Shelby Turbine

Shelby Turbine
Debut series	Grand Prix
Produced	1969 - 1971
Designer	Ira Gilford
Number	6265

STP-Paxton Turbocar History

By Turbo, it is not the Turbo you stick on the exhaust, to make forced induction. It is a Turbine engine. From Wikipedia STP-Paxton Turbocar

The STP-Paxton Turbocar was a racing car, designed by Ken Wallis as the STP entry in the Indianapolis 500.

Wallis, a distant relative of famed British engineer Barnes Wallis, had developed a workable plan for harnessing a gas turbine to a race car. He first presented the idea to Dan Gurney, who passed on the idea. Wallis then offered the plan to Carroll Shelby and Shelby said (according to later court testimony), "Hogwash." Finally, Andy Granatelli of STP expressed interest in the concept. Wallis and his crew moved in with Andy's brother Joe at STP's Paxton division in Santa Monica, and they began work on the turbocar in January 1966. It was Granatelli who introduced a side-by-side concept—that is, putting the engine at the driver's left. Granatelli also added four-wheel drive to the design.

So why did Mattel use the term "Shelby"? Why not "STP" or "Granatelli".

Wikipedia is WRONG !

Ken Wallis designed and built the STP Paxton turbocar for Granatelli. It was not ready in time for the 66 Indy 500. In 67 it retired from the lead with 3 laps to go. In 68 it crashed in practice & never raced again. Meanwhile Wallis went on to design a similar car for Carrol Shelby who entered 2 cars for the 68 Indy 500 for Denny Hulme & Bruce McLaren but these were withdrawn "for safety" following Mike Spence's fatal crash while practicing in a Lotus 56 Turbocar. (The real reason was they actually did not comply with the 68 Indy regulations...)

Hot Wheels modelled the Shelby car which never raced.

Source: Turbine Grand Prix by Gerard Crombac

Interesting that this type of engine would go on and power many other things, M1 Abrams.

Description

Shelby Turbine was a car from the 1969 Hot Wheels series.

Interior Colors :

• Black - by far the most common color
• Gray / Champagne - can be found in most colors
• White - extremely rare, thought to be prototypes, salesman samples, or made for photo shoots

The Cars were packaged with a metal 'Collector's Button'.

Versions

The Shelby Turbine has come out in the following versions:

Year	Series	Color	Sticker	Base Color / Type	Window Color	Interior Color	Wheel Type	cast#	Country	Notes	Photo
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Blue	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	Hong Kong
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Light Purple	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Dark Purple	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Aqua	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Red	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK	Capped  RL
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Red	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK	Bushing RL
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Green	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Olive	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Orange	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Copper	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Watermelon	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Brown	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK
1969	Grand Prix	Spectraflame Light Green	Hot Wheels Flame right Side on Base-Body	Unpainted / Metal	Blue	Black	RL	6265	HK

Gallery

Prototype Side Pods (Randy Leffingwell)

original Shelby Turbine Collector Button