Inside Shelby American: Wrenching and Racing with Carroll Shelby in the 1960s

Inside Shelby American is a firsthand account of the iconic sports car builder and racing team from John Morton, champion racer, and personal friend of Carroll Shelby.

In the late 1950s, a young John Morton was transfixed with sports car racing. By 1962, his dreams had led him to enrolling in the Shelby School of High Performance Driving. In a bold moment after the last class, Morton asked Carroll Shelby if he might come to work for the newly formed Shelby American. The answer was “Yes, here's a broom.” Thus, ended Morton's college career and began his long racing career.

Inside Shelby American is his personal account of a company overflowing with talent, from designer Pete Brock, to fabricator extraordinaire Phil Remington, to drivers like Dan Gurney, Ken Miles, Bob Bondurant, and Phil Hill. Their rides are equally captivating: AC Cobra, Mustang GT350, Ford GT, Daytona Coupe.

More than just a historical account, Morton’s story is intertwined with the memories of other Shelby staffers of the period, revealing through historic photography and an untold perspective the rousing story of America’s most legendary racer and car builder.