CARROL SHELBY! HOW WAS HE INVOLVED IN THE VIPER??

[EXECMALIBU]

IN A RECENT COMMERCIAL FOR Z-MAX, CARROL SHELBY STATES THAT HE HAS PRODUCED MANY CARS INCLUDING THE COBRA,SHELBY MUSTANG AND THE DODGE VIPER!

HOW WAS HE INVOLVED IN THE VIPER PRODUCTION?

DOES Z-MAX WORK?? HAS ANYONE YRIED IT IN A VIPER OR ANY CAR??

 

[MadMaxx]

Z-max is bogus. Won't go into it, but it's been a long running debate.


Annnnyway, Shelby had a hand in the design of the GTS coupe prototype in 95. As you noticed, some of the cues come from the Shelby Daytona cars. Also, I think the blue/white lemans paint was another "shelby touch".

MadMaxx

 

[Joseph Houss]

Shelby was consulted and his philosophy for pure, simple performance was instrumental in keeping our Vipers basic and powerful.

I believe the best way to understand the relationship would be to read Dan Carney's book.
http://www.viperclub.org/bookstore/bookstore.asp

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

he would still be around but they kicked him out for using CAPS in all his memo's. ughh is it that hard?

 

[EXECMALIBU]

THE VIPER IS NOTHING LIKE THE 427 COBRA... THE COBRA WAS AN ABSOLUTE MONSTER!!

THE COBRA IS VERY SMALL AND VERY LIGHT (2,250LBS+/-) WITH TONS OF POWER!..THE DOORS WERE CUT VERY LOW SO YOU FELT TOTALLY EXPOSED.. YOU COULD EASILY THROW IT AROUND WITH JUST A TAP ON THE TROTTLE.. IF YOU WANTED TO LIGHT UP THE REAR TIRES (HOOSIERS) ALL THAT YOU NEEDED TO DO WAS JUMP ON THE GAS IN FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD GEAR AND GO FISH TAILING DOWN THE ROAD..

THIS WAS FUN IN A STRAIGHT LINE BUT VERY DANGEROUS IN TURNS OR ON THE TRACK...THE CAR WAS ALWAYS ON A RAZORS EDGE AS FAR AS REAR TRACTION. I LOOPED IT AT BOTH RIVERSIDE RACEWAY AND AT WILLOW SPRINGS BEFORE THE HOOSIERS..THIS WAS AFTER 20-30 LAPS.. YOU NEVER KNEW WHEN THE SNAKE WOULD TURN AND BITE YOU!!

THE VIPER IS VERY FAST AFTER I INSTALLED THE 3.55 REAR END!! BUT IT FEELS HEAVY AND IS MUCH LARGER..THE VIPER WILL NOT FIT IN THE GARAGE WHERE THE COBRA WAS PARKED IT IS MUCH TO WIDE.. I LIKE THE VIPER A LOT BUT IT IS NO COBRA!

MAYBE A 650 HP VIPER WOULD FEEL SIMILAR BUT THE VIPER WILL ALWAYS BE MUCH LARGER AND HEAVIER..

THE BEST PART ABOUT THE VIPER IS THAT I WILL NEVER HAVE TO HEAR "IS THAT A REAL ONE???" 25 TIMES A DAY!!!!!

BELIEVE IT OR NOT IT BECAME A REAL NUISANCE AFTER A WHILE AND MADE DRIVING THE COBRA MUCH LESS ENJOYABLE.. OTHER COBRA OWNERS (ORIGINAL AND KIT CARS) HAVE TOLD ME THEY FEEL THE SAME..

 

[Steve Ferguson]

Shelby helped give the "target" of what the engineers and the designers should target for a true "back to basics" (1992 RT/10) sports car. As for the GTS design, Since Shelby did not do the Cobra Coupe design, I would doubt he had anything to do with it's "design"? The person who may have been involved with the GTS design would have been Peter Brock, the Daytona Coupe designer. Peter was hanging around Viper and the VCA quite a bit in 1996. He actually attended the Sebring race that year, as well as the VOI in Indy. You may have noticed that he is also a frequent guest writer in Viper Magazine.

 

[Jake654321]

I've said it before. Ignore this arrogant Malibu Exec. He needs attention, that's why the caps. If no one responds, maybe he'll go away.

 

[USAF BAD ASP]

because you probably didn't click the link, and even if you did the letters were a little small, I copy and pasted what it says

<FONT size="6">We are proud to offer you the opportunity to order books on-line through Amazon.com. When you order books through this bookstore, you get the same great service Amazon.com is famous for, and you show your support for the Viper Club of America. A portion of the proceeds of each sale returns to VCA, and will be used to enhance this website - at no extra cost to you! Amazon.com will ship books anywhere in the world, offers gift-wrapping, and lets you add a gift message to any book you order. </FONT s>

 

[jkracer9]

Shelby had much to do w/ the Viper until his heart gave out and was taken off the project. You can see much of the Viper in his Shelby.

 

[red98GTS]

Not too long ago, I had an opportunity to ask Shelby in person that very same question, as I had been a member of the Shelby-American Auto Club for many years prior to purchasing a Viper, and was curious as to how much credit he would take in the development of the Viper as we know it. He modestly told me that he sat on a panel with others and told them that he thought it should be more of a basic, light, and powerful sports car without too many creature comforts, ie, the Cobra. He also said he had to withdraw early on from too much more with the Viper development due to his illness. That was about all he volunteered on the subject. pete the ex glass guy and ex 65 Shelby GT-350 nut

 

[randall]

the most Shelby did was convince Lee Iaccoca to approve it,Shelby and Iaccoca are good freinds.and they lied to Iaccoca saying they could get it built for 50 mil.