Excellent broadcast.........I did not know Shelby was involved in the original design of the Viper.
Patrick
Lots of wierd stuff here.... Shelby wanted to MAKE the Viper. Shelby in Whittier, CA were heading a different direction though, they had a frame done and the plan was to do a more Cobra like car, V-8 based (the frame was sold at an auction when they closed the facility). Shelby could not convince the powers that be to go his direction, but like any good politician, he got in a discussion with Lutz and Gale, and the "Viper" ideas blossemed as Lutz's baby. Shelby really had no direct involvement with the design, he was laid up waiting for a heart transplant..... He was called the "spritual leader" though, An AC mark (IV?) was right there in the design area during the whole process (I saw it when I visited the snake pit just after The Viper paced Indy). Dodge used Shelby very successfully for marketing the Viper......