Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX 2601: May Auction

Don · #1 (**permalink**) 03-15-2009, 01:14 PM

Source: BRE Peter Brock e-mail newsletter

" Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX 2601, the fourth built of the original six is coming up for auction in May. The expected publicity on the sale of this car will go worldwide. The price is expected to be the most for any American car, over $10 million dollars! I guarantee you'll have far less problem explaining to casual observers what a Superformance Coupe is after the sale.

I was fortunate enough to be involved in the launch event and announcement of the car being auctioned as I joined Bob Bondurant in Phoenix last week (Bob drove CSX 2601 to the GT Championship in 1965) . It was great to see Bob and to be reunited with CSX 2601. All the photos here are of the event (Bob's in the red shirt).

The original "Daytonas" are so rare that they seldom come up for sale. Even more unfortunate is the fact that two have now been acquired by overseas collectors, so there is less chance of seeing one as time goes by. CSX 2601 is one of the most beautifully restored examples; it looks just as if it had rolled out of the race shop in 1965...ready for battle at Le Mans or Reims, where Bob won the 12 Hours and garnered enough points to make it the first American car to win a World Championship.

Bob took CSX 2601 for a spin at Firebird raceway in AZ last week. Even though the smile on his face said it all as he exited the car, he couldn't help but declare: "This is the greatest car to drive. It's as wonderful today as it was when I won the Championship in '65." The fun part, if you own a Superformance Coupe, is that you can say with pride that your car is genuinely better performing and far more comfortable and aerodynamically efficient than the $10 million dollar design that inspired it! If you have a chance to see this lovely old legend as it tours the country, prior to its sale in Indianapolis on May 17 this year, be sure to do so.

Dana Mecum (in the black shirt), the brains behind the auctioning of CSX 2601, will be displaying it this weekend at the Amelia Island Concours' d'Elegance near Jacksonville, Florida and the following week at the 12 Hours of Sebring a few hours south of Jacksonville. More displays will be announced after Sebring.

Gayle and I will be at both Amelia and Sebring, so we hope to see you there. If you have any questions about CSX2601 or know anyone who might want more information about the car and the auction, just let us know. And be on the lookout as coverage of the car continues. "

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...helby-daytona/

LREYBURN · #2 (**permalink**) 03-15-2009, 06:30 PM

Don: Thanks for this post. We'll be watching the results of the auction. Wasn't this car in Larry Miller's collection in Salt Lake?

CoupedUp · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 09:56 PM

Here is footage of the announcement with Bondurant driving the car around the track. No pressure - don't wreck the $10m car!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgV3WGl-ISA

Doug

twobjshelbys · #4 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 09:57 AM

To some degree I hope that Ron Pratte buys this one. I don't think his secret stash will be secret for much longer and it would be a treat to see this next to the Super Snake.

1985 CCX · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 10:08 AM

Now that is great stuff.

ekansa · #6 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LREYBURN

Don: Thanks for this post. We'll be watching the results of the auction. Wasn't this car in Larry Miller's collection in Salt Lake?

No, the coupe in the Miller collection is CSX2299.

twobjshelbys · #7 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekansa

No, the coupe in the Miller collection is CSX2299.

Is that the #13 car? It's still in Boulder at the Shelby American Collection (I saw it Saturday when I saw CSX2052.)

John Simonson · #8 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009, 06:31 PM

Steve Forristall was the last owner that I had contact with.
It was on his old web site as he found the car in New York.
It is not on the current web site.

I have been in contact with Mecum about the things I have collected on the car.

twobjshelbys · #9 (**permalink**) 04-28-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekansa

No, the coupe in the Miller collection is CSX2299.

To make a long story short, my wife and I took a bunch of pictures and posters down to a Longmont frame shot to get framed. They messed up one of the Shelby American Collection posters - the GT350 - so I stopped by (the day I saw Otto's CSX2052 being brought in). They didn't have the GT350 poster so I took the poster of CSX2299 (#13). Every time I go there and see it in person I feel like I've witnessed a piece of history. Thank You Mr. Miller, and to the Miller brothers for making that very special place. Maybe I'll go down again on Saturday to see what's there.