Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe - Continuation Series, Need your Opinion!

Simply put (and I'm a simple kinda guy), it all boils down to do YOU want one and what will YOU pay for it.

Life's too short to over analyze whether or not to purchase something as unique as one of these! If you WANT IT - GO FOR IT!:thumbsup

1. How much would you pay? $290,000? $250,000? $300,000? $350,000?
2. Would you buy one?
3. What type of information would you need to know before considering buying one.


I'm a little too far out of the loop to have a meaningful view for you - however I do buy exotic and collectable cars.

My instinct says it should be around the Bentley GT price if it's to be in produced in any quantity. If it's in a lower quantity, I would put it about 20% lower than a Vanquish. I'm using cars as the currency here as I believe the price translates better.

I wouldn't buy one because this car doesn't 'resonate' in Europe as much as it does in the US. However this view can be discounted - you wouldn't be after a European market as a primary target.

I'd want to know that it's a one off - even though I wouldn't be interested in resale, customers want to know that it's not going to depreciate by being in a market swamped by them. So a limited volume will give it addition sizzle. BHP, torque and other performance data would be vital. I'd want to know what the motoring press thought - I don't want to drive a car that is not loved.

I could go on.....! Is this of any help?

Well if you are just doing market research, I'll chime in. Although I consider myself a big Shelby fan, the Daytona Coupe never inspired me. I would say your market is much smaller than say the AC Cobra or GT40.

As Shelby's go, this would be on the lower in of my list of "must haves."

Let me just say that it is a beautiful car and I wish you the best of luck. If your only making 10 you can get almost whatever you want.

Tim, If Ford is not going to manufacture the GR-1, I would be interested. The most important question for me is how will it compare to the ones made by Mike McCluskey and when will a prototype be finished to confirm the anticipated answer. The only "problem" with a McCluskey car is the leadtime. When I last checked, the price was $300,000, which provided a piece of absolute automotive perfection with most of the options you reference. What is the warranty and leadtime, and what are Shelby's financial penalties for missing the promised delivery date.

A continuation coupe car has been done already with limited success. They have traded in the 300,000.00 range I believe. Some have popped up on Ebay over the years. McClusky was involved in that one.Not to be confused with the complete cars or vintage Cobras McClusky has upgraded with coupe bodies. I think Paul Andrews was involved along with McClusky in the continuation cars and they did a few until Shelby changed the licensing agreement or something. Another Shelby Cobra dealer (Lee ? can't think of the name but nice guy back east) has had a 7000 series one on the drawing board for a number of years and has produced one or two with Shelby's blessing. I think they authorized a low number 7 or 12?. The originals were hot to drive in and not street user friendly. When you start adding A/C ,radio ,modern brakes etc. You have got another Brock superperformance car. It would be a hard sell I think. but cool to have. My 2 cents. BG

I forgot to mention the Brock coupe superformance car is Shelby licensed now too.

Perhaps I'm missing something here with respect to your question of "what should I pay?" Hasn't Shelby (as the manufacturer and selling dealer of these proposed 10 "continuation" Daytona Coupes) issued a base MSRP as well as priced out the options such as A/C, gauges, etc? That is what you will pay for one regardless of what you or any of us think it's worth.

I also don't think Shelby can or would substitute CF or fibreglass for the original type aluminum body panels and still be able to call it a "continuation" car. usmcfred

timcantwell said:

Another question I have is, should these cars all be sold with aluminum bodies? Should a cheaper fiberglass/carbon fiber version be offered? - If so, would glass take away from the originality of the 1960's era aluminum bodied race car?

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If they make this car out of fiberglass - IT BECOMES A CORVETTE.
Aluminum is the ONLY material to use, or it's not a 60's "genny" car.

The Daytona Coupes that McCluskey built on CSX 2000 chasis are the cat's meow. Replicas are not my thing. Tribute cars like our Ford GT which are another beast all together can be interesting. Superformance already found out how limited the market is for the Brock Coupe which is a well executed beast and what I would call a tribute car.

Is Carroll Shelby making it, Shelby America or some other company? If it's Mr. Shelby's direct involment, then it will bring more money. If it's SA, then maybe a $100,000-$120,000 car. With the specs you listed, if it's someone else just making replicas, maybe $50,000 to $80,000 for a fiberglass version. Add $15-20k for an aluminum body.

Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe "Continuation" is in my humble opinion still just a replica. "Continuation" is the word auction houses like to use to get bidders to feel better about buying a fake. Real car guys know this and soon you will see many fake hemi's (recreations, continutations, replicas, tribute ---- all equal FAKE), Z-28's, L-88's, etc fall from auction house grace.

Don't get me wrong, I like fakes if they are done right. It gives guys like me the chance to own a car much like the orginal without the high cost and risk of damaging it by driving it to events and doing track days.

A 1962 Ferrari GTO's is now worth over $2 million. There are some people who have taken original Ferrari chassis' from the same time period and had custom aluminum GTO bodies made. A good GTO replica will sell for about $200,000. But it must have an original style GTO engine, chassis from the same period, etc. The GTO is a very sexy and appealing car to own and drive. The Daytona's, while beautiful in their own way, are no where near as sexy an a GTO.

The Daytona Coupe has a very limited "user" appeal if it is made exactly like the originals.

1.) Too small for most drivers and very hard to get in and out of it.

2.) Very limited rear visibility because the originals were almost flat from the doors back.

3.) Very, very hot inside.

Besides the design issues, the Coupe's never got the attention that the Cobra's got in movies, posters, TV, etc. Everyone knows what a Cobra is and many people would love to own one. But only a few people know what a Daytona Coupe is and if they do know about it, they may not desire it. Heck, when I talk about a Daytona Coupe to other car people they think I'm talking about a Ferrari 365 GTB/4.

Factory Five Racing makes a product called the Type 65 Coupe. http://www.factoryfive.com/table/ffrkits/coupe/coupekit.html I helped build one for a friend of mine and I have one that is almost done for myself. I shipped it to a notable painter in the bay area about a month ago and hope to have it finished for the London Cobra Show in June.

FFR made the Type 65 Coupe 10% bigger and reshaped the rear glass to make it drivable. Adding A/C is easy. So these changes make the car usable. Not as nice to drive as a Cobra, but livable.

This is the first Coupe I helped to build:


Here's my current project:

More pictures here: http://www.texasvenom.com/Coupe.htm

The FFR car comes with a 96" wheel base. The original Coupe's were built on 90" wheelbase Cobra chassis'. The Superformance Coupe is 93".

Original Cobra Daytona Coupe:


Factory Five Type 65 Coupe:


Superformance Coupe:


The FFR is a highly engineered car that takes the original style 4" frame and stretches it six inches. It uses the same bird cage design and has the option of having 4-wheel independent suspension and whatever brakes you want. I think someone looking for a "continuation" Coupe would take an original 289 car and send it to a pro like McClusky.

Is there a market for a Coupe with a CSX number? Of course. But it should have the correct engine, Weber's, wheels, etc. 302? :thumbsdow I think it would be a fun project and you might even be able to sell a few.

Good luck!

- Bill

Tim, they look too much like vipers (I know they were designed way before) and I was never into them. I'd personally rather have a new, modern GR-1 at $110-120K than a continuation at a much higher price. I'm not sure if that answers your questions.

Tim-

Just my data point- I would be a buyer of the GR-1 if Ford built it and priced it about where the GT was, but I would not be a buyer of the car you describe at the price levels quoted.

I think it needs a larger engine then a 302. Im thinking along the lines of a 427.

timcantwell said:

Excellent feedback guys! To answer FFCOBRA's questions. The car's chassis is in part being build by Shelby in Las Vegas, with the final production being finished by a Shelby authorized constructor/dealer in PA (Lee Benson at All Pro Cars). You can check his site out at: http://www.allprocars.com

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Then forget getting big bucks. Now were just talking about a kit car. However, there is still a big market for nice kit cars.

- Bill

I guess I am in the minority here, but I would rather have the Brock coupe. Why? I think Pete gives it authenticity, it is fast, reliable, looks great, darn good buy, and it is drivable. But in the end, I agree with Bony, I see it as a tribute car as is our FGT. So, Tim, I am rambling, but in direct response to your query: I guess I wouldn't buy one because I think there are better options for a lot less money. BTW, I came close to buying the Brock Coupe two years ago, but at the last minute went for the SPF MKIII because I have always loved the Cobra. As others in this thread point out, the Cobra has been in the movies, songs, etc., and it has been my dream to own one (even a replica) since I was 14 years old. Then six months ago when I bought again, I went for the FGT over the Daytona (Brock Coupe). Maybe someday. But it will be a Brock Coupe for sure.

Bill, with all due respect, your GTO prices are miles low. I am ready to buy any GTO in any condition for $2m. Every one has been identified. They are going from $10m upwards and usually on treaty sales.