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1999 Shelby Series 1
Shelby Series 1 was a high-performance roadster designed by Carroll Shelby and produced by Shelby American. It was powered by Oldsmobile's 4.0 L
L47 Aurora V8 DOHC engine. It has 320 hp (324 PS) at 6500 rpm, 290 lb·ft (390 N·m) at 5000 rpm and will do 0-60 mph (0–96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds
and records 12.8 seconds in the quarter mile at 112 mph (180 km/h). Top speed is 170 mph (273.5 km/h) 15 mph (24 km/h) faster than the 427 Shelby Cobra. The 1998 car weighed 1,202 kg (2,650 lb).
The Series 1 is the only car ever designed and engineered by Carroll Shelby from a clean sheet of paper, and built from the ground up. All other
Shelbys are re-engineered models produced by other manufacturers and modified by Shelby.
The Series 1 was produced in both supercharged and normally aspirated versions (but supercharger was optional). Supercharged cars were also
outfitted by the factory with larger brakes and a heavy duty clutch. Performance is in the "supercar" category with a 0-60 time at 3.2 seconds.
Nicely optioned, Series 1 had power steering, power disc brakes, factory air conditioning, power windows, and an AM/FM/CD audio system. The
convertible top folded away out of sight in a compartment located behind the cockpit. Some component cars were sold as a roadster with no convertible top.
The Series 1 had dual wishbone suspension with coil-over remote reservoir dampers mounted inboard, and actuated by "rocker arms". The engine was
mounted completely behind the front axle and drove a drive shaft supported in a "torque tube" that spun a 6 speed ZF trans-axle specially modified
for the Series 1. The chassis was made of extruded and formed 6061 aluminum. It was welded together and then post-heat-treated for maximum
strength throughout. Then aluminum honeycomb panels specially designed were bonded into the floor boards and rocker panels for added structure
and stiffness. The body panels were carbon fiber and fiberglass laminate. The engine, torque-tube, trans-axle, and damper mounts were all
rubber-isolated from the frame. The supercharged prototypes produced near 600 bhp and 530 lb·ft (720 N·m) of torque. The Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
were based on an IMSA racing "rain tire" that had been used for the "show car" model. Goodyear built custom tires for the car.
A total of 249 production Series 1 were constructed by Shelby American, Inc., all as 1999 models.
During production, Venture Corporation purchased Shelby American, Inc. The purchase included the Series 1 model, but not the rights to produce the
"Continuation Series" Shelby Cobras. In 2004, after a subsequent bankruptcy by Venture Corporation (unrelated to the acquisition of Shelby
American), Carroll Shelby's new company, Shelby Automobiles, Inc.., purchased the Series 1 assets for pennies on the dollar. Included in the asset
purchase were enough components to produce several more complete Series 1's. Because the 1999 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
certificate had expired, and the cost to re-certify the car was prohibitive, all Series 1's produced after that date were completed as "component
cars" and delivered with no engine or transmission. Those "component car" models built in 2005 are identified with a seven digit vehicle identification
number (VIN) and were designated with a CSX5000 series serial number. The original 249 production cars had a seventeen digit VIN.
Features
Layout.................Front engine, rear wheel drive
Engine.................4.0L V8 DOHC 32 valves (4 per cylinder)
Transmission.........6-speed manual
Length................ 169.0 in (4,292 mm)
Width.................. 76.5 in (1,943 mm)
Height................. 47.0 in (1,194 mm)
Curb weight..........2,650 lb (1,202 kg)
Wheels front........18"x10"
Wheels rear.........18"x12"
Tires front............265/40 ZR-18
Tires rear.............315/40 ZR-18
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