Ferrari Dominated GT Racing For Years — Until a Texan Chicken Farmer's Garage Project Ended It

Ferrari owned GT racing in the early 1960s. The 250 GTO was practically unbeatable — factory backing, V12 power, homologation rules built in Ferrari's favor. Then a bankrupt Texas chicken farmer turned Le Mans-winning driver decided he'd had enough. Carroll Shelby had no factory, no wind tunnel, and no European racing pedigree behind him. What he had was a small workshop in Venice, California, a designer who sketched the car's shape on the floor with scrap wood and gaffer tape, and a Ford V8 he was convinced could humble Ferrari's finest. The result was the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe — and in 1965, it did what nobody thought possible: it beat Ferrari for the FIA GT World Championship, the only time an American manufacturer has ever claimed that title. This is the story of how a garage project ended one of the most dominant runs in motorsport history. If you enjoyed this one, subscribe for more automotive history, and check out our other videos on the golden age of endurance racing. #Ferrari #CarrollShelby #ShelbyDaytona #ShelbyCobra #250GTO #LeMans #GTracing #CarHistory #AutomotiveHistory #ClassicCars #RacingHistory #Motorsport #FordvFerrari #VintageRacing #CarLegends