Fantasy Junction

Description

1964 Shelby Daytona Coupe Recreation
s/n CA950243
Guardsman Blue Metallic with white stripe

One of the most remarkable cars ever assembled, the Shelby Daytona Coupe rightfully takes its place at the pinnacle of the Cobra legacy. Carroll Shelby’s passion to beat Ferrari at Le Mans came with the realization that the most powerful Cobra roadster lacked the body design to achieve 180+ mph along the Mulsanne straightaway, making it incapable of competing against the formidable Ferrari GTO. Undaunted by the challenge and eager to meet the coming season, young Peter Brock and the Shelby team set about designing an all new aerodynamic body over the roadster chassis. The genius of the Brock design resided primarily in the truncated tail, adapted from Brock’s interest in the 1930s German aerodynamicist Dr. Kamm, who developed the Kamm Tail. With little time to spare, Brock built an intuitively shaped body, capturing both aerodynamic functionality and brutal beauty in a way no other car had done before. Uniquely American in construction and design, the car hit the racetrack proving over and over again with GT class wins in 1964 and 1965 at Sebring, Le Mans, capturing the World Sportscar Championship in 1965 and setting no less than 25 land speed records at Bonneville. The Daytona Coupe was not only a winner in period, it remains today an iconic reminder of the sheer grit, raw talent, and tenacity that would come to exemplify the last vestiges of this great racing period. Just six Cobra Daytonas were constructed in period, in part due to lacking budgets, but more critically, at the peak of the Daytona success, the Shelby team was called upon to focus on the GT40 racing efforts, leaving any future Daytona development behind. Today, the six period-constructed Daytonas are regarded as top-tier collector cars, exemplifying the finest qualities one would find in great racecars of this era.

This stunning hand fabricated example embodies the finest in automotive craftsmanship, attention to detail, and authenticity. The current and only owner of this car initiated this project with the goal of building the finest and most authentic recreation Daytona in existence. Determining early on that no other replica bodywork would suffice, and seeking the highest fabrication standard, the owner insisted that literally every part and piece were to be dimensioned and fabricated to exacting original standards. The chassis and body were assembled and formed by expert European aircraft fabrication specialists, working with original specifications and factory measurements along with hundreds of photos from an original Daytona. During this process, the all-aluminum body was rolled and formed with traditional tools just like the original bodies had been; shaped and fit to the frame with attention to detail and original construction. The team referenced several original drawings and blueprints, dedicating more than 3000 hours of fabrication just in the hand formed aluminum body and accurately built frame. At the outset of the project, the owner contacted the original designer Peter Brock, gaining his interest and automotive passion, offering his detailed suggestions and insights on correct components and fabrication as the project developed. Once the frame and body were completed, expert fabricator Nick Acton was called upon, spending two additional years completing the final build and assembly. The car was most closely patterned to match CSX 2300, transferring many of the specific details to this one of a kind car.

Working with period constraints but still building a reliable performance motor, the owner decided to use a 289/302 Dart Block, stroked to 347. The resulting dyno-tests revealed a commanding 526hp, breathing through correct Italian 48 IDA Webers, using original specification center linkage, fuel log, and of course, the correctly constructed and infamous turkey pan surround. Engine accessories include a correct date coded alternator, correctly plumbed oil lines using ex-aircraft fittings, period correct hoses, proper hardware and finishes. An original Borg Warner FIA T10 close ratio gearbox was rebuilt with cross-cut polished gears by Mike Miles, who also utilized the correct 289 Galaxie tail shaft. An original aluminum Shelby independent differential with 3:31 gearing was installed along with a McCloud racing clutch. Further exacting details include the rare Mocal differential cooler using an electric pump to cool the car (improving cooling when the car is at idle). So complete and accurate was the construction, that the frame itself is a work of art. Constructed using original diameter tubing with original style front and rear uprights per the original 289 racing chassis, the front and rear transverse race-specification leaf spring suspension, renown Cobra expert Mike McCluskey set up and pre-assembled correctly tapered bearings (rear with 427 bearings) and adjustable lower control arms as originally built. Of course, Koni adjustable shocks were installed at the front and rear of the car. During the two-year long body fabrication, the owner embarked on a social media campaign to obtain as many NOS original interior, mechanical, and trim parts to make the car as original as possible. Parts came from all over the world, as enthusiasts sacrificed their hidden NOS treasures in order to participate in the assemblage of this unprecedented car.

