Two automotives legends have been reunited. One-time racer and frequent entrepreneur Carroll Shelby has signed back on with Ford Motor Co. "They've got me for the rest of my life," Shelby tells TCC.com.

     The 80-year-old's ties to Ford date back to 1952, when he raced his first Ford. In 1965, he lent his name to a performance version of the then-new Mustang, and over the years, has worked on a variety of Ford's track and production programs. The relationship soured when Shelby followed former Ford President Lee Iacocca to Chrysler Corp. two decades ago.

      Since then, Shelby has worked on a variety of automotive projects, including a car of his own using an Oldsmobile engine. He was quietly reunited with Ford when, last year, he was called in as a consultant on the automaker's unusual, low-volume Ford GT supercar program.

      Now, company sources told TCC, Shelby will work on at least three or four different vehicle programs, starting with a high-performance version of the next-generation Mustang, which hits the street next year. And while there's no official confirmation, he is expected to put the Shelby name on an even higher-performance spin-off of the new GT.