Following the demise of the Can-Am series, Carroll Shelby joined SCCA to design a new car for a single-make open-wheel pro series. The result was the Shelby Can-Am series with a corresponding SCCA Club Racing class. Both ran from 1991 through 1996 in the United States. David Tenney and Mike Davies dominated with Tenney winning the first two Runoffs Championship and first Pro Championship, and Davies claiming three Runoffs titles and two in the Pro Series. Tenney had been the 1989 Spec Racer Runoffs National Champion prior to his move to Shelby Can-Am.

Other notable drivers include Memo Gidley, Sam Schmidt, Yoichi Akase, and Augie Pabst, III.

Although the Shelby held a historic partnership with Ford, the cars were powered by a 255 horsepower Dodge engine, built by Racefab, Inc. and designed by Shelby, Pete Brock, and David Bruns.

Following the end of the series in the United States, many of the remaining chassis were sent to South Africa where a series has continued since 2000.