Motor Sport Magazine Specials

The authoritative voice of motor racing since 1924 covers the entire motor racing scene. In these Special Editions, the team digs into the archives to give exclusive insight, rare photographic footage, detailed race reports, and a unique take on the subject matter; from world-class drivers through to iconic car marques, and also how some of these real-life stories have been adapted for the big screen.

WELCOME TO CARROLL SHELBY

SHELBY: THE MAN • Stubborn, committed, resourceful and never shy of rolling the dice. Carroll Shelby was far more than just a successful driver turned entrepreneur. He was an automotive pioneer

CARROLL SHELBY: THE LOST INTERVIEW • When the motor racing legend visited Goodwood 25 years ago, David Waldron met him as part of his research for a book project. The conversation has never been published – until now …

CARROLL SHELBY: BEHIND THE WHEEL • Carroll Shelby proved himself a savvy racing driver across a hectic career cut short by a heart condition, laying the foundations for his even greater achievements to come, writes Paul Fearnley

‘IT WAS OUR LAST SHOT’ HOW ASTON MARTIN SNATCHED ITS ONLY LE MANS WIN • 1959 was Aston Martin’s final chance at a Le Mans victory - Stirling Moss, Carroll Shelby and a high-risk strategy the ultimate keys to its success

THE PERFORMING ARTS • Set up by Carroll Shelby, run by car designer Peter Brock, with teaching tips from Ken Miles, Preston Lerner tells the tale of the US’s very first high-performance driving school

SHELBY: THE COBRA YEARS • The car that started it all. Born from a dream to mate American muscle with European delicacy, Shelby successfully brought two opposing forces together to create a new performance benchmark

ALTERNATING CURRENTS • Arguments over its nationality swing back and forth, but 50 years on, the Cobra, with its Yankee muscle and British breeding, is still too big for just one passport

KING COBRAS • It’s become a legend. After it bellowed its way onto the race track, the Cobra remains a rampant symbol of automotive powerplay. Crude in concept, unsubtle in delivery and aesthetically a generation behind its peers, the Anglo-American wild child still stirs any blood with four-star in it. But even if it didn’t advance racing technology very far, when a Cobra was racing, everyone was watching. Here are some of the most significant racing snakes

EVOLUTION OF THE BEAST • The Cobra was Shelby’s attempt to wrest Le Mans success from Ford, Jaguar and Ferrari. The Daytona Coupé was the secret weapon that it helped develop. Andrew Frankel tries both generations of American muscle

PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION • Today he’s best known for his racing school, but back in the 1960s Bob Bondurant was showing them how it’s done in Cobras, Corvettes and Formula 1

SHOCK AND AWE • With 501bhp and a ground-shaking soundtrack, subtlety is not one of this Coupé’s strengths. But why should it be? Richard Heseltine lit the blue touchpaper and headed east…

SHELBY: THE FORD YEARS • With his driving days done and the Cobra completed, its was alongside the Blue Oval that Carroll Shelby forged perhaps his most successful, and long lasting, legacy

HOW A BITTER FAILURE INSPIRED AN EPIC VICTORY • The GT40 remains a Le Mans icon, dominating the race from 1966-1969. But its true origin story begins further back than Hollywood would lead you to believe

SHELBY’S ULTIMATE SUCCESS 1966 • After years of misery and failure, Ford finally celebrated the milestone result it craved, with the GT40 vanquishing the Ferraris at Le Mans. And we were there to document it all.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS THAT MUST COME… …THE FORD GT40 ON THE ROAD • Back in 1966, fresh from its Le Mans victory, Ford was keen to show the performance of its all-conquering GT40 in...