From the Associated Press: January 15, 2010:
Auto legend Carroll Shelby was found dead Tuesday morning, January 12. He was found at Shelby American shop located in Las Vega Nevada propped against one of their prototype cars. Shelby’s body was in advanced stages of rigormortis. Autopsy showed that he had apparently been dead for several months.
Ford Motor Company officials commented that they were unable to get their new GT350 prototype completed prior to Shelby’s death. With the cooperation of local Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino they were able to use their large walk-in freezer to preserve Shelby’s body until completion of the prototype.
Witnesses at the scene commented that several hours after his death Shelby’s body was still able to autograph several sun visors. The prototype GT350 car was in process of completion at the time for the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction to be held in Scottsdale, Arizona. Craig Jackson, CEO and President of Barrett-Jackson Auctions, Inc. commented: “We found it absolutely necessary to delay the burial of Shelby. We needed the publicity to hock this overdone Ford in order to get our estimated ½ million dollars for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation.
The Darrell Gwynn Foundation raises money to buy $125,000 each wheelchairs for needy children.� When Jackson was asked why children would need such an expensive chair – in lieu of actual food and shelter, Jackson responded: “We feel that with an over-the-top wheelchair the children will be able now to get their own goddamn job and buy their own groceries.
Most important, such foundations are vital in creating the false impression that our auction is not all about our personal greed. Our Carroll Shelby – Darrell Gwynn Foundation scams have been very successful over the past several years with great positive feedback from our wealthy customers.�
As to the cause of Shelby’s death, the autopsy revealed that apparently Shelby was struck with motor fragments from a faulty Ford motor causing his pacemaker to fail. Ford Motor Company Engineer, Bill Swenson was quoted as saying: “We were testing our new Coyote 5.0 Mustang motor in this GT350 prototype. The FFRP supercharger that we installed caused failure of the number 7 connecting rod causing the engine to break apart. Unfortunately fragments of the thin-cased aluminum engine block struck Mr. Shelby.� When asked about the Coyote engine program Swenson commented: “ We are getting our asses kicked by the 400 horsepower Camaro and Challenger competition. Ford Motor created our special Coyote group to develop an engine with a perceived 400 horsepower with a $5,000 budget. We feel we have achieved our goal by eliminating as much material in the engine components as possible and by raising the RPM level to 7,000. At a 6,998 RPM our new motor will just touch the 400 horsepower mark. Apparently the metal fragments that this situation can cause is
not good for pacemakers.�
Ford Motor Company executives commented: “Mr. Shelby is far from gone. The Mandolin Bay Resort and Casino have agreed to allow us to continue
to use their walk-in freezer until we can finish our proposed Shelby 5.0 Snake prototype for the SVT Raptor to be auctioned at the April Barrett-Jackson auction to be held in Florida for the Darrel Gwynn Foundation.� Craig Jackson was quoted as saying: “Carroll is far from gone. The Mandolin Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada has agreed to allow us to use their fish tank and transport it to Scottsdale to hold Carroll’s body for the duration of our January Auction. All of his fans will be able to view his body during this 5 day event.
The tank will be such that we will have him on stage for the Darrell Gwynn Foundation auctioning of the special GT350 prototype. We also look forward to seeing him at our February Florida auction to help the needy kids in the Darrell Gwynn Foundation wheelchair charity.�
Medical professionals have been working non-stop with Shelby the past week to re-start his pacemaker. A prominent UCLA medical professor was quoted: “ We feel we will be able to re-direct the electrical energy from Mr. Shelby’s pacemaker to his right upper arm muscular region. This will enable him to continue to sign autographs.�
