Carroll Shelby International and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Create First 3-D Printed Shelby 427 Cobra

Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK) collaborated with the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory to create the world’s first 3-D printed Shelby Cobra. This homage to Shelby with a technological twist was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, which occurred from January 12-15, almost 50 years after the reveal of the 427 Cobra in January 1965.

POTUS with the 3-D printed Shelby Cobra (Photo: Business Wire)

“Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s project to create a Shelby Cobra using 3-D printing technology was a brilliant program,” said Joe Conway, Co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International and CEO of Shelby American. “Applying 3-D printing techniques to speed development and reduce costs resonates with us because Carroll continually leveraged new technologies to gain a competitive edge. The Cobra is a fitting symbol for this groundbreaking idea in the automotive industry.”

NAIAS attendees weren’t the only ones to admire the car. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden travelled to Tennessee once the Cobra was printed. They used the car to promote new technology jobs in America.

“The classic Shelby American vehicle was a great opportunity for applying Big Area Additive Manufacturing technology,” said Jennifer Palmer, Business Development and Outreach Manager in the Advanced Manufacturing Office at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “It was a thrill to apply digital manufacturing to an iconic vehicle with such a history of prestige in the performance field. We’re pleased that the 3-D Cobra has received the response it deserves.”

The laboratory took six weeks to design, manufacture and assemble the Shelby Cobra, including 24 hours of print time. This lab can manufacture strong, lightweight composite parts, ultimately yielding the gorgeous 1,400-pound 3-D printed Cobra. A large percentage of these printed parts included extensive carbon fiber to minimize weight.

“Shelby American’s participation in this project demonstrates the reverence for our iconic designs,” said Neil Cummings, Co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International and CEO of Carroll Shelby Licensing. “Last year, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe became the first car in the U.S. government’s National Historic Vehicle Register. With the 50th Anniversary of our big block Cobra in 2015, the ORNL project shows that our designs are as appealing today as the moment when the roadster was unveiled.”

The car’s purpose goes far beyond proving there’s more than one way to make a car. ORNL plans to use the 3-D printed Shelby as a mobile laboratory. The Cobra is compatible with components such as battery and fuel cell technologies, hybrid system designs, power electronics and wireless charging systems to allow researchers to quickly test new ideas. More information about the 3-D Shelby Cobra is at http://www.ornl.gov/ornl/news/news-releases/2015/3-d-printed-shelby-cobra-highlights-ornl-rd-at-detroit-auto-show.

About Shelby American, Inc. and Carroll Shelby Licensing

Shelby American manufactures high performance vehicles under the lineage of automotive manufacturing icon and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby. The company is involved in vehicle manufacturing, design and engineering projects under a license agreement with Carroll Shelby Licensing Inc. For more information, call [phone] or visit www.shelbyamerican.com.

Shelby American is a subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International, Inc. Carroll Shelby founded his licensing company in 1988, and Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc. is the exclusive holder of Shelby’s trademarks and vehicle design rights for all automotive products, which include some of the world’s most famous muscle cars and high- performance vehicles, including the car that brought home to the U.S. its first and only FIA World Manufacturers Championship in 1965, the famous Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. It also licenses Shelby-branded apparel, accessories and collectibles for all things automotive. For more information, call [phone], write Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc., 19021 S Figueroa St., Gardena, CA, 90248, or visit www.shelbylicensing.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical, including statements regarding the Company’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results may differ materially from those expected because of various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the continuing effects of the U.S. recession and global credit environment, other changes in general economic and industry conditions, the award or loss of significant client assignments, timing of contracts, recruiting and new business solicitation efforts, currency fluctuations, and other factors affecting the financial health of our clients. These and other risks are described in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150203005138/en/

TPRMJessica Wilder, [e-mail]