HERITAGE AND RARITY, SHELBY STYLE: The Shelby Series 1

December 29, 2016
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Magnante

This 1999 Shelby Series 1 (Lot #1099) is one of only 249 ever made, and it will be crossing the 2017 Scottsdale Auction block.

Despite the deep awe and respect the original Shelby AC Cobra commands ‒ and deserves ‒ one must remember that Shelby and his team only served to maximize an already-existing platform: British-built AC Aces that rumbled across Europe between 1954 and 1963 with humble 6-cylinder engines under hood, in relative obscurity. But after Shelby’s V8 transformation, a star was born.

By contrast, the 1999 Shelby Series 1 is not based on any pre-existing platform and, aside from its Oldsmobile-sourced 4.0-liter DOHC Aurora V8 engine and a handful of other components, it is perhaps the car Shelby would have delivered had he not been financially limited to basing his earlier effort on one pre-existing vehicle type or another.

In 1994, when Shelby assembled his team to design, engineer and produce the Series 1, he was free from conventional thinking and worked from a clean sheet of paper. The Series 1 is the high-performance road and race roadster Carroll Shelby wanted all along.

As such, the inherent compromises found throughout certain other Shelby offerings are mostly absent. The aerospace-caliber frame is exotic in design and construction. Manufacturing advances allowed the Series 1 to employ an extruded frame made of T6061 aluminum; the bare frame weighs only 260 pounds.

The Series 1’s ingenious inboard push rod/rocker arm layout had never been used in any Shelby to that point. Straight from the racetrack, it works, delivering 0.92-G skid pad results on standard Shelby-issued street tires. Braking is civilized with power assist, and massive disc brakes are employed at each corner.

A carbon-fiber and fiberglass body shell on the Series 1 better resists nicks and dents in everyday use. The floorboards were reinforced with bonded aluminum honeycomb inserts, as were the rocker panels. Again, strength was gained and weight was lost. Curb weight came in at a mere 2,880 pounds.

Heavily bolstered, high-back leather bucket seats – emblazoned with Shelby’s signature – and shoulder harnesses protect Series 1 occupants. Air conditioning, tilt steering column, power windows, intermittent windshield wipers, Momo steering wheel and GM/Delco Monsoon AM/FM/CD/cassette add a level of comfort.

Shelby hand-picked the Oldsmobile-sourced Aurora Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) V8 for this personal-best project. Just like the original Cobra, the engine is positioned in the chassis well behind the front axle center line, curing the nose-heavy trait commonly associated with V8 sports cars.

In naturally aspirated form (some Series 1s were supercharged), the all-aluminum 4.0-liter mill delivers 320 horsepower and 290 ft/lbs of torque, enough to hit 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and go 186 mph. The beauty of the DOHC design is that the mass of the lifters, pushrods and rocker arms are eliminated from the valve train. With the camshafts actuating the valves directly, reduced inertia allows for exciting – and perfectly safe – 6,500 rpm shift points.

Another item Shelby checked off his lifelong wish list was the use of a transaxle instead of the conventional transmission mating at the back of the engine block. Placing the 6-speed manual transaxle unit behind the passenger compartment and rendering it in lightweight aluminum helps give the Series 1 an amazing 49/51 front/rear weight distribution and neutral handling.

The amazing thing about the Shelby Series 1 is how few were built. Only 249 were produced, each of which was serialized and bears an engraved identification badge with Shelby’s signature on the dash pad. The 1999 Shelby Series 1 convertible (Lot #1099) offered at No Reserve at the 2017 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction happens to be number 240, only nine units ahead of the final car. Especially noteworthy is its low mileage: It’s covered a mere 5,600 miles, and is in as-new condition.

A day will surely come when enthusiasts have an awakening about the Shelby Series 1. Its potent blend of sleek styling, bespoke chassis engineering and its distinction as the only Shelby vehicle not based on a pre-existing offering all suggest the Series 1 is poised for greater recognition. And since only 249 Series 1s were made, original 1962-1967 Cobras (1,002 built) are nearly four times as common. Why not be the first to get one of the last of this undervalued breed of Shelby?

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE.