The Sandbox has announced the unveiling of the Shelby NFT Collection. According to the meta platform, the collection features some of the “rarest and most sought after” cars built by the legendary American automotive engineer Carroll Shelby.
The collection is also expected to capture one of the most exciting moments in the history of the US automotive industry. The NFTs will go live on November 18th for the public to buy. All sales will also be made through the Sandbox Marketplace.
A Bit of Background on Carroll Shelby
Carroll Shelby was a legendary race car driver and automotive designer largely credited with the development of Ford’s race cars.
Born in Texas in 1923, Shelby was inspired by his European racing days to establish a real automotive racing movement in the United States.
He would later open a high-performance driving school dubbed Shelby American, which until this day, remains one of the key contributors in America’s car racing history.
The race car driver also partnered with several major US car companies as a performance consultant, including major giants of that time, like Ford, Chrysler, and Dodge.
The story of Carroll Shelby was also captured in a major 2019 film called Ford v Ferrari. The movie featured Matt Damon in the lead role.
The Shelby NFT Collection on The Sandbox
The Shelby NFT collection, as noted above, is designed to bring to life some of the best cars built by Carroll Shelby. The Sandbox has yet to reveal the full collection, but we have seen a small preview of what to expect.
For instance, one of the most notable cars to feature in the collection will be the 1966 Shelby GT350-H Hertz. This was one of the first cars to be built with Shelby’s input.
Although it was still in line with racing objectives, it actually transitioned into a consumer-based vehicle. It simply gave folks a chance to experience a high-performance car on everyday streets.
Other Legacy Models in This Collection
In addition to the 1966 Shelby GT350-H Hertz, the Shelby NFT collection also features several other legacy models that were mostly built in the 1960s. The CSX2000 260 Guardsman Blue, in particular, stands out.
The car was built in 1962. Key parts of this car were originally imported from the UK, albeit some were actually lost at sea. The Shelby NFT collection on the Sandbox will also feature the Shelby Daytona Coupes.
These ones were built for the first time in 1964, precisely for a race event in Le Mans, France. There were about six cars under this brand.
However, five of them were built in Italy under the supervision of Shelby. As for the other one, Shelby actually built it himself in the US.
The Daytona Coupes represented the first real move by Shelby to challenge European dominance as far as race cars were concerned.
We are also learning that the new collection will feature the 1968 GT500KR. This one was built in 1967 and was actually one of the more famous cars by Shelby.
Often referred to as the Corvette King of the Road, the 1968 GT500KR delivered one of the most powerful engines at the time, with up to 400 Horsepower. In the end, the 1968 GT500KR would become the flagship performance car of the Ford brand.
More Modern Collections
There are also a few modern works by Shelby in this collection. Although the legacy cars built in the 1960s will attract a lot of attention, Carroll Shelby built cars for the rest of his life. In fact, the Shelby Series 1 collection that came to market in 1999 is worth a look.
This series was exclusively designed by the man himself and built by his company Shelby American. The series also represents one of Shelby’s most powerful cars ever built. It could hit 0 to 60 in roughly 3.2 seconds.
Now, these are just some of the highlights we expect in this collection. There will be more available for race car fans, especially those more interested in vintage performance cars. The NFTs will go live from 3 PM UTC on November 18th.
Why The Shelby NFT Collection Chose the Sandbox
The Sandbox has established itself as one of the leading metaverse platforms in the world. Over the years, many notable brands have launched experiences here, including NFTs.
Therefore, it was not a surprise to see the Shelby NFT collection debut on the platform. After all, the Sandbox has millions of users, and besides, there are so many ways to unlock the utility of NFTs within the Sandbox meta.
Additionally, the platform has established a track record as the home of major NFT launches. And this is not just limited to corporate brands. Even individual celebrities, athletes, and entertainers have chosen the Sandbox for their NFT and metaverse debuts.
It will be interesting to see how fast this Shelby collection will sell out. But for any car lover, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get your hands on some of the most sought-after NFTs in the automotive industry.
