1990 Shelby Can Am

History

In 1989 the Sports Car Club of America (“SCCA”) began a program with Carrol Shelby to develop a new single make sports racing car to revive the Can-Am Series. Carroll Shelby and Peter Brock designed the original bodywork.  Peter Brock also penned the famous Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe for Shelby in the mid-1960’s. The tube frame chassis was designed by David Bruns, one of the founders of the highly successful racing car design/manufacturing business, Swift Cars. Assembly was carried out by Racefab, Inc.

The first race was a demonstration race held during the 1990 SCCA National Championship Runoffs. This car ran at that inaugural event, and the entry appears in the car’s original logbook. Click on the video below to see the car racing at this event. The Shelby race starts at 41:04 in the video, and this Shelby appears at 42:12. As you can see from the photos, the car is still in its original livery from that inaugural race. 

In 1991 the Shelby Can-Am class, and a pro series were launched by SCCA.  The pro series ran for six years

Thereafter, in 1998, 29 Shelbys were shipped to South Africa to compete in the new Vodacom sports racing serious, part of the Pro-Tour. The South African cars were upgraded to the Nissan VQ 3.5 liter V6. In race trim these engines were producing 300 h.p. 

In 2008 the South African Shelbys received new, Le Mans-style bodywork. The cars raced in this configuration in endurance races through at least 2015. Shelby Can Am History and South African Endurance Racing Results.  

For the past couple of years the Shelby has been on the show car circuit in the U.S. Southeast, winning multiple awards for its presentation, authenticity, and for preserving a piece of Shelby racing history. It is estimated that as few as 41 Dodge-powered Shelby Can Am cars still exist out of the original 76 built. This car is one of them, chassis number 14.

Description

The Shelby is constructed of a robust tube frame chassis with upper and lower unequal length tubular steel A-arms, aluminum uprights and adjustable roll bar

The Dodge 3.3 liter sealed racing engine is mated to a 4 speed Weisman transaxle. For more information on the Dodge 3.3 liter racing engine please go to AllPar.com, Shelby Racing. The car weighs in at 1,870 lbs.

Chassis #14 is still in its original configuration and livery from 1990. It is like a time capsule. It still has its original sealed Shelby engine and Weisman 4 speed transaxle. 

The Shelby has been in private collections since its racing days ended in the 1990s. One of the car’s long- time collectors had his former F1 mechanic continually maintain the Shelby for his personal testing and track day enjoyment.

In 2022, the current owner purchased the Shelby to take it on the show car circuit. It has only been run and moved for display purposes, and has not recently been at speed on the track. So it will need a good going through, and a set of new tires and belts at a minimum before being run at high speed. 

The fiberglass body remains unrestored and original, with a track patina from its racing days in the early 1990s.  

The original SCCA Can Am logbook will come with the car. There is also a custom built enclosed trailer that is available with the car. We can discuss a package deal if you are interested in the trailer too. 

The Shelby Can Am will be welcome at scores of vintage racing events. It is a real attention getter from both fans and other drivers. They are super rare, yet easy to maintain and durable. 

If you would like a piece of genuine, original, Shelby racing history, a later chapter in the famous Ford vs. Ferrari Shelby racing story, this is the opportunity and now is the time. Just think about all the other authentic Shelby race cars and what they are worth now. Don’t miss this opportunity. 

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

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