Monday, January 09, 2023

Carroll Shelby: American Racing Pioneer and Icon




...Rolex Super Coolness...


Carroll Shelby


1923-2012

Racing Pioneer and Icon
Rolex GMT Master on Jubilee Bracelet

Carroll Shelby was not only an American racing legend, but an international icon of automotive design. Carroll Shelby began his automotive career as a race car driver, and went on to design some of the most iconic specialty sports cars in automotive history. In the photo below, we see Carroll Shelby pictured in 1987 sporting his Rolex GMT Master on a Jubilee bracelet.



Carroll Shelby is pictured below in 1966 leaning against his Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, and we see his AC Shelby Cobra in the background.






Kings Of Coolness

Pictured below, we see two Kings Of Coolness, Carroll Shelby and Steve McQueen, and in this photo, Carroll Shelby is delivering a Shelby Cobra to Steve McQueen.






In the photo below, we see Carroll Shelby at a car show sitting in his 1963 AC Shelby Cobra, and notice he is wearing a Rolex on his right wrist, which is something he and Steve McQueen had in common.







1966 Ford GT Mark II

The Ford GT40 was a super-high performance American-British racing car, which was originally built and designed in England, and later in the United States. It was powered by a series of American-made Ford engines, and it dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans by winning four consecutive times in a row, from 1966 to 1969. The Mark II, which is pictured below gained Ford the first overall Le Mans victory in history for an American manufacturer.



In the photo below, we see the stable of Ford GT Mark 4 on display at the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the front we see the Number 1 Ford GT which was driven by Dan Gurney, and  A.J. Foyt.


This next video overview from 1967 Le Mans, give an overview of what happened while showing all the Ford GT's on the track.




1967 Le Mans Race Winner


In the photo below we see American race car driver win the 1967 24 hours of Le Mans as he rockets past the finish line to take first place for Ford.


Carroll Shelby is pictured below, posing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in Le Mans, France in 1967 with his Ford GT Mark IV, Number 1 Car which had just won the Le Mans race.





...More Rolex Racing Super Coolness...

Dan Gurney & A.J. Foyt
1967 24 Hours of Le Mans Winners
Stainless Steel Rolex Datejust

Dan Gurney is an American race car driver, race car designer, and team owner. With an amazing career dating back to 1958, he is considered to be one of the living God's of racing. Dan is pictured below taking a break during the 1967 Le Mans race, with Carroll Shelby, who is wearing the checkered hat, and notice Dan is wearing his Rolex Datejust, while racing.



Dan Gurney is also pictured below after winning the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. His teammate for the race, A. J. Foyt is standing next to him. This photo is very famous, because Dan Gurney did not drink alcohol, so when they won, he shook-up the champagne, and popped the cork and poured it all over the place–a tradition that he started, which continues to this day. How ironic is it that the not only did Carol Shelby who designed the Ford GT Mark II wear a Rolex, but so did the two race car drivers who won the 1967 Le Mans!?!


In the photo below, we see a close-up of Dan Gurney's Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet


In the next image below, taken in 1974, we see A.J. Foyt being celebrated in a Rolex Day-Date ad.



A. J. Foyt is pictured below with Richard Petty on the 4th of July in 1975.



The Ford GT40 that Dan Guryney and A.J. Foyt won the 24 Hours Of Le Mans in is pictured below. By the way, this is the first and only time an All-American team, driving an American car has ever won the 24 Hours Of Le Mans!!!