Bicycles

Vintage Electric celebrates an automotive legend with limited e-bike

Vintage Electric celebrates an automotive legend with limited e-bike
Pretty much everything on this e-bike is a design nod to the Cobra
Pretty much everything on this e-bike is a design nod to the Cobra
View 12 Images
Pretty much everything on this e-bike is a design nod to the Cobra
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Pretty much everything on this e-bike is a design nod to the Cobra
The e-bike sports a Shelby logo, color-matched blue metallic paint and black matte racing stripes
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The e-bike sports a Shelby logo, color-matched blue metallic paint and black matte racing stripes
The combination of that battery pack, the hub motor and special Race mode is promised to get rider up to 36 mph (58 km/h) "on private-property/closed-courses"
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The combination of that battery pack, the hub motor and special Race mode is promised to get rider up to 36 mph (58 km/h) "on private-property/closed-courses"
Within the Shelby's aluminum battery enclosure sits a 48-volt battery pack
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Within the Shelby's aluminum battery enclosure sits a 48-volt battery pack
"To channel Carroll Shelby’s spirit of design, you have to be in the presence of the phenomenal vehicles that he created," said Vintage Electric's lead designer and founder, Andrew Davidge
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"To channel Carroll Shelby’s spirit of design, you have to be in the presence of the phenomenal vehicles that he created," said Vintage Electric's lead designer and founder, Andrew Davidge
A look inside the car that inspired the Shelby e-bike
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A look inside the car that inspired the Shelby e-bike
The Shelby e-bike has been created in partnership with Carroll Shelby International
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The Shelby e-bike has been created in partnership with Carroll Shelby International
Vintage Electric's lead designer and founder, Andrew Davidge (left) and Carroll Shelby's grandson Aaron (right)
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Vintage Electric's lead designer and founder, Andrew Davidge (left) and Carroll Shelby's grandson Aaron (right)
The Cobra-inspired Shelby e-bike is limited to a production run of just 300 units
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The Cobra-inspired Shelby e-bike is limited to a production run of just 300 units
The grips and saddle have been informed by the interior of Shelby's original 289
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The grips and saddle have been informed by the interior of Shelby's original 289
The Shelby rides on 26-inch wheels wrapped in Fat Frank Schwalbe tires and thorn-resistant inner tubes
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The Shelby rides on 26-inch wheels wrapped in Fat Frank Schwalbe tires and thorn-resistant inner tubes
The Shelby includes stylish LED head and tail lights
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The Shelby includes stylish LED head and tail lights
View gallery - 12 images

Vintage Electric's electric bikes literally ooze retro charm, with classic cruiser looks, signature engine-like battery housing and thumb throttle or pedal-assist able to tap into a powerful rear hub motor. For its latest limited edition creation, the company has taken design cues from Carroll Shelby's personal Cobra 289 Slab Side.

The automotive world lost something of a legend in 2012, when Carroll Hall Shelby died at age 89. The once land speed record holder, US national champion and 24 Hours of Le Mans winner quit racing in 1960 and went on to design and manufacture automobiles, and is now perhaps best known for the Cobra sports car first introduced in 1962.

And it's the Cobra which has inspired the design of the new 48-volt Vintage Electric throttle bike named, appropriately enough, the Shelby.

The Cobra-inspired Shelby e-bike is limited to a production run of just 300 units
The Cobra-inspired Shelby e-bike is limited to a production run of just 300 units

"To channel Carroll Shelby’s spirit of design, you have to be in the presence of the phenomenal vehicles that he created," said Vintage Electric's lead designer and founder, Andrew Davidge. "Walking around these celebrated Shelby cars, touching them, driving them, and seeing every last detail that Carroll poured into them is truly where our inspiration came from in making the new Shelby bike.

"When you walk up to a Cobra, this first thing you notice is the timeless aesthetic that has been celebrated for generations. The Cobra is an American icon, and we wanted to express that in our newest Vintage Electric Shelby bike."

Within the Shelby's aluminum battery enclosure sits a 48-volt battery pack
Within the Shelby's aluminum battery enclosure sits a 48-volt battery pack

The retro-racer has been created in partnership with Carroll Shelby International, and features a color-matched blue metallic N6 paint scheme, black matte racing stripes and sports the Shelby logo, together with Cobra badging. The grips and saddle reflect the interior design of Shelby's original 289 and, well, pretty much everything on this e-bike is a design nod to that Cobra.

Vintage has enclosed a powerful 48-volt, 23.4 Ah battery in cast aluminum housing mounted within a hydroformed aluminum frame, for up to 75 miles (120 km) of range per 4.5 hour charge. The combination of that battery pack, the powerful hub motor and special Race mode is promised to get rider up to 36 mph (58 km/h) "on private-property/closed-courses" thanks to a power boost to the drivetrain.

To access that extra oomph, riders will need to remove a speed key from the battery pack, otherwise you'll be limited to a street legal 20 mph. Push-button pedal assist is offered, as well as a thumb throttle that gives riders access to five power modes.

The Shelby rides on 26-inch wheels wrapped in Fat Frank Schwalbe tires and thorn-resistant inner tubes
The Shelby rides on 26-inch wheels wrapped in Fat Frank Schwalbe tires and thorn-resistant inner tubes

Elsewhere, the Shelby features inverted front fork suspension for 60 mm (2.36 in) of travel, 26-inch wheels wrapped in Fat Frank Schwalbe tires and thorn-resistant inner tubes, LED headlamp and taillight, and Promax hydraulic disc brakes front and back, with the one at the rear able to recover energy to help top up the battery.

The Vintage Electric Shelby e-bike is limited to 300 units, and is priced at US$7,249. The video below has more.

Introducing the Limited Edition Vintage Electric Shelby Bicycle

Product page: Shelby

View gallery - 12 images
3 comments
3 comments
buzzclick
It's a good first try, but perhaps it would be better if Mr Davidge makes his next bike with a chrome circular battery pack that mimics the air filter housing of a Cobra engine, instead of a fake motor that looks like it wants to be a Harley. Increasing the range to 125 miles would also help.
Martin Hone
Hmmmm, I fail to see anything of the Shelby Cobra in this. Even the Shelby Daytona featured in the opening pic, rather than the Cobra roadster more commonly recognisable. I'd say the fake engine has more of a nod to Harley.....
stupidus
All in all I think they fared exceedingly well and I for one pray many more manufacturers take notice and consequently swamp our roads, sidewalks and other ridable paths with similar ebikes in the near future.

It's of course far too expensive machine to make any real world difference while also needing some added bells and whistles - like a solid chain drive, a mudguard at the front, and a rugged, spacious add-on rack on the back, to name a few.

Also LCD control panel is simply ghastly and something the designers should be ashamed of putting on a $7K bike in the first place which is otherwise aesthetically very pleasing. Unfathomable.

Not sure how comfortable it is to ride for longer stretches, but no doubt this would be an awesome "commuter" bike in the real sense of the word - never mind the weather or season (with right gear, of course).

Would love to see them - or some one else - come up with version with a more leaning riding position with handlebars reaching to you and not the other way around. Lazy boy style!

I'm afraid of riding a real motorcycle - yet have the strange craving for a "way of life" that only a motorcycle can represent - but can see how I could thoroughly enjoy even the fastest rides on a Shelby.

Can definitely picture myself loading Shelby with all the weekend getaway necessities - like an inflatable kayak - and riding into the sunset and appreciate the fact then and afterwards that I'm alive and healthy and able to enjoy the great outdoors around me.

More please!