More than four decades after competing at Sebring International Raceway, the 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX2601, “The Championship Coupe,” ran several historic laps prior to the start of the 57th Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race on March 21, 2009.
The Daytona Cobra Coupe – to be sold at Dana Mecum’s Original Spring Classic Auction in May – led a group of vintage race cars from the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) around the track during pre-race ceremonial laps.
The Daytona Cobra Coupe first raced at Sebring International Raceway in 1965, taking 2nd place in the GT class and finishing 7th overall. Five races later, the car made history when driver Bob Bondurant clinched the 1965 World Manufacturers Championship for the United States and Shelby American on July 4 in Reims, France.
As one of only six cars built by Carroll Shelby, the Daytona Cobra Coupe was developed to compete against the dominating Ferrari in the F.I.A. (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) World Manufacturers Championship for GT race class. An experimental coupe body designed by Pete Brock was built on an existing Cobra chassis, immediately increasing the top speed by 25 mph. Brock was present with his creation at the 2009 Sebring event, signing autographs.
Mecum Auction anticipates the Daytona Cobra Coupe will garner the highest bid ever paid at public auction for an American automobile, reaching well into the eight-figure mark when it crosses the auction block. The company is currently creating a documentary about the car’s special place in American racing history.
The Daytona Cobra Coupe CSX2601 headlines the Original Spring Classis Auction, which is expected to feature 1,250 vehicles, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The auction is open to the general public and tickets are available at the door for $10. The Daytona Cobra Coupe will be sold on live national TV Friday, May 15, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. during the company’s series, “Mecum Auto Auction: Muscle Cars & More” on HD Theater.
For more information, visit www.mecum.com.
[Source: Mecum]
That Cobra coupe must be something special because seeing the blue Cobra coupe at the 2011 SPA Francorchamps races both May and September both the Griffith 400′s of Jon Shipman and Michael and Sean McInerney left a Cobra coupe in the dust. The super fast Cobra of Hans Hugenholtz and David Hart also left the blue coupe in the dust at those races.
You can see that blue coupe in competition with the GT 40′s, Griffith 400′s, and the Cobra army on U-tube.
You can also see the Griffith 400 of the McInerneys take the checkered flag at the 2011 Silverstone, Gentlemen Drivers, race in September. That Griffith is really a super fast car. It beat the fastest and winning cobra at the SPA Francorchamp of Hans Hugenholtz and David Hart. Enjoy the video of the race at Silverstone.
What will those Griffith 400′s bring at auctions as only 59 were made for the entire world?