Fifty years ago Shelby won the FIA World Championship for GT cars, now Shelby American is building the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé again to celebrate this glorious victory in 1965, but in a limited edition. Only fifty of the winning car will be built, available with either aluminum or fiberglass bodywork. Both versions of the vehicle will be available in California from August 2015.
David against Goliath?
"The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé helped a small American team beat a racing giant back in the day," says Joe Conway, CEO of Shelby American. "The tenacious Shelby American team sent six sleek Cobra coupes into the field against the Ferrari juggernaut and won the FIA World Championship on July 4, 1965, which is still the only time an American team has been allowed to take the crown. To celebrate this special achievement, we are presenting a limited series of anniversary cars that bring the legendary Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé back to life."
The originals: rare and expensive
With only six original Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupés ever built, this racing car is one of the most sought-after vehicles in the world. Tens of millions of dollars per vehicle make owning one almost impossible.
Aluminum or fiberglass
"After the success of the Anniversary Edition Shelby Cobra Big Block Roadster, we've been bombarded with requests for the limited-edition Daytona Coupe to celebrate the 1965 victory," said Keith Belair, COO of Shelby American. "We've spent the past year designing an aluminum vehicle that stays true to the six originals built in the '60s.
We have also developed an anniversary edition with a fiberglass body that emphasizes the original character of the coupé and makes it look as if it has been with us for years." A total of fifty of these two coupés are to be built.
Old designs, new coupé
Each aluminium coupé (serial numbers CSX9950-CXS9999) includes safety and performance optimizations without compromising on completeness. This is because the coupés are manufactured with original blueprints and the original dimensions. Since each of the six race cars was slightly different, Shelby American chose a model that best represents the coupes.
Contemporary new builds
From the leaf spring to the tubular frame chassis to the wooden-framed steering wheel, everything is period correct. Various paint finishes are available for the exterior, but the coupés are always upholstered in high-quality black leather on the inside. The new models also have a special badge, state-of-the-art disc brakes and a stronger frame.
Each vehicle is made to order and can be assembled by the customer or an authorized dealer; it is delivered as a "rolling chassis". In addition, the customer can separately order an aluminum block 289 c.i.d. engine from the Shelby Engine Company with the serial number of the coupe, if desired.
Legend has it...
"The legend of the Shelby Cobra Daytona coupe is great," says Gary Schechner, vice president of marketing at Shelby American. "When Shelby American started racing the lightweight Cobra Roadster, they were dominant everywhere except on the high-speed straights of the European circuits. Shelby American then commissioned Peter Brock to design a sleeker body for the small-block chassis. The result was one of the most radical and now iconic race car designs of all time. Brock's design not only led to greater top speeds, but also made the car incredibly aerodynamic and efficient."
In 1964, Shelby American began work on the first Daytona Coupé (CSX2287) in Los Angeles. This quickly proved to be a winning car, dominating in its Le Mans class that same year and winning the International One-Make World Championship for GT cars a year later.
Mid-August is the time
The fiberglass and aluminum cars are scheduled to be unveiled on August 12 at Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival and will then be presented during the weekend at the Rolex Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway in Laguna Seca. An aluminum-bodied example will also be on display at the 2015 Goodwood Revival in England.
The price of the aluminum coupe is $349,995, the GRP variant will cost $179,995, both excluding powertrain.
Find out more about the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupé on the Shelby American website.
