Shelby American
Cobra Daytona Coupe

Why it matters

In 1965 the Daytona Coupés won the FIA championship for GT cars – by Shelby American’s own account still the only time an American team has taken that title. The prototype CSX2287 was the first car entered on the National Historic Vehicle Register, and CSX2300 became the most expensive American car ever sold at auction in 2026.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Peter Brock designed the coupé body to raise the Cobra’s top speed on fast circuits; sources credit it with 20–25 mph more than the roadster. The prototype CSX2287 was built at the Shelby American race shop in Venice, California, and won the GT class at the 1964 Sebring 12 Hours. At Le Mans in 1964 CSX2299 (Gurney/Bondurant) won the GT class and finished fourth overall. Ferrari won the 1964 GT championship; in 1965 the coupés took the title, clinched by CSX2601 at Reims on 4 July 1965. In November 1965 CSX2287 set a series of speed records at Bonneville, covering more than 1,931 miles at about 150 mph.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

• Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum · Philadelphia, United States – CSX2287Google Maps
• Shelby American Collection · Boulder, Colorado, United States – CSX2299 · On loanGoogle Maps

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe Level A Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

   • “first of just 6 built”
   • 385 hp
   • “four speed stick shift transmission”
   • four speed
   • 2.88 Le Mans rear-axle ratio
   • Sebring GT class win
   • Le Mans 1964 disqualification
   • “over 1931 miles”, 23 records
   • Stored from 1971; sale upheld in court
   • First of six; first car on the National Historic Vehicle Register

   Accessed 2026-11-11
2. 2
   Chassis history of the six Daytona Coupes Level B Peter Brock · VeloceToday · 2015-10-27

   • “built only six Daytona Cobra Coupes”
   • “led the GT class until the 15th hour”; clutch failure
   • CSX2286, “the last coupe built”
   • Viking Blue metallic, white stripes
   • “built entirely at the Shelby American race shop in Venice, California”
   • Won the GT race at Sebring, March 1964
   • Disqualified, illegal restart
   • 25 USAC/FIA world records
   • CSX2287 history
   • CSX2299 history
   • 1965 FIA races; raced in Japan through 1968
   • “sold by RM Auctions for $4.4 million on August 19, 2000”
   • CSX2300 history
   • Third coupe completed at Gransport
   • Class wins Monza, Nürburgring, Reims, Enna
   • Owned by Bondurant until 1969
   • Sold 2009
   • CSX2601 history
   • Red and white Swiss colours at Le Mans 1965
   • Le Mans 1965 retired, blown head gasket
   • Pebble Beach 2015 GT class
   • CSX2602 history

   Limitations: Written by the car’s designer; owner details as of 2015. Accessed 2026-11-11
3. 3
   1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, lot 39, Pebble Beach Auctions 2026 Level C Gooding & Company

   • One of only six
   • 1964 Tour de France debut
   • “Carroll Shelby’s Personal Daytona Coupe from 1975 to 1998”
   • Lot 39
   • Chassis CSX2300

   Accessed 2026-11-11
4. 4
   1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe: King Cobra Level C Max Howard · Hagerty Media · 2009-05-18

   • All six are accounted for today
   • The aluminum coupe began with a long, pointy nose

   Accessed 2026-11-11
5. 5
   Chassis history of the six Daytona Coupes Level B Peter Brock · VeloceToday · 2015-10-27

   • current whereabouts given for CSX2287, 2299, 2300, 2601, 2602; CSX2286 ran Goodwood 2015

   Accessed 2026-11-11
6. 6
   Shelby American reveals 50th Anniversary Cobra Daytona Coupe Level C GTspirit · 2015-07-17

   • “Only 50 cars, available in either aluminum or fiberglass”

   Accessed 2026-11-11
7. 7
   Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe Level B conceptcarz.com

   • CSX 2287 was the first of six Daytona Coupes produced

   Accessed 2026-11-12
8. 8
   1964 Daytona Coupe CSX2299 Level A Shