Ford is changing the names of the streets on the 'Carroll Shelby Way' campus.

      Bernard Cahier, Getty Images

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      As part of its campus renovation, Ford is removing the name of esteemed racer and entrepreneur Carroll Shelby from two local streets, replacing them with names that better represent the company’s current lineup.

      Carroll Shelby Way West will be renamed Raptor Way, while Carroll Shelby Way East will become Navigator Avenue. These changes will take effect in May, coinciding with Ford’s plans to transform its Product Development Center into laboratories, meeting rooms, Ford Racing offices, and an employee fitness facility. This project, which will also see Village Road renamed Mustang Alley and South Pond Road change to Bronco Bend, is expected to be completed by 2029.

      Ford announced these street name changes in an update on April 9 regarding the renovation of its 350-acre campus in Dearborn, Michigan. The automaker is also set to replace its iconic Glass House office with a new building.

      “Ford decided to rename several private roads to reflect our iconic products, which is part of our overarching strategy to integrate our employees’ work into our campus design,” a Ford spokesperson stated to Automotive News in response to an inquiry from the trade publication about the alteration. “We continuously assess further opportunities to connect with our Ford heritage.”

      Carroll Shelby Way was established in 2012 when Ford gained permission from the City of Dearborn to rename the two segments in honor of Shelby following his passing in May of that year (Ford is reportedly collaborating with the city to initiate the name changes). At that time, Ford expressed that the street name would serve as a daily inspiration for engineers, reminding them of Carroll’s legacy.

      The new names align more closely with Ford’s current focus. While the company continues to produce performance vehicles, its primary business revolves around full-size trucks and SUVs. The F-150 remains the top-selling light-duty vehicle in the United States, and more expensive variants of its base model, like the Raptor and Lincoln Navigator, contribute significantly to profit margins in addition to sales volume.

      Bill Ford (left) and Carroll Shelby (right) introduced the 2004 Shelby Cobra concept at that year’s Detroit Auto Show. David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images www.thedrive.com

      Although Shelby's collaboration with Ford in the 1960s is well-known, he maintained a more independent approach and distanced himself from Ford from the 1970s to the 1990s due to a disagreement with the company. He later formed a less notable partnership with Chrysler and was finally welcomed back to Ford in the early 2000s, when his name resurfaced on Mustangs and several concepts.

      Currently, Ford is no longer using the Shelby name for the Mustang, leaving that to Shelby American. The updated headquarters will not feature a Dark Horse Drive or GTD Road, which seems fitting for an automaker that has moved beyond the 1960s era of Total Performance. Ford is now in its Total Truck phase.

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