08-25-07: History has a way of repeating itself when Carroll Shelby is involved. The hits just keep on coming. Drag racing pioneer Bob Tasca and the performance experts at Shelby Automobiles have joined forces to offer high performance versions of current generation Shelby and Ford Mustangs. Carroll Shelby and Bob Tasca, Sr have announced that Tasca Automotive Group will open the first authorized Shelby mod shop at its Cranston, R.I., facility this fall during a celebration at the dealership.

“No one understands the value of ‘win on Sunday, sale on Monday’ more than the Tascas,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles. “I’ve been friends with the Tasca family for many years and my team shares their passion to race hard and win. Bob Tasca, Sr. was instrumental in helping me forge a relationship with Ford Motor Company early in my career and his group has a rich performance heritage, so it was natural for Tasca Automotive Group to become the first factory authorized Shelby ‘mod shop’ in the world.”

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Authorized mod shops will support the Las Vegas Shelby factory and modification facility by offering packages that enhance the handling, styling and power of current generation V6 and V8 Ford Mustangs and Shelbys.

Tasca’s Shelby Mod Shop will offer Shelby “Super Snake” packages for the 2007 and 2008 Ford Shelby GT500, the Shelby CS6, CS8, and Shelby GT500 40th anniversary packages, as well as clothing, accessories and other packages. Each vehicle will sport an official Shelby badge denoting the origin of all modifications.

Tasca Automotive Group will also enhance Mustangs with authentic Shelby Performance Parts, increasing the performance one step at a time. Individual components will include upgraded brakes, superchargers, suspension components and cosmetic pieces such as hoods and fascias exclusively designed at Shelby Automobiles.

“The Tasca family works with winners, which is why we’re gong into business with Shelby Automobiles,” stated Bob Tasca “We’ve conquered just about every drag racing event and his company has won every major sports car competition from LeMans to Sebring. Together, we’ll give enthusiasts a way to put their genuine Shelby or Ford Mustang into the winner’s circle. And these cars will be equally impressive on the street.”

During the 1950s and 60s, many top drag racing teams relied on local car dealerships for support; few dealers have been more influential than Bob Tasca. Not only was he a significant drag racing driver sponsor and major contributor to the development of cars like the Ford Thunderbolt, he helped create the famed 428 Cobra Jet engine and lured NHRA Funny Car champ John Force away from GM to compete under the Ford banner.

Like Carroll Shelby, Mr. Tasca was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame. He was also the recipient of the Bob Russo Heritage Award and the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award. He wrote “You Will Be Satisfied,” which is now used as a textbook in more than 75 colleges and universities.

In 1994, the Tasca family returned to Providence to reopen the original Ford dealership. In just a few years, it became the largest-volume Ford operation in southern New England. The dealership has earned 15 consecutive Chairman’s/President’s awards in satisfaction from Ford Motor Company

“I’m thrilled to be working with the Tasca Ford team, who understand balanced performance, quality production and loves motorsports,” stated Amy Boylan, President of Shelby Automobiles. “Now, Shelby enthusiasts in the Northeast can turn up the wick on their cars with Shelby programs at Tasca instead of sending their cars all the way to Nevada. Their local Mod Shop will have Shelby trained production specialists who know Mustangs inside and out, and are also experts in Shelby Performance Parts and packages.”

The Tasca Automotive Group Shelby Mod Shop is scheduled to open in October 2007. Up to six other Shelby Mod Shops will be opened in key U.S. and international markets during the next year.