Sports Car Blog

In honor of celebrating 85th anniversary of Ford motor company legend, Carol Shelby, which is well-known as one of the most tangible and significant auto-manufacturing in the world, today Carol Shelby has decided to unveiled it’s new Ford GT40 in honor of his 85th birthday.

Based on the Superformance, the Shelby cars are trimmed to simulate the triad of GT40s that finished 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. All cars are built as Mk. IIs (although Superformance does offer a Mk. I replica) and for the exterior color, it is painted or decorated with your choice blue with white stripes, black with silver stripes, or red with white stripes.

With limited production, Only 85 copies of Ford GT40 will be produced and each will be endowed with numerous markers and prints Carol Shelby, it also came with a sport suspension with Bilstein springs H & R, high braking system and 15 inches disks with 225/50 and 275/60 tyres and built with a powerful Shelby-badged V8 crate engine. Price for new Ford GT40 is not known yet.

PRESS RELEASE:

In celebration of Carroll Shelby’s 85TH birthday Shelby Distribution USA under license from Shelby Licensing and in partnership with Shelby Automobiles Inc. will reproduce the three dominating Shelby American GT40® race cars that accomplished one of the greatest feats in American automotive racing history into a street legal vehicle that can be driven or simply collected. These rolling chassis will receive a Shelby Automobiles Inc. MSO and will be recorded in the Shelby Registry along with the Safir GT40 Spares LLC assigned licensed mark, identification number and registry that reflects these cars as newly manufactured variants of the original GT40®.

Chassis/Body

The GT40®’s chassis is a near-exact replication of the original race car’s monocoque unibody structure down to the pressed steel roof. The only departure is the use of electro-galvanized sheet steel in the construction. The chassis, at over 12,000 pounds per degree, is stiffer than any other chassis on the market, and is made of over 244 laser cut and bent or pressed parts.

Engine/Transmission

The Shelby 85th Commemorative GT40® is built to accommodate only a Shelby branded engine. The top of the line engine includes the Shelby 427FE V8.

Original Style Suspension

The Shelby 85th Commemorative GT40® features an original style fully independent suspension system utilizing an unequal length A-arm design. The coilover system utilizes H&R springs and Bilstein shocks that are fully adjustable as well as the front and rear anti-roll bars. Ride height can be changed from 4.125 to 4.75 inches.

Wheels/Tires/Brakes

Incredible braking performance is achieved through vented Wilwood super light brakes. Both front and rear brakes feature 12.75″ discs and 4-piston calipers. Original style 15-inch Halibrand wheels are wrapped with high performance BFGoodrich g-Force Drag Radial tires, 225/50/15 front, 275/60/15 rear.

Interior

The interior features original style seats with rivets and 4-point racing harness seat belts. A racing style dash features Smith gauges, and the pedal box, instruments, quick-release 14-inch steering wheel, and dash accurately replicate the original.

Unique 85th Commemorative Edition GT40® Features

The MKII Shelby GT40®’s will be based on the following cars. Only 85 of each color will be issued.

Car #1, Chassis P/1015: Arcadian Blue, White Stripes/Dark Blue borders, and Dayglo Red Fender Flashes
Car #2, Chassis P/1046: Black with solid Silver Stripes and White Roundels
Car #3, Chassis P/1047 Red with solid White Stripes and Roundels

Features Include:

- Record sale into the Shelby Registry
- Shelby MSO and dash plaque
- Carroll Shelby engraved door handles
- Carroll Shelby etched left and right front headlight covers
- Roundels with 85 number decals
- Leather seating
- Hood wind diffusers
- CS GT40® numbered plaque
- CS GT40® side sill graphics
- Carroll Shelby signature floor and sill mats
- 85th Commemorative hood badge
- 85th Special Edition decal
- Available in right and left hand drive

Available Race Version

While the standard Shelby 85th Commemorative GT40® is as close to a race car as one can get to driving on the street, a race version is also available. This package comes with a roll bar, fuel cell and A/C delete.

Vehicle specifications

Wheelbase: 95″
Length: 163″
Height: 40.5″
Width: 70″
Track (f/r): 57″/56″
Ground Clearance: 4.125″ – 4.75″
Curb Weight: 2400 lbs
Weight Distribution: f/r: 40/60%

About Shelby Distribution

Based in Irvine, CA, Shelby Distribution is the official distributor for Shelby continuation cars. Their product lineup includes the CSX4000 Cobra, CSX9000, and the 85th Commemorative GT40. For more information on Shelby continuation cars or to find a dealership, visit www.shelbydistributionusa.com or call 888-SHELBY-USA. The GT40® trademark is owned by Safir GT40 Spares LLC.