improve the performance and personalize the appearance of mostly Japanese cars.
"There's a lot of fun to be had building those little pocket rockets," he said in an interview from California, where he eagerly watches tuner meets on weekends. "I want to build performance cars that fit in the environment and that young people can afford, not 800-horsepower, $200,000 super cars."
Ford produced several Shelby Mustang models from 1965 to 1969. Powered by large V8 engines and featuring air scoops on the hood and bodywork, they helped create a performance aura that raised the profile of all Ford cars.
Ford hopes to regain that magic with a range of Shelby vehicles based on its current and upcoming products.
"We're noodling around a lot of ideas," said Chris Theodore, Ford vice president for advanced product creation. "We're considering both our current and future products." The cars will offer higher performance, better handling and unique styling touches than the production Fords on which they're based.
The all-new 2005 Mustang will probably be among the first Fords to get the Shelby treatment, and Theodore would not rule out a Shelby version of the Ford 500, a full-size sedan that goes on sale late in 2004.
Shelby's ties to the company go well beyond marketing, but Edsel B. Ford II, now a member of Ford's board of directors, lived in Shelby's California home for six months in the mid-1960s during an internship with Shelby's company.
"I had him washing parts," Shelby said. "His father (Henry Ford II) wanted him to learn the business wasn't all glamour."
The chief engineer of the new Ford GT worked for Shelby in the 1980s.
Ford used Shelby as a consultant on the new GT, but there's no Shelby model of that two-seater in the works, Theodore said.
"Beyond that, though, we haven't ruled anything out," Theodore said. "We're going to focus on the Ford brand. There's plenty to do there."
Shelby ended his racing relationship with Ford in 1970. In the years since, he developed performance cars with Chrysler Corp. and sued Ford of its continuing use of the Cobra name. That suit was settled amicably on both sides some years ago, a Ford spokesman said.
I'd say a Shelby Focus us a gimme. I'd say you'll see another affordable Shelby product also and of course a Shelby Mustang.
Because C. Shelby owns his company, he not handcuffed by the bean counters at Ford. He'll prolly work with SVT and Cosworth on a bunch of projects. He didn't have this kinda of access or help when he started in the mid 60's. He pretty much WAS Ford's racing program in those days.
When he did Chrysler cars Icocca left him alone for the most part. Shelby wanted to work with a chassis, they sent him some copies and off he went.
He'll pull the trigger on stuff we really want. Like a turbocharged AWD Focus....
Shelby's cars also handle, so you'll be able to autocross it and open track it very effectively.
This is pretty cool if you ask me!