Dave Despain on Assignment - The Shelby Legend

[Ralphy]

Watching the show makes me understand why he walked away. With the bad ticker and the transplant. A new found respect, however the lawsuits? Come on!

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Ralphy

Watching the show makes me understand why he walked away. With the bad ticker and the transplant. A new found respect, however the lawsuits? Come on!

Frank Lloyd Wright (his foundation) still brings lawsuits to protect his designs.

Just sayin'

[PJS50]

Originally Posted by lamaluv

Well said Buzz--- Love him or hate him I think all should respect his accomplishments in the auto world. If it wouldn't have been for him none of us would be enjoying our love affair with our Cobras.

Dick

Come on guys, the old chicken farmer is now, and always was a "whore" who would rob-cheat-steal anything he had to to make a name for HIMSELF (to heck with all the people who he used to get the REAL work done; ask Peter Brock about that!)...

As somebody else here said, you don't see him extolling the vitrues of the car we all love because there is no CASH in it for old "Shel", plain and simple...

Living in the NW Detroit area close to where a lot of Big 3 auto-execs live, I'll never forget the time a few years ago when I was sitting outside a local bank in my SPF and an older, very tall gray-haired gentleman came over to talk to me. First he asked if my car was real, then the conversation shifted to what an A-hole Carrol Shelby REALLY is and how he used and abused everyone he worked with back in the day to make a name for himself in the auto-world... This guy sounded like he himself was somebody that Shelby took a big dump on and left as refuse by the side of the road afterwards. I told him that I essentially agreed with him and he said "Good, I'm glad you're smart enough to realize the truth", and he walked away... I never asked him his name, and I've always wondered since then exactly who that old guy might have been (somebody famous?), but he sure had a good grasp on who Carrol Shelby REALLY is....

In my opinion, they wasted a good heart on a piece of trash when they gave CS the transplant...

[flipscobra]

I watched it and was disappointed too, I didn't buy 1 because it won at Lemans or because it beat Ferrari, I bought it because it looks an sounds like the baddest thing on the Street, I live close to Savannah Ga an today I went to the Ferrari races they are having on Hutchinson Island, and not a one of the Ferrari guys spoke, I was wearing a Cobra hat. Getting back to the show, when Dave was telling about his first ride in a 427 Cobra an how that guy became his hero, an he was going to take ole CS for a ride I thought he was going to take him in his 427 Cobra. But instead they rode in a Mustang really teed me off, yeah Shelby did not give Peter Brock any credit at all on the Daytona Coupe, he is a user of people, love the 427 Cobra but have no use for Shelby

[decapello]

I watched the show and enjoyed it. I was in my teens in the 60's and was a big fan of the Cobras and of Ford's pursuit of Ferrari. But, as they mentioned in the program Ole Shel is/was the consummate salesman. I have a problem listening to anyone spewing BS, and Ole Shel comes across as a major BS'er. Too bad they couldn't presented it without his interviews.
Mike

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Oh hell...it was fine.

This is what Speed used to be and what it should be now...

Agree, so save the Shel bashing and just enjoy the tales and the history.

Thanks

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Guys,I know this is a Cobra forum and we all love the cars, but the show was about "The Shelby Legend", and like it or not,his legend was made in racing....
He began racing in the late 50's and drove little English/European cars and saw how good they were, that's where the idea came to him to put an American V-8 in a lightweight aluminum English car and go after the Vettes....remember, at this time, the Mustang was still 3 years away....his success with the Cobra caught the attention of Ford and that's how it all got going....His name was made with the Daytona Coupe and the GT 40 programs, but all we here remember is the big block Cobra!!!!!
The reason he quit making the Cobras was he couldn't sell them anymore.....There's plenty of documentation of Cobras sitting in dealer showrooms for 2 or 3 years before they sold!!!!!!!!!!!!
The money and prestige was with Ford and the GT40 program and racing on the international level.......The Cobra was just a way to get there.....

David

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Oh hell...it was fine.

This is what Speed used to be and what it should be now...damn tired of NASCAR.

Got to agree. So f'ing tired of NASCAR.

[RACER X #99]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

Got to agree. So f'ing tired of NASCAR.

Please write some letters to Speed and tell them to drop NASCAR and then when they go off the air completely you can tune into the golf channel.

The Shelby piece was good.

Sorry 427 Fans Cobra history is in 289 Cobras and Daytona coupes.

I just knew there would be some 427 crybabies out there.

[redmt]

Originally Posted by RACER X #99

Please write some letters to Speed and tell them to drop NASCAR and then when they go off the air completely you can tune into the golf channel..

I couldn't live without Two Guys Garage!!

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

I had it programmed to record but we had a power outage here and it was erased. It is gonna replay Sat. morning before LeMans, so I'll get to see it myself and make my own judgement.
I don't know why most of you bash your own cars. Sure, Shelby beat Ferrari with the small block Cobra, but the big block Cobra did win quite a few A/production races in its day and had a lifelong impression on countless school kids back in '65, '66 and '67 (i.e. most of us), and is still the 'baddest car on the planet', bar none. The GT40 MKII made history at LeMans and that's what Ford and America wanted, but the Cobra/Ferrari Wars were what started it all and are legendary...and went on for over two years. Give the old man his due. If not for him, we wouldn't be here arguing about it.

[*13*]

With all the hype I'm getting up at 4:30 am to watch it.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Nice warmup to the LeMans telecast. Maybe that's what it was meant for. We'll see.

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by RACER X #99

Please write some letters to Speed and tell them to drop NASCAR and then when they go off the air completely you can tune into the golf channel.

The Shelby piece was good.

Sorry 427 Fans Cobra history is in 289 Cobras and Daytona coupes.

I just knew there would be some 427 crybabies out there.

You're just so damn cute when you're cranky.

[What'saCobra?]

"...the big block Cobra did win quite a few A/production races in its day..."

Yep, with few exceptions most of the SCCA AP Championships went to 427 Cobras from 1965 to 1973. Most started on the pole and had 3 to 5 lengths by the first turn. Few 'Vette's had little chance, even with more than 100 extra HP.

While my heart will remain down and locked regarding 289's, all those 427 championships cannot be ignored here in the land of the free and the home of the brave, even though SA, Shelby and FORD were meanwhile off to bigger things with the Trans-Am and GT40 because of FORD's international marketing image.

FORD instructed Shelby to stop wasting time on the 427's, much like he was told to drop the 289's when the 427 was just into production (for the GT40's). Perhaps once again FORD has told Shelby to stop wasting time on that old stuff and push the new 350GT's, etc. Not that i blame them, given these very difficult times.

[PatBuckley]

Originally Posted by Jamo

You're just so damn cute when you're cranky.

I was actually kind of disappointed, not up to his old staandards......I think old age is making us all a little soft.

[CobraEd]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Oh hell...it was fine.

This is what Speed used to be and what it should be now...damn tired of NASCAR.

NASCAR, . . . The "Velveeta Cheese" of motorsports!


.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

I just watched the DVR replay and I enjoyed it. Nothing not already known but great vintage footage and Ken Miles was given his due. Cobras were mentioned and given about half the program, but the Ford victories at LeMans were what the show built up to. Nice mix, I'm not offended because it's a program about Carroll Shelby, not the Cobra.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by CobraEd

NASCAR, . . . The "Velveeta Cheese" of motorsports!


.

I love it.

[Hydramada]

Great footage of some iconic races. I really liked seeing some of the other drivers getting mentioned from that era in addition to the Ken Miles special mentions. He was one helluva driver and never really was appreciated for his contributions.