Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2286

[CSX2345]

Hello All,

Here are a few images of CSX2286 at the Monterey Historic Reunion this past weekend.

Cheers

[Harpoon PV2]

To think, they were almost scrapped, because Shelby and Ford had no use for them! Alan Mann, deserves so much more credit not just for the 1965 Division III championship, plus, the only Cobra and only Ford to finish in the 1965 Le Mans. but also for saving all the Daytona Coupes! Cheers, Dennis

[Ron61]

Those are great pictures. Thanks for posting them.

Ron

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by Harpoon PV2

To think, they were almost scrapped, because Shelby and Ford had no use for them! Alan Mann, deserves so much more credit not just for the 1965 Division III championship, plus, the only Cobra and only Ford to finish in the 1965 Le Mans. but also for saving all the Daytona Coupes! Cheers, Dennis

The story I heard had them scheduled to be put on a barge to be sunk or dumped (not sure which) in the Atlantic because no one wanted to pay the $1,500 (reportedly) to ship them back to the USA. As you said, Dennis, it was Alan Mann who was credited with saving the day and the cars.

[Harpoon PV2]

Originally Posted by eschaider

The story I heard had them scheduled to be put on a barge to be sunk or dumped (not sure which) in the Atlantic because no one wanted to pay the $1,500 (reportedly) to ship them back to the USA. As you said, Dennis, it was Alan Mann who was credited with saving the day and the cars.

I haven't heard that one, but who knows! He had them for about three months, he was running out of time before he would have to pay Customs duty. That was the one thing he was bitter about, not that the Ford, Shelby Caravan did not even mention his team or AC! He said in the early 80s, "but nobody cared. Ford Division didn't want them, Shelby didn't want them, they were just last year's junk." Cheers, Dennis

[Alfa02]

Well gentlemen, let's see if I can get the "True Story" from my friend and last driver to race those cars in Europe, Mr. Allen Grant I have never asked him about the subject.
I too (Ed) have heard the story about dumping them in the Atlantic, rather than paying the $1500 duty on each car, I think it was per car??
I'll let you all know, when I speak with him.
I do know he bought (Car #1 out of 3) Lola GT, for $3500, and had a hard time coming up with the money, thank goodness he did. Cheers.

[eschaider]

Thanks, Tom. I would love to know the real story.

Although the various renditions that have evolved/survived over the years are certainly entertaining, the straight scoop is always the gold standard.

[Unique427]

Goodwood in South Sussex, UK celebrated the
50th anniversary during their 2015 Revival.

All six Daytona Coupes were reunited for high
speed tribute laps. This event marked a historic
moment where all coupe copies ever made had
been brought together for the first time since
they were raced in France.

#9 can be seen middle right.

[Tom Wells]

Couldn't resist. Deep South Cobra Club at Sebring 2009. There were, I think 40! We had two on-track days on the full track comprised of 4 20 minute "fast as you dare" sessions. What a great time that was! We did it again later on...

[CSX2345]

Great pics from Goodwood and Sebring.

Would be great to hear some stories from Mr. Grant as well.

Here are a few more of my favorites from last week.

Cheers

[Harpoon PV2]

I would imagine neither Ford or Shelby wanted to remember the 65 Le Mans! Alan Mann got Shelby banned from all European Cobra races, except Le Mans, after Mann told Ford, either Shelby or me, Ford chose Alan, and a good thing to. Shelby got the best cars, but it was an unmitigated disaster for Ford and Shelby! By the half way point, all the GT40s and Cobra's were out, except for one battered Daytona of Mann's racing. The car was piloted by Gentleman Jack Sears and Dick Thompson The Flying Dentist, (you just can't make these things up.) The car had been in to bad shunts and the engine would loose oil pressure after a few second of full throttle. At hour twelve, Sears came in to the pits and said, "this is pointless"! After a bit of an argument, Alan said the words every Cobra lover should know by heart, "but we've got to try and finish one Ford at least, you can do it, just drive the bloody thing on it's oil pressure!" And Sears did, second after second, minute after minute, rev it up, then back off, hour after mind numbing hour! Alan latter said about Gentleman Jack, "he could have blown it on Mulsanne any time, but he just sat there doing what he was told for the rest of the race. Now that is discipline!" Ferrari took the first three positions, and first in Division III, But Sears and Thompson came in a respectable eighth overall, and garnered 12 points. Those points meant that the only way Ferrari could win Division III, was if, they won all the remaining races and the Cobra's failed to garner any points for the rest season. Cheers, Dennis

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Harpoon PV2

I would imagine neither Ford or Shelby wanted to remember the 65 Le Mans! Alan Mann got Shelby banned from all European Cobra races, except Le Mans, after Mann told Ford, either Shelby or me, Ford chose Alan, and a good thing to. Shelby got the best cars, but it was an unmitigated disaster for Ford and Shelby! By the half way point, all the GT40s and Cobra's were out, except for one battered Daytona of Mann's racing. The car was piloted by Gentleman Jack Sears and Dick Thompson The Flying Dentist, (you just can't make these things up.) The car had been in to bad shunts and the engine would loose oil pressure after a few second of full throttle. At hour twelve, Sears came in to the pits and said, "this is pointless"! After a bit of an argument, Alan said the words every Cobra lover should know by heart, "but we've got to try and finish one Ford at least, you can do it, just drive the bloody thing on it's oil pressure!" And Sears did, second after second, minute after minute, rev it up, then back off, hour after mind numbing hour! Alan latter said about Gentleman Jack, "he could have blown it on Mulsanne any time, but he just sat there doing what he was told for the rest of the race. Now that is discipline!" Ferrari took the first three positions, and first in Division III, But Sears and Thompson came in a respectable eighth overall, and garnered 12 points. Those points meant that the only way Ferrari could win Division III, was if, they won all the remaining races and the Cobra's failed to garner any points for the rest season. Cheers, Dennis

Racing is equal parts strategy and speed.

