Over the years, the SAAC Board has discussed plans for the retention of the important historical work done by the SAAC Registrars. It is the passionate work of these individuals over fifty years that has kept the history and authenticity of the cars of Carroll Shelby.

The Club recognized the need to provide for the long-term storage and curation of these records lest they be scattered to the wind when a registrar was no longer able to serve. That planning led us to create the Shelby American Automobile Club Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in June of 2024.

The Foundation’s bylaws state, “The specific purpose of the Corporation shall be to protect, curate, publish, educate and advance the history of the automobiles of Carroll Shelby and Shelby American Inc., including, but not limited to, the registries and registrar data accumulated by the Shelby American Automobile Club (“SAAC”) and the SAAC Registrars.”

SAAC was founded in 1975 as an enthusiast’s member club. It has conducted annual conventions for the last 50 years, which were historic gatherings of its members and their cars at different race tracks around North America. It invented the Open Track experience that so many clubs enjoy today. SAAC collected information and records from Shelby American and others and established a group of registrars who have kept detailed, accuraterecords on the cars of Carroll Shelby. The passage of time and societal changes have made the member activities of the club different from the historical record retention of the Registrars and the Registries.

As we go forward, SAAC will focus on member events, conventions, regional clubs and member gatherings. The Foundation will focus on the preservation and curation of the historical records, publishing these records and educational materials as a 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation, being a 501(c)(3), is allowed to accept tax-deductible charitable donations and provide the donor with a tax deduction for their gift of support. This will allow the preservation and curation of these important records to be supported financially by sources other than our club member dues.

The registrars’ records have historically been backed up to SAAC computer servers on a periodic basis. Physical records have remained in the possession of the registrars. As a result of the work of the last 12 months, substantially all that information has been digitally scanned and stored on servers in a data center in Pennsylvania. The physical records have been boxed, labeled and stored in fireproof vaults at the same facility.

The Foundation will conduct ongoing sweepstakes offerings, which have been the primary source of funding to date. As we move forward, additional sources of funding have been identified, and it is hoped that SAAC members will consider tax-deductible gifts and/or estate planning activities to secure the preservation of these important records.

The Foundation currently has a three-member board of directors. We anticipate expanding the board to five members this year. The composition of the Foundation board is different from the SAAC Club board in compliance with IRS regulations.

The effort and focus of the Foundation will be to protect the integrity and authenticity of the registrars’ records, to continue to publish registries and educate the public about these historically significant cars. The mission is to protect, based on those historical and authentic records, the clarity of the original cars of Shelby American, and to publish this important information in book form, and/or evolving digital media.

The Shelby American Automobile Club, through the passion and enthusiasm of its founders, registrars and volunteer leadership, has kept the history and accurate records for each of the 14,766 cars manufactured by Shelby American through 1970. SAAC carried the torch for these amazing cars and the accomplishments of Shelby American. As we have crossed the 50-year mark, certain realities of age and social change dictate that steps be taken to preserve, protect and defend the history of these cars. The Foundation creates an entity solely focused on protecting that history and the records that support these cars. Each owner, and every hopeful owner, should be pleased to see the effort to maintain the history and authenticity of these fantastic cars.