18 Best Carroll Shelby Quotes

Carroll Shelby was an American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur.

Throughout his career, Carroll Shelby achieved many successes and was highly regarded in the automotive industry. He is best known for helping Lee Iacocca develop high-performance Shelby Mustang sports cars.

This article will showcase some of the best Carroll Shelby quotes that showcase his passion, determination, and wisdom. These quotes are words of wisdom that provide insight into Shelby's philosophy and approach to life and will inspire and motivate you to chase your dreams and never give up.

They also reveal Carroll Shelby as we've come to know him, an outspoken Texan who remained a true racer at heart. So let's dive in and explore these best Carroll Shelby quotes!

Inspirational Carroll Shelby Quotes

Here are some inspirational Carroll Shelby quotes that will make your day.

“I’m so thankful that I’ve had nearly 60 years now of doing exactly what I wanted to do.”

"Yesterday's history. Tomorrow's a mystery. So live for today."

"If you’re not winning, you are losing."

"Can I ask you a question? The only question that matters. Who are you?"

“Well, it takes something money can’t buy.”

“I feel pretty good. I never thought I'd live this long. They told me in 1960 that I had less than five years to live.”

Carroll Shelby Quotes On Cars & Racing

Carroll Shelby has some things to say about cars and his racing career.

"My proudest moments are beating Ferrari for the World Championship in 1965, and working with Ford to win Le Mans in 1966 and 1967."

"Porsche and BMW drivers are arrogant."

"The Cobra is my personal favorite car. The original 289 Cobra is the car I respect the most. I like to drive the 289 better than the 427."

"Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races."

"Racing has reached the point where it is pricing the young driver, no matter his talent, out of the game."

"I drove a Ferrari GTO once. Not in a race."

"We should have won the World Championship in 1964 until Old Man Ferrari canceled Monza."

"Driving race cars was an avenue for me to learn how to build my own car, and that was my ambition all along."

Carroll Shelby Quotes On Business

Here are some Carroll Shelby quotes on business.

"In 1964, when Lee Iacocca said, 'Shelby, I want you to make a sports car out of the Mustang,' the first thing I said was, 'Lee, you can't make a racehorse out of a mule. I don't want to do it.' He said, 'I didn't ask you to make it; you work for me.'"

"It's a matter of marketing. We will sell a few of them. Probably won't make a profit, but we'll improve the image of the Mustang, and that will sell a lot of V6 Mustangs."

"I’ve spent the past 40 years of my life building some of the world’s fastest cars. Now I’m shifting gears. I’m taking my companies public."

“Even in 1965, when Ferrari started slipping 4.0 liters in there. That old push rod 289 blew 'em off. That's one of the greatest accomplishments by a bunch of hot rodders.”