Das Shelby Daytona Coupe ist Abstand eines der Supersportwagen in der amerikanischen Motorsportgeschichte und dominierte die Rennen in den Jahren um 1965. Ferrari sah damals schlecht aus gegen Carroll Shelbys Daytone Coupe und somit war er der erste und einzige amerikanische Supersportler, welcher sogar die FIA GT Weltmeisterschaft gewann. Die Aerodynamik stammt aus der Feder von Peter Brock, wodurch der Daytona Geschwindigkeiten von über 315 km/h erzielte. Leider gibt es nur mehr eine Hand voll der Originale, aktuell kommt diesen Monat wieder einer unter den Hammer. Wer sich dennoch den Traum eines eigenen Coupes erfüllen will, für den bietet die in Kalifornien ansässige Firma Exotic Auto Restoration, jetzt das unter dem Shelby Namen geführte Daytona Coupe Le Mans Edition an! Basierend auf dem Shelby Cobra Daytone Coupe von Superperformance, bekommt die Le Mans Edition neue Radkästen für die neuen und breiteren 18 Zoll Felgen, eine neue Aufhängung, Alcantara Sitze, ein gebürstetes Armaturenbrett aus Aluminium mit Schaltern und Anzeigen im Flugzeug-/Cockpitdesign, “Daytona Le Mans” Schriftzüge und ein Lenkrad von der Firma Momo. Als Motor ist jeder Ford V8 basierend auf dem Windsor 351 block verfügbar, so kann z.B. der in den Bildern verbaute Roush 402R mit 530 PS geordert werden. Optional ist auch eine speziell für Rennstrecken gebaute Version verfügbar, welche dann über einen 6 Punkt Überrollkäfig verfügt, ohne Klimaanlage und Teppichen, abnehmbaren Lenkrad, besseren Bremsen, Carbon Frontspoiler und Diffuser, sowie mit dem Shelby Aluminium block 427ci V8 mit 560 PS, ausgeliefert wird. Wer dieses Schmuckstück sollte sich beeilen, denn es werden nur 6 Stück gebaut! Mehr Fotos und Infos gibts wie immer nach dem Klick.

PRESS RELEASE:

The Daytona Coupe Le Mans Edition by Exotic Auto Restoration – the spirit of Le Mans in your driveway

In 1964, Shelby took the motorsports world by storm with the Daytona Coupe. With a revolutionary design by Peter Brock, the car was capable of reaching an incredible 187 mph on the Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans. In 1965, the Daytona Coupe became the first and only American car to win the FIA GT World Championship, cementing its legacy in motorsports history. Now Exotic Auto Restoration of Costa Mesa, CA is allowing car enthusiasts to bring the legend of Le Mans to their own driveway. Based on the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe built by Superformance and also designed by Peter Brock, the Le Mans Edition has been upgraded in the spirit of the original racecar.

To enhance both the looks and performance of the Daytona Coupe, Exotic Auto Restoration has designed new body and interior components that blend seamlessly with the rest of the car. “I wanted to give the car a wider, more aggressive stance as well as the capability of turning better lap times,” explains George Cunha, owner of Exotic Auto Restoration. Named for the Le Mans 24 Hour race that the Daytona Coupe won in 1965, this package includes the following:

- Group 5 fender flares front and rear
- Wider 18-inch wheels and tires
- Heavy duty Bilstein shocks and H&R springs
- Functional billet aluminum top and side hood louvers
- Reclinable Alcantera suede seats with “Le Mans Edition” embroidery
- Brushed billet aluminum dashboard with aircraft-style toggle switches
- “Le Mans Edition” gauges with 200 mph speedometer and 10k rpm tachometer
- Suede Momo racing steering wheel

Customers can choose from a variety of motors based on the Ford 351 Windsor block. Powering this particular Daytona Coupe Le Mans is a Roush 402R V8 producing 530 horsepower and 515 lb-ft torque mated to a Tremec T56 6-speed transmission.

In addition, a track-oriented version is also available. Only six will be built (two have been pre-sold, leaving four available) in this configuration to commemorate the six original racecars, each featuring an authentic Shelby-built V8. Adding to the standard Le Mans Edition components, this package includes the following:

- 6-point roll cage
- Lightweight wheels with 2.5-inch locking nut
- 14-inch, 6-piston brakes front, 13-inch, 6-piston brakes rear
- Carbon fiber front splitter and rear diffuser
- A/C delete
- Carpet delete
- Full race seats with 6-point harnesses
- Quick-release steering wheel
- Dash-mounted programmable ignition module
- Dash-mounted brake bias controls
- Shelby aluminum block 351 V8 bored and stroked to 427ci
- 560 horsepower and 530 lb-ft torque
- Tremec TKO-600 transmission
- Full dry sump lubrication system

The Daytona Coupe Le Mans Edition can be seen in person at the Pasadena Art Center Car Classic on Sunday, July 19. For additional information on the Daytona Coupe Le Mans Edition, contact Exotic Auto Restorations at 714-979-7100, on the web at www.carsbyexotic.com or by email at exoticauto@sbcglobal.net.

[Source: Exotic Auto Restoration/autoblog]

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The Question:

What happens when you take the most sought after 1965 licensed reproduction Cobra replica and shoehorn in an engine built by a company that has more Ford wins than any other manufacture?

The Answer:

You get the Roush/Superformance Special Edition MKIII-R!

The Project:

The Roush/Superformance Special Edition MKIII-R was built specifically to tour the country and represent the bread and butter of what Roush Performance Engines and Superformance LLC have to offer. The plan was to build a one off display vehicle, but the project’s high interest quickly changed everyone’s mind and suddenly the car was slated for production. The Special Edition car was introduced to the public at the 2007 SEMA show in Las Vegas Nevada. The MKIII-R showed the public what it has always wanted to see – two industry leaders working together to produce the best of both worlds, a stunning double diamond with the roar of a lion under the hood. A car that is truly pleasing to all of your senses!

Now Available for Purchase:

The Roush components will be available as an upgrade package that will be sold separately from the standard Superformance MKIII roadster. The interior features a set of Roush embroidered leather seats, unique gauges, billet short-throw shifter, Roush embroidered floor mats, dual gauge pod, and a serialized plaque. Customers can choose from a variety of Roush crate motors including the 427 IR V8 that is dyno tested at 576 horsepower and comes with a 2-year/24,000 mile warranty.

The Players:

Superformance LLC, the leader in “Licensed Reproduction” replica and continuation component chassis of the 1960′s. As one of the first players in the industry, Superformance has over 20 independent dealers throughout the world including Europe, Africa, and Australia. Superformance has earned the reputation of being the best through their relentless attention to detail, quality, craftsmanship, fit, finish, and customer service. Superformance teamed with Hi-Tech Automotive RSA (the world’s largest specialty car production facility with more than 600 craftsmen and associated employees in their 400,000 square foot build facility located in South Africa) has built over 4000 rolling component chassis to date.

Roush Performance Engines, a division of Roush Industries and better known to the general public as Roush Fenway Racing has been producing complete performance crate “street engines” since 2003 and currently has over 15 different combinations from mild to wild to choose from.

Hillbank Motor Corporation is Southern California’s Superformance licensed reproduction replica and Shelby continuation vintage racing and component chassis dealer. Hillbank has the largest selection and inventory of complete “turn-key minus” MKIII’s, Cobras, Daytona Coupes, and GT40′s on the West Cost and is a premier retailer of the top name brand and genuine aftermarket American Muscle performance parts & accessories.

Exotic Auto Restorations is a well respected installation center for Hillbank Motor Corp. Exotic specializes in custom fabrication of classic vintage race cars, early & late model Mustangs, and show quality vehicles. Owner, George Cunha and his crew have over 26 years of experience in and around the custom fabrication and restoration industry. Exotic holds numerous awards with their show winning cars and has recently been seen on Hot Rod TV.

The Journey:

Hillbank Motor Corp collected all the pieces of this performance puzzle and began to align the stars for this new venture. Once the pieces were all collected, Hillbank called on Exotic Automotive Restorations to masterfully assemble the dream car!

The MKIII-R started its journey in South Africa, where it was built completely minus the engine and transmission by Hi Tech Automotive RSA and shipped Hillbank Motor Corp. After 5 weeks on the water it arrived at Hillbank and was quickly sent over to Exotic where it began the transformation process.

The Exotic crew first removed all of the chrome factory trim pieces including the windshield, hood and trunk latches, headlight rings, quick jacks, all the way down to the Tonneau cover rivets and roll bar and sent them out to be coated in a black chrome finish. With the help of our sponsors (Roush, GTP, Wilwood Engineering, Tremec, American Racing, Sube Sport, Michelin USA, and Snake Power Performance) this vehicle was well on its way to its new transformation!

Specs:

576 HP
2 year/24,000 mile warranty
Hard coat anodized billet covers
Tremec 5 speed transmission
Oil cooler and braided hoses

[Source: Superformance]

PRESS RELEASE:

Irvine, CA – On Monday, April 21, Shelby Distribution USA presented automotive legend Carroll Shelby with a custom Superformance Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. This unique gift was made possible by Amy Boylan and the team at Shelby Automobiles in Las Vegas and Lance Stander and the employees at Shelby Distribution USA in Irvine, CA. “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to honor Carroll Shelby with this special car,” said Stander. “We hope he enjoys driving it as much as we enjoyed giving it to him.”

Painted in the same “Guardsman Blue” of the original cars, Carroll’s Daytona Coupe also features the number 98 that represents chassis #2300 that Shelby himself owned up until 1999. Power comes from a Roush 427SR V8 with 480 horsepower and 515 lb-ft torque. Unique to Carroll’s Daytona Coupe is a shifting system that utilizes paddles and buttons on the steering wheel. Developed by MasterShift (www.mastershift.com) of San Diego, the Art Carr 2004R 4-speed automatic transmission can be up shifted via paddles and downshifted using two buttons on either side of the steering wheel. The system also has safety features including a one second delay from Drive to Neutral as well as a speed sensor to prevent the car from being shifted into reverse or park unless it is completely stopped. Installation of the engine, transmission and paddle shift system was handled by Exotic Auto Restoration of Costa Mesa.

History of the Daytona Coupe

The original six Daytona Cobra Coupe factory racers enjoyed a short but impressive racing career: Originally built for the 1964-65 for the 1964-65 racing season using 289 Shelby Cobra roadster chassis, these were America’s answer to Ferrari’s highly successful 250 GTO. In their first year of competition, the Daytona Coupes won the GT class at Sebring and then placed 4th overall at Le Mans. They proved to be so competitive that Ferrari officials, fearing a loss of the championship, managed to get the Monza, Italy final round cancelled, knowing the Daytona’s would win the race and the Championship. Consequently, Ferrari claimed the 1964 FIA World Manufacturer’s Championship. The following year Enzo Ferrari, realizing he would lose to the Daytona’s, pulled his factory support from the GT program, paving the way for the Daytona Coupe walkover. In 1965, the ex-Shelby Daytona Coupes of the UK’s Alan Mann racing team won the FIA’s World Manufacturer’s GT title with ease.

Recreating the Legend

Almost 40 years later, Superformance has re-created this nostalgic player in American racing history. The Coupe is a Carroll Shelby licensed product and was designed by some of the original team, including Peter Brock and Bob Negstad. The Coupe boasts amazingly sleek lines and a contoured body which is slightly larger than that of the original race car. The original suspension was further engineered and improved and the interior space was optimized for more room. Addding value to this impressive Daytona is the fact that it is also eligible for the Shelby American Automobile Club owners registry, capturing each chassis number as a part of American history.

Superformance Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe Standard Equipment*

• A complete factory-assembled rolling chassis.
• Show quality PPG paint finishes with many standard colors – custom colors also available.
• Fully independent front and rear suspension.
• Bilstein® coil over progressive shocks with H&R Springs®.
• Tubular space frame constructed of mild steel.
• Power assisted rack & pinion steering.
• Four-wheel vented disc brakes, power assisted.
• PBR® calipers.
• Aluminum radiator / oil cooler with dual electric fans.
• Oil cooler and braided lines.
• Stainless steel fuel tank. 20 gallon.
• Vinylester and glass composite body.
• Custom TFE air conditioning system.
• BTR / Dana HydraTrac limited slip differential.
• 18″ cast Alloy wheels and tires.
• Tinted front, side and rear windows.
• Remote door locks and immobilizer system.
• Unique under car exhaust -side pipes.
• Black leather and Alcantra interior.
• Retractable 3 point seat belts.
• Stewart Warner electronic gauges.
*Some components and features are subject to change

About Shelby Distribution

Based in Irvine, CA, Shelby Distribution is the official distributor for Shelby continuation cars. Their product lineup includes the CSX4000 Cobra, CSX9000, and the 85th Commemorative GT40®. For more information on Shelby continuation cars or to find a dealership near you, visit www.shelbydistribution.com or call 888-SHELBY-USA.

[Source: Shelby Distribution USA]