Continuing the build specifications, original Girling calipers with correct solid disc rotors were sourced and restored to absolutely original specifications and installed. Hand-formed functional brake cooling vents (front and rear) with additional functional brake ducting were constructed for cooling the calipers and discs as originally intended. A correct pair of SW 248 fuel pumps were sourced and installed, supplying fuel from a hand formed 30-gallon fuel tank. The exceptional level of detail and fabrication included sourcing absolutely original Cutler and Hammond radium-tipped aircraft switches and period hardware, including hand-painted switch lettering in the correct ivory color. Original style Stewart Warner instruments were installed and an original NOS speedometer and tachometer were both located and installed in the phenomenal dashboard which not only displays original details, but all interior panels have been powder coated for durability and consistent presentation. Further details included sourcing of all original Lucas lighting, bulbs, and careful planning to cool the car using an aluminum radiator with concealed high-speed automatic cooling fans inside the hand-formed aluminum cooling shroud. Rounding out the presentation, the car was finished in original Guardsman Blue metallic with Wimbleton White stripes, period correct racing livery, and Halibrand aluminum racing wheels with period correct knock-offs. Upon completion of the car in 2015, the Daytona Club of Los Angeles debuted this amazing Daytona where Peter Brock and driver Alan Grant (World Championship 1964) both were present to sign the car and share their enthusiasm for this unprecedented homage to one of the greatest racecars ever built.

Today with fewer than 100 miles logged since completion, the car is best described as essentially new in every respect. The paint and body are remarkable in finish and construction. Details are not only expertly and authentically fabricated, they are impeccably finished to a high luster, where appropriate, and properly treated for longevity and road use. The windshield is handmade glass with virtually no marks or road chips. Side and rear windows are polished plexiglass with excellent clarity. Throughout the exterior, original details delight including Lucas headlights and proper lenses, original fog lamps, correct bonnet latches, an original fuel cap, and proper A pillar trim. Fit and finish on the exterior far surpasses original racecar construction with exquisite results befitting a car of this stature.

The interior is finished as originally intended with leather seats and typical correct seat belts, rear package tray spare tire with leather tie-down straps, and an accurate array of switches and instruments. Under the hood, details and historic delights continue with beautifully finished components, gloriously trumpeting Weber air horns, and white coated headers emptying out through side pipes flanking both sides of the rolled rocker panels. The beautifully constructed and functional aluminum intake tub is accented by correct air duct hosing trailing to cool the brakes, with a splash of Koni orange peeking though the satin black suspension architecture. The undercarriage has been properly constructed with complete belly pan panels including the rare rear end cooling spoiler, further evidence that no detail of original construction has escaped the build of this exceptional car.

The car starts easily, exploding into a sonic fury that only a great American high performance V8 engine can deliver. The interior resonates with decades of racing victories, and all this, without yet having engaged first gear. Press the sculpted AC clutch pedal, engage the legendary T10, and get ready for the ride of a lifetime. Join the company of Gurney, Bondurant, Hill, Amon, and McDonald, as you depress the gas pedal and experience acceleration, cornering, and braking in keeping with some of the best-engineered racecars of the day. Every aspect of this exceptional car is prepared and refined for road use or vintage tours and certainly would be at home on the most critical show field. This impeccable Daytona has been California CHP inspected and certified with California “special construction” title and up to date registration. A period correct 289 engine (short block), copious documentation, photos, and detailed notations surrounding the build are included with the car.

Beautifully built by a Who’s Who of Cobra experts following the most stringent guidelines surrounding original examples, this essentially new Daytona is ready for a dedicated enthusiast to bravely take the wheel of one of the greatest and most exciting sports cars to ever grace the racetrack. Boasting a pedigree of great designers, builders, and premier racecar drivers, the Daytona continues to stand as the icon of performance from arguably one of the most exciting times in modern racing. With original examples valued in the tens of millions of dollars (and nearly all sequestered to museum status) this stunning Daytona is a superb and ready example, eagerly awaiting the open road or track and ready to reward the driving ambitions of the fortunate new owner.

Please note this car is titled in California as a Special Construction automobile with the model year shown as \"0000\".

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608