[bkozlow]

The Daytona Coupes are still today not given the attention they deserve as an outstanding car produced by Shelby. Each car of the six has its own points that separate it from the other five. Two roof styles, three each with one style. There are things that are unique to CSX-2286. The photos above are really great, and these points can be pointed out.

Only two of the six Coupes had the Cobra emblem in the nose number circle, CSX-2287 being the other. CSX-2286 had only one wiper blade as the others had two, the blade on the car is not original and is a heavily modified 1967 GT-350 (Mustang) drivers side blade assembly. It was the only car to use a Grant wood steering wheel. The cabin rear view mirror was attached with support bolts that protruded through the roof. CSX-2286 had only 2 louvers on the lower front fender ahead of the exhaust pipes, the others had three. This is not visible in the photos. Also, the fuel filler cap has a spot of weld on it where a wire seal was attached to the gas cap, it was not removed after LeMans. CSX-2286 is the only Coupe to run the Starburst wheels and were not white. The last unique item is the extra support on the windshield wind deflectors. If you look at the second photo 3/4 of the way up the deflector you can see the support, CSX-2286 is the only car to have them. CSX-2286 is still about 98-99% as it came from Shelby in 1969, only changes have been those required to run in the Historic Races for safety reasons. Last point, the driving lights are not correct and were originally Marchals, not the Flamethrowers that are in there. Which is funny because after Rob Walton destroyed the front end, it was the ideal time to replace them with the correct system.

Bill K

[Harpoon PV2]

One major correction, none of the Daytona's were rebodied at Shelby's shop. The prototype was rebodied at California Metal Shapers in LA, under the eye of Pete Brock. The rest were sent direct form AC to Carrozzeria Gransport in Modena, Italy. The irony was, that was the premier body shop of the Scuderia, which sent Enzo into a rage! Cheers, Dennis

[bkozlow]

Looking inside the Coupe note the two yellow lights for the directionals, these are not original, these were added to make street driving easier. In the photo of the engine compartment the black Auto lite regulator is not original, the car had transistorised regulator, I believe it was from a 1965 Lincoln Mark Continental. It's a long story why it was replaced.

BillK

[Harpoon PV2]

I wonder how many Daytona's were made street legal? Here is one from the 70s, with California plates! Cheers, Dennis

[1795]

Dennis,

Back in the day, if you knew someone who had an inspection shop or worked in the DMV and some cash exchanged hands, anything was possible. I used to know a guy that had a quarter mile drag car, that was winning on a regular basis. He had an inspection license and inspected his own car and put it on the street.

Jim

[bkozlow]

Rules for LeMans in the 60's were very different than today. Cars in the GT classes were to be street legal with normal functioning systems. This is why, the GT-40 MK II's had luggage bins in the rear. As far as I know, all the Coupes would have been street legal in most States, the only addition was generally the addition of a second rear view mirror and in some States the addition of an ERG valve. The car pictured above with Calif. plates, I would guess is CSX2300.

Bill K

[767Jockey]

I was super fortunate to be able to attend the 2011 Goodwood Revival. Rather than try to tell all about it, I will say only this. It's a must see. The Goodwood Revival is a must see, bucket list event, one of the greatest things I have ever done. I'm hopeful to get back there once again before my days are done.
I would be remiss not to mention that as a pilot I'm also very interested in aviation. They also showcase a certain airplane at each Revival as well (or at least they did when I went). How incredible that the focus aircraft at the Revival I attended was the iconic Spitfire. To see multiple Spitfire's airborne over the track while classic Ferrari's. Lola's, Maserati's, Cobra's, Mercedes', Auto Union's, a Daytona Coupe, GT-40's, etc circled the track was incredible.

[Unique427]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

I was super fortunate to be able to attend the 2011 Goodwood Revival. Rather than try to tell all about it, I will say only this. It's a must see. The Goodwood Revival is a must see, bucket list event, one of the greatest things I have ever done. I'm hopeful to get back there once again before my days are done.
I would be remiss not to mention that as a pilot I'm also very interested in aviation. They also showcase a certain airplane at each Revival as well (or at least they did when I went). How incredible that the focus aircraft at the Revival I attended was the iconic Spitfire. To see multiple Spitfire's airborne over the track while classic Ferrari's. Lola's, Maserati's, Cobra's, Mercedes', Auto Union's, a Daytona Coupe, GT-40's, etc circled the track was incredible.

Pictures of Spitfires on the ground and inflight during
the opening ceremony for Goodwood Revival 2023

A formation of (3) can be seen just above the tail center frame.

I might add you can go for a ride in the (2) seater on the left for a mere $4,000.