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Shelby Cobra Daytona to Headline Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show in May

The Le Mans-winning CSX2299 Shelby Cobra Daytona will once again headline the Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show. Besides the starring 1964 Daytona, the single day tribute event will also feature a Ford and Shelby car show and an awards ceremony.
Shelby Cobra Daytona Chassis Number CSX2299 1 photo
Photo: Shelby American Inc.
Attendees rejoice! While there is no charge for admission, a suggested donation to the Carroll Shelby Foundation includes a show decal. Donation money will benefit the Foundation and the future home of a museum dedicated to Carroll Shelby. The 289 CID V8-engined CSX2299 is an important part of American car culture in terms of its grand achievement - winning the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's most prestigious and oldest endurance race for sports cars.

“Carroll Shelby has been the only person to win Le Mans as a driver, team owner and manufacturer,” said Neil Cummings, co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International and a trustee for the Carroll Shelby Foundation. “We’re pleased that the Miller family would loan the special car that helped him cement that place in history to be part of an event that celebrates Carroll’s legacy. For enthusiasts, this is a rare opportunity to see the Cobra Daytona Coupe that ended the reign of Ferrari’s GTO."

So how did Carroll Shelby came to develop this amazing vehicle? Well, he was an enthusiastic racer back in the 50's, driving for the Cad-Allard, Aston Martin, Donald Healey and Maserati teams on several occasions. In fact, Shelby and Roy Salvadori won the 1959 edition of Le Mans at the wheel of the Aston Martin DBR4/250. During this race he noticed the performance of the British AC Bristol, the future foundation of the Cobra and Cobra Daytona. After he retired from driving in October 1959 for health reasons, he opened a driving school and the Shelby-American company, obtaining a license to import the AC Cobra.

Shelby built just six original Daytona coupes between 1964 and 1965. Chassis number CSX2299 was the second one built and the first completed in Modena, Italy, at Carrozzeria Gransport. This actual Daytona is the first ever American vehicle to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating four Ferrari 250 GTOs. It was clocked at over 196 miles per hour (315 km/h) on the Mulsanne straight. The Shelby Cobra Daytona CSX2299 currently resides at the Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.

The Carroll Shelby tribute event will take place Saturday, May 17th, in Gardena, California. “With the success of our first annual event in 2013, and in true Shelby spirit, we’re gearing up for an even bigger and better celebration this year,” said Jenni Shreeves, executive director of the Carroll Shelby Foundation. “The car community has really stepped up to make this one of the most memorable events of the year.”
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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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