1990 Shelby CanAm

Shelby returned to his racing roots in 1990 with a Dodge-powered Can-Am spec racing car constructed from a black sheet of paper. The formula for this new project was to design an inexpensive way for people to enter the racing scene. The chassis was designed by Alan Burke and David Bruns, the original bodywork was from Peter Brock, and the transmission was sourced from Pete and Chris Weismann. John Fernandez was working with the Chrysler Dodge Racing Program at the time and oversaw the design and testing. From 1989 to 1993, 74 production chassis were built. Three examples were built in 1990 to both test the design and performance viability of the car, and were used as promotion vehicles.

Beginning with a chassis built by Racefab Inc. of Rusk, Texas, the original idea was to produce two versions with one receiving a 3.3-liter 60-degree Dodge V8 developing 255 horsepower, and a higher competition version with upwards of 500 horsepower. Like many other spec racing series, the cars were to be built to identical specifications, with the winners determined by talent rather than funding. The engines had Shelby seals ensuring that they could only be repaired by Shelby and that all the engines remained mechanically identical. The modified stock-block V-6 was mated to a Shelby W4-1 4-speed manual transmission with a 230mm single disc clutch. The engine had electronic fuel injection, 10.5:1 compression, and a dry-sump oiling system. They had a 3.22 rear end, rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel disc brakes with ventilated rotors, double A-arm front and rear independent suspension, and an adjustable front spoiler and rear wing. The mild steel tube frame was clothed by a composite sandwich fiberglass body and tipped the scales at a mere 1,650 pounds.

The Shelby Can-Am Class made its inaugural debut as a demonstration event during the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. The pro series was followed in 1991 by the SCCA and would run for six years.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2021

Sold for $21,280 at 2021 Bonhams : Quail Lodge.
This Shelby Can-Am Racing Single Seater was acquired by Judge DiLoreto soon after Shelby announced the new series in 1990. He acquired it directly from the Shelby American Works, and requested to receive chassis number 33, his favorite racing number. The racer was finished in a red and white livery, with a blue rear wing. Ed Pink prepared the Dodge V6 engine and it has a five-speed manual transaxle, disc brakes, and an independent suspension.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2021