Shelby Series 1
After success with the Viper, Carroll returned to the sports car manufacturing business with a new project. He proposed introducing a retro-styled car. His idea was to make a power roadster with sharper handling, more direct driving dynamics, and a modern drivetrain. The idea was materialized in the form of the Shelby Series 1. It was a world-class convertible and the only vehicle Shelby ever built from the ground up (via Motor Trend).
The Series 1 was born in 1999. It featured a gorgeous roadster body, low silhouette, and design, which could be traced back to the ’60s. However, everything was brand new under the body. It had an Oldsmobile 4.0-liter V8 engine with 320 HP. Since the car was light, its performance was excellent. The 0 to 60 mph times were around four seconds, fantastic for the late ’90s. Unfortunately, US regulations regarding car manufacturing forbade Shelby from producing Series 1 as a regular model. Due to limited availability and high prices, only about 250 examples left the factory until 2005.