While ol Shel' was critical to the Tiger's genisis, the Tiger is still a ways
down the list of his automotive contributions to the world. As much as I like
the Shelby connection with Tigers (and love the Tiger), it really was limited
to a one-off hot rod Alpine, proof of concept car... the real production
engineering was done by Jensen and I've never heard that Shelby had any direct
engagement with Rootes Group / Sunbeam corporate management. His strategic
impactand marketing contribution to the modern Dodge and Ford cars is quite
significant by comparison, as is the size of those cars impact on the general
automotive landscape (and what he was paid for the work).
I do think the
Tiger would show up in his top 15 cars.
Stephen Waybright
From: Carlo
Bernardino <crbdino@me.com>
To: tigers@autox.team.net
Sent: Monday, May 14,
2012 10:41 PM
Subject: [Tigers] Shelby Obits
Like everyone in the Tiger
community, I was saddened to hear of his passing. I also was saddened that I
will not be able to meet the man, at a show or elsewhere. It would be need to
shake the hand of one of my automotive heroes. However, one things that I find
interesting that none of his obituaries in the press even mention remotely the
Tiger and his involvement. Some mention great minute details of his life in
Africa, or his chili pursuits, or how he helped with the Omni GLH and other
cars. But no Tiger. I know I am speaking to the choir, but it is as good a
time as any to set the record straight.
Autoweek just posted a list of
Shelby's 10 most important cars, and I wrote Dutch Mandel, one of the editors,
mentioning the Tiger's omission. He countered that the tiger was like the
Toyota 2000 GT that Shelby raced. I wrote back saying the two are not at all
analogous. Furthermore, we could argue that he did more engineering in the
tiger's case than lending his name on the modern Shelby mustangs or Omni
pocket rockets.
Rob
Rob in Carmel, CA
1966 Mk1A Tiger
B382000262 LRXFE
JAL660245
Color Code 39: Carnival Red
TAC# 0519
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