AutoMatters & More: Shelby at the Segerstrom

Recently I revisited the Segerstrom Shelby Event Center with the Motor Press Guild for an exclusive media event showcasing the future of the Shelby brand. There we got up close and personal with the latest Shelby products, connected directly with the team behind the legend and experienced the thrill first-hand of driving the 2025 Shelby GT350 — “an 810hp supercar that will blow your socks off!”

This was the first opportunity for the press to actually experience the car. We also learned about Shelby parts and merchandise, and Carroll Shelby’s foundation and Team Shelby in the community; had question-and-answer opportunities, explored the interior and exterior of the Shelby GT350, and were taken on a guided tour of the Segerstrom by Ted and Rae Segerstrom, its founders.

2025 represents major 60th anniversaries for Shelby: the 60th anniversary of the very first Shelby Mustang — the 1965 Shelby GT350, and the 60th anniversary of the 427 Cobra — a car that was the very definition of the American muscle car.

Gary Patterson is the president of Shelby American. He has risen through the ranks since he started there in 1996. Since that time, he “has had his hands figuratively and literally on every car that has come out of Shelby since then.” He is as enthusiastic as you can be about cars.

Gary reminded us that Carroll Shelby was a very big innovator — always trying something new. He has gotten more patents than anybody in the world, and made two turbine-powered IndyCars. That tradition for innovation continues to this day at Shelby American. Along with the University of California, they had a hydrogen-powered Cobra in 2003. It was not practical at the time but that does not mean that it does not have a future.

Innovation is evident in the 2025 Shelby GT350. The 2025 model has been significantly re-imagined from its 1965 namesake, with “cutting edge upgrades and design enhancements.” Especially noteworthy specifications are its 5.0L V8 engine, available in 480 or supercharged 810 horsepower with a Borla cat-back exhaust and tips, “built to deliver maximum power at an affordable price.” The engine’s power delivery is just right for calm, everyday driving, but it will accelerate hard — yet well under control, if you punch it.

The 2025 Shelby GT350 also features improvements in exhaust, aerodynamics and suspension— fine-tuned for a balance between everyday comfort and track-ready performance. Suspension upgrades include front and rear lowering springs and sway bars. It is available with both a manual or an automatic transmission. As I experienced on my drive in the GT350, the manual transmission automatically matches revs for smooth downshifts.

The Shelby Heritage Center in Las Vegas is a tribute to the legendary Carroll Shelby. It provides an in-depth look into Carroll Shelby’s life and achievements, including his long, rich history of competition and success in motorsports. It has engaging exhibits, interactive displays, a gift shop full of Shelby memorabilia and, of course, a vast collection of rare and historic Shelby vehicles. The Shelby Heritage Center also has an assembly line where vehicles arrive from Ford and are meticulously upgraded with Shelby components. I have visited there many times. To learn more, visit: https://shelby.com/home.

For those of you who have not yet visited the Segerstrom, do so and you’ll be in for a real treat. This modern, two-story museum and special events center in Irvine, California houses an amazing collection of Shelby automobiles — from the very first that were built to the latest models, as well as iconic neon signs, vintage gas pumps and more.

Ted and Rae Segerstrom have collected more than 90 Shelby and Ford vehicles, and are very hands-on in the day-to-day operation of the Segerstrom. Rae’s father raced stock cars and she helped him work in the garage. The net proceeds of their center are donated to the Shriners for Children Medical Center — Pasadena; and the Carroll Shelby Foundation, which aids children who are battling deadly diseases, as well as providing educational opportunities for young people. To learn more about the Segerstrom Shelby Event Center and how you can visit, go to: https://segerstromshelbyeventcenter.com.

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