By Staff Writer
Aug 18, 2021
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Ford,
Shelby,
Sponsored Content,
Cobra,
Car Catcher,
Daytona coupe
Photography Courtesy Worldwide Auctioneers
Sponsored Content Presented by Worldwide Auctioneers.
How does one of the most competitive sports cars on the planet become even more competitive? Add aerodynamics.
Such was the case with the Shelby Cobra. Although it was already fast, the addition of a Peter Brock-designed aerodynamic body ensured the Daytona Coupe could hang with the fastest on the endurance racing circuit–and beat them, too.
[The famed Cobra Daytona Coupe that almost didn’t win, as told by its designer, Peter Brock.]
The story of this 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe–CSX 2469–is unique thanks to its previous owner, Carroll Shelby:
As reflected in the Shelby Cobra Registry, this period-original Cobra chassis first hosted a 1965 Shelby Cobra Roadster body until it was purchased by Carroll Shelby, who directed the open-seater to be transformed into a Daytona Coupe by world-renowned Shelby Cobra expert Mike McCluskey. This singular, important race car is affectionately known in Shelby circles as the 'seventh' of six originals due to its authenticity, evidenced by its invitation to appear at Laguna Seca with the original six. CSX 2469 should not be compared at all to the continuation series cars that were built later.
Despite its rarity, the Cobra was raced, too:
Once complete, CSX 2469 blazed across the pavement in Monterey and captured wins at Laguna Seca, as well as Goodwood in 1999, and other successful races that followed. McCluskey would go on to handcraft a limited number of continuation models of the Daytona Coupe, which included completely new construction, exhaustive hand fabrication and minute attention to detail that would garner a Shelby Enterprise seal of approval. Nevertheless, this car remains the only known McCluskey Daytona Coupe body on an original 1965 Shelby chassis that was overseen, owned, and driven by Carroll Shelby personally.
Finished in the iconic blue-with-white-stripes livery, this Daytona Coupe comes powered by a 4868cc Ford V8 engine backed by a BorgWarner Super T-10 four-speed gearbox.
This 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe will cross the auction block at Worldwide Auctioneers’ upcoming Auburn Auction.
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