My Visit to Shelby Automotive Factory / Museum & Corner Cafe!
6/3/08 | 08:11 AM
#1
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Team Mustang Source
Joined: July 20, 2004
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From: New Jersey
My Visit to Shelby Automotive Factory / Museum & Corner Cafe!
Just got back from my fantastic vacation in Vegas! During my week stay, one of my destinations that I could not wait for, Shelby!!
The Museum
The tour of the museum was great! All of Shelby's oustanding american muscle machines ever made, including the first Shelby Cobra and Ford GT prototype! Commemerative posters, pics, autographs on the walls throughout the museum was just amazing! Getting a long history on Carroll Shelby and his racing days, up to his 85th Birthday, there are just things about the man I never knew till you go there and learn first hand. And what an amazing guy Carroll Shelby is. Didn't get to meet Carroll, but visiting the place was still worth the visit!
From the first Shelby Cobra model up to the now production Shelby KR car, all of them were just jaw dropping eye grabbers. Plenty of pics posted of the experience.
The Factory
The factory itself is unique. Its not like a Ford assembly line, its like a big performance shop. 2 sections of the factory separated everything. the first section of the factory is dedicated to the true Shelby Cobra vehicles still being made. Each car hand built from the ground up. Words couldn't describe the beauty of seeing a Shelby Cobra vehicle being built. No machines, no robots, all done by hand! Buying a Shelby Cobra can be purchased!! with a price tag between 75k - 140k! Pic below is a Shelby Cobra that just came off a lift, awaiting for the customer to arrive to pick up the vehicle and I got the first pic!
The second part of the factory, and the biggest part, is dedicated to the current Sheby GT, Shelby GT500 and Shelby KR vehicles. 15 car lifts holding customers cars being built, and getting a glimpse of a KR being built in front of my eyes as a beastly Kenne Bell 700HP motor was dropped into the vehicle. I almost lost it there. All the staff and the mechanics were all very friendly and very informative, but were hush hush on some secrets that Shelby has planned for the road ahead. but they did give more info out that the Terlingua Racing Team vehicles were going to be produced. Both in 1960s and the current 2005+ Mustang body styles. Unfortionately, I was unable to get pictures of the factory and the cars being built due to Carrolls restrictions & privacy.
Other than that, there is a part of the factory dedicated to us! Meaning, we've all asked for Carroll Shelby's autograph when we see him, but he wanted to do something different. He wanted EVERYONE's autograph who visited the facility. 10 sections of walls of autographs from thousands of people all over the wrold and I gladly left my autograph on one of the most memorable places I vistied. People signed their name, where they lived, some ever signed their VIN #s which was pretty cool. I just left my name, the date and my vehicle.
The Museum
The tour of the museum was great! All of Shelby's oustanding american muscle machines ever made, including the first Shelby Cobra and Ford GT prototype! Commemerative posters, pics, autographs on the walls throughout the museum was just amazing! Getting a long history on Carroll Shelby and his racing days, up to his 85th Birthday, there are just things about the man I never knew till you go there and learn first hand. And what an amazing guy Carroll Shelby is. Didn't get to meet Carroll, but visiting the place was still worth the visit!
From the first Shelby Cobra model up to the now production Shelby KR car, all of them were just jaw dropping eye grabbers. Plenty of pics posted of the experience.
The Factory
The factory itself is unique. Its not like a Ford assembly line, its like a big performance shop. 2 sections of the factory separated everything. the first section of the factory is dedicated to the true Shelby Cobra vehicles still being made. Each car hand built from the ground up. Words couldn't describe the beauty of seeing a Shelby Cobra vehicle being built. No machines, no robots, all done by hand! Buying a Shelby Cobra can be purchased!! with a price tag between 75k - 140k! Pic below is a Shelby Cobra that just came off a lift, awaiting for the customer to arrive to pick up the vehicle and I got the first pic!
The second part of the factory, and the biggest part, is dedicated to the current Sheby GT, Shelby GT500 and Shelby KR vehicles. 15 car lifts holding customers cars being built, and getting a glimpse of a KR being built in front of my eyes as a beastly Kenne Bell 700HP motor was dropped into the vehicle. I almost lost it there. All the staff and the mechanics were all very friendly and very informative, but were hush hush on some secrets that Shelby has planned for the road ahead. but they did give more info out that the Terlingua Racing Team vehicles were going to be produced. Both in 1960s and the current 2005+ Mustang body styles. Unfortionately, I was unable to get pictures of the factory and the cars being built due to Carrolls restrictions & privacy.
Other than that, there is a part of the factory dedicated to us! Meaning, we've all asked for Carroll Shelby's autograph when we see him, but he wanted to do something different. He wanted EVERYONE's autograph who visited the facility. 10 sections of walls of autographs from thousands of people all over the wrold and I gladly left my autograph on one of the most memorable places I vistied. People signed their name, where they lived, some ever signed their VIN #s which was pretty cool. I just left my name, the date and my vehicle.
6/3/08 | 08:12 AM
#2
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Team Mustang Source
Joined: July 20, 2004
Posts: 2,693
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From: New Jersey
The Cafe
A great place to have a bite to eat. Recently just opened 3 weeks ago, all commemerative Shelby items and decorations throughout the place. Can't describe it in words, but the pictures will tell everything!
A great place to have a bite to eat. Recently just opened 3 weeks ago, all commemerative Shelby items and decorations throughout the place. Can't describe it in words, but the pictures will tell everything!
6/3/08 | 09:19 AM
#6
Team Mustang Source
Joined: June 19, 2004
Posts: 6,840
Likes: 2
From: Phoenixville, PA
AWESOME PICS BRO!!! I love that 1st Cobra! Got the diecast in my collection. That car is literally priceless!!! Can't wait to see the shirt you got for me. Thanks a ton for picking it up. 
6/3/08 | 02:51 PM
#7
GTR Member
Joined: October 18, 2006
Posts: 5,553
Likes: 11
From: England
Great pictures. I'm hoping to visit the California for my 40th birthday in a few years. We'll most definately be taking a detour to Vegas!
So, did you take any souvenirs from the cafe? When we go, I'll make sure my wife has a bag big enough to hold a menu
So, did you take any souvenirs from the cafe? When we go, I'll make sure my wife has a bag big enough to hold a menu
6/3/08 | 03:53 PM
#9
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From: New Jersey
yea the valve cover laps and the mustang grille hanging lights were awesome.
i wanted to steal the menu badly, but 05fordgt told me not to. LOL
i stole those placemats that were on the table and a takeout menu.
i wanted to steal the menu badly, but 05fordgt told me not to. LOL
i stole those placemats that were on the table and a takeout menu.
6/3/08 | 10:49 PM
#12
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From: New Jersey
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