TEAM SHELBY – Two American racing legends, Carroll Shelby and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, will be on stage when
Barrett-Jackson Auction Company and Shelby Automobiles, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI.PK), sell the original concept car for the Prudhomme Edition Super Snake Shelby GT500 Mustang on Oct. 9, 2009. The rare Shelby concept car will be sold at No Reserve during Barrett-Jackson’s second annual Las Vegas Collector Car Auction, taking place Oct. 7-10, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
“Concept cars and prototypes are sought by collectors because they represent a historical milestone and so few are offered to the public,” said Barrett-Jackson Chairman/CEO/ Craig Jackson. “Barrett-Jackson has become the premier venue for these types of vehicles. This is the first time that Shelby Autos has sold one of its concept cars at auction and we’re pleased that Carroll and Don plan to be on stage for such an important occasion.”
Racing legends Carroll Shelby and Don Prudhomme joined forces to build the ultimate street legal dragster. Shelby is the only man to ever win the 24 hours of Le Mans as a driver, team owner and manufacturer and was twice named “Sports Car Illustrated’s” Driver of the Year. Prudhomme’s successful racing career included winning the NHRA funny car championship four times and he was the first funny car driver to exceed 250 mph.
“Don Prudhomme is one fast son of a gun who knows how to burn up the quarter mile,” stated Carroll Shelby. “In 1968, he drove a Shelby Super Snake dragster in NHRA for me. Last year, we decided to build a car together for grassroots racers who want a Shelby for the drags. This is the concept for that program and it’s a very fast car.”
Shelby Automobiles announced its limited edition Prudhomme Edition Super Snake package for the GT500 Mustang at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, Calif., earlier this year.
“In the 1960s, Shelbys ruled the road courses and terrorized the drag strip,” noted Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “This car was built in the same spirit as the Cobra ‘Dragon Snake’ that made Shelby a feared name on the quarter mile. The Prudhomme Edition concept is a real piece of history and a very exclusive car.”
The
Prudhomme Edition Super Snake is powered by a 5.4-liter, supercharged engine that produces 800 hp on race fuel or 750 hp on 93 octane pump gas. Only 100 total Prudhomme Super Snake post-title packages are being offered by Shelby Autos to current GT500 owners. The package features:
• A Kenne Belle supercharger and modified air intake sticking out of the hood in the tilt front end
• Five-point impact safety harness and roll bar
• Borla side exhaust system
• A front and rear adjustable BMR racing suspension and drag tires
• Lower side rockers
“I’ve really enjoyed working with Carroll and the Shelby Autos team on this program,” added Prudhomme. “When I was a kid, we’d drive our cars to the drag strip, race them and drive back home. We designed this car to do the same thing, and do it very, very well.”
According to Shelby Autos president Amy Boylan, “This Shelby is truly special. While most concept cars can’t be driven, this one is street legal and can be enjoyed on the road. That makes it a rare Shelby and concept vehicle.”
In addition to the live auction, attendees can review the impressive vehicles for sale, enjoy exhibitors offering an array of merchandise and play the Barrett-Jackson slot machines for a chance to win a new car. For those who can’t attend,
SPEED will provide live, high-definition TV coverage of all auction days.
About The Barrett-Jackson Auction CompanyEstablished in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the “World’s Greatest Collector Car Events™” in Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Fla. and Las Vegas. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance offering for collector vehicles and other valued belongings. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694.
About Shelby Automobiles, Inc. and Carroll Shelby LicensingFounded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby Automobiles, Inc., (
www.shelbyautos.com) manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. Shelby Automobiles is a division of Carroll Shelby International, Inc. (CSBI.PK). Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc., also a wholly owned division, is the exclusive holder of Carroll Shelby's trademarks and vehicle design rights. It also holds trademark rights for Shelby-branded apparel, accessories and collectibles. Info is at
www.carrollshelbyinternational.com.
Media Contact: Scott Black, TPRM, 214-520-3430,
sblack@tprm-usa.com (
www.tprm-usa.com)
Shelby to auction off GT500 Prudhomme 800 HP car at Barrett Jackson
Aug 5 2009, 02:33 PM
