Between 1961 and 1967, Shelby American, the company founded by legendary driver and car builder Carroll Shelby, produced three iconic sports cars: the Cobra, the Ford GT40 and the Mustang GT350.

Now a new book from David Bull Publishing goes inside Shelby’s official museum, the Shelby American Collection, for an intimate look at 26 of its most remarkable cars. In Shelby Cars in Detail: Cars of the Shelby American Collection, each one’s history is described in full by author Frank Barrett, accompanied by exquisitely rendered studio photographs by Boyd Jaynes.

The 272-page book profiles a fascinating cross-section of historic and championship cars, from the Cobra’s predecessor, the A.C. Ace-Bristol, to the innovative, high-tech Ford Mk. IV J-Car of 1967. Many of these cars were raced by some of the era’s greatest drivers, such as the 289 Le Mans roadster that Dan Gurney drove at Sebring in 1963, and the 289 FIA roadster that Bob Bondurant used to bring Shelby the World Manufacturers Title in 1965. There’s also the GT40 Mk II that very nearly brought a Le Mans win to Ken Miles and Denny Hulme in 1966.

Jaynes’s photographs emphasize each car’s distinctive shape, unique characteristics, and mechanical attributes. Along with large-format shots showing the entire car, Jaynes goes under the hood and inside the cockpit to reveal critical components of engines, controls, bodywork, and other features rarely seen at this level of detail. These photographs are supported by lively and authoritative chassis histories for every featured car. The result is a gorgeous and indispensable reference for one of motor racing’s most charismatic marques.

Shelby Cars in Detail is available through bookstores, specialty motoring booksellers, and directly from the publisher. Orders can be made by calling 602-852-9500 or by visiting the Web site at www.bullpublishing.com

One of the most exciting new cars of 2004 is profiled in this beautiful book. The Ford GT is the modern version of the incredible GT40, a car created by Ford in the 1960s to beat the Ferraris at Le Mans-which they did! The success of the original GT40, coupled with its great looks, made it one of the most popular cars in automotive racing history. Ford has revived the spirit of the original race car with perhaps its most exciting new car in 30 years-the Ford GT. The new car has lines taken straight off the original GT40 and power supplied by a 500-hp V-8. Three Ford GTs will be built in 2003 to commemorate the 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966, and the car will see limited regular production beginning in June 2004. This book includes an in-depth analysis of how the car came to be, complete with original interviews with Ford execs and engineers as well as drawings of concept cars. Also included is a short chapter summing up the origins and race history of the GT40. Also a section discussing the concepts for GT40 revivals. Many of these cars have not been revealed in publications previously.

GT40 was one of the finest racing automobiles ever built, a supreme effort on the part of Ford motor Company. Featured is the GT40, Mk. I - Mk. IV, from design to construction, in both racing & street clothes. Pictured are the cars of such racing greats as Bob Bondurant, Phil Hill, Masten Gregory, Ritchie Ginther, Rob Walker, Bruce McLaren, Peter Reveson, Dan Gurney, Denis Hulme, and Mark Donahue at venues that include Le Mans, Daytona, and Sebring. In his foreword, Bob Bondurant, world racing champion, reminisces about his days behind the wheel of the GT40.

Shelby GT40 Dave Friedman Subtitled: Shelby American Original Archives 1964-1967 Including GT4, Mk.II, Mk.IV, and More. Official Shelby American team photographer, Dave Friedman, presents rare color photos that chronicle the entire unknown story of the development, production, and racing of Carroll Shelbys famous Ford GT4. From Shelbys California shop and early test sessions to the victory stand at Le Mans, its all here inhistorical photographs and the words of race legends such as Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLa ren, A.J. Foyt, Bob Bondurant, Mario Andretti, Chris Amon, Carroll Smith and more.

The story of the classic confrontation between the classic Ford GT40 as it took on - and beat - the all-dominant Ferraris at Le Mans. A story of hard work, dedication, disappointment, tragedy, and ultimately of complete and repeated success. Hodges recollections of six epic seasons of endurance racing and of the legacy they left to international motorsport form a fascinating repeat view of what many regard as the golden period of the postwar era. Includes a record of ownership and ID of each car, plus a race record listing the fate of all GT40s entered in major events.

When Ford's attempt to buy Ferrari fell through, the US car giant embarked on a program to beat the famous Italian marque at the world's most prestigious race, the Le Mans 24 Hours. It was quite a battle. Ford's challenger was the GT40, which placed 1-2-3 at Le Mans in 1966 and won the next three consecutive years. This classic book about the GT40 - fastest sports racing car of its day - has been redesigned, expanded and updated to meet pent-up demand that has pushed the value of the original 1985 edition higher and higher.

John Allen has an internationally-renowned collection of sports car photographs. He lives in England, but has recently retired from full-time work to focus on making his collection better known to the world. Gordon Jones was brought up in Sussex between the Brighton Speed Trials and Goodwood.

When Enzo Ferrari refused to sell his company to Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford II unleashed his fury in a car called the GT40. Read all about the sports car that was built specifically to beat Ferrari at the classic Le Mans 24-hour race -- and win it did, scoring four consecutive victories from 1966 to 1969. Learn the details of how Ford expanded its horizons, and find out what became of the cars that were built to achieve that goal, including their race successes. The author also details the road-going version of the GT40. Featured are many new unpublished action photographs, a reproduction of the GT40 parts manual, and the histories of each of the chassis numbers.

In the 1960s the Ford Motor Company decided to enter the arena of sports car racing and challenge the European manufacturers, specifically Ferrari, for supremacy. The result was the GT40, and by the mid-1960s the car was posting victories at the most prestigious sports car endurance racing events around the world. In this comprehensive history of Ford's GT40, Ronnie Spain describes the development of the marque and features chassis records and photos of each and every car built.Comprehensive race records provide a year-by-year account, from the GT40's first ventures in 1964 through 1970.

This is one of the best historical works about motor sports published during the last twenty years. With over fifteen years of research put into this work Michael Shoen has created something we will long refer to as a classic. In an era where automotive racing was almost completely dominated by European sports cars Carroll Shelby managed to not only build a competitive sports car but also upset the seemingly invincible position held by Ferrari. The Cobra-Ferrari Wars 1963-1965 accounts, on a race by race basis, the amazing story of the Cobra's climb to the top during those glorious three years.

A marvelous photo collection from Shelby American staff photographer Dave Friedman