Carroll Shelby

Carroll Shelby came from humble beginnings working as a chicken farmer in rural Texas. He exploded into the auto-racing scene by beating all the top-tier drivers of the era and winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. All while still wearing his chicken-overalls. Carroll had a heart condition that nearly killed him, forcing him to retire from racing. He started Shelby American and assembled a rag-tag team of hot-rodders to execute his vision of building groundbreaking sports cars like the Shelby Cobra. He also led Ford and the GT40 to multiple victories at Le Mans over Ferrari. Shelby’s cars, driven by the greatest drivers in the history of racing, cemented his legacy. He is the only man in history to win Le Mans as both a driver and a manufacturer. And is still the only American auto-manufacturer to win the World Manufacturing Championship.

The Snake and the Stallion tells the story of motor-sports legend, Carroll Shelby, a bankrupt chicken farmer who, alongside a team of Southern Californian hot-rodders, created the AC Cobra and took on the might of Enzo Ferrari and his iconic Ferrari GTO.

This film delivers the remarkable and engaging profile of the 1959 Le Mans winner who became famous for the AC Cobra and his involvement with the Ford GT40 development programme. It traces Carroll Shelby’s career from driver to creator, featuring views from the influential men that worked and raced alongside him. The story is relayed by Shelby himself along with Phil Hill, Roy Salvadori, Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant and others, whilst excellent archive footage, ranging from Nassau 1955 to Le Mans 1969, brings to life a fascinating chapter in motor racing history.

Documentary showing the 1966 Le Mans 24 hour endurance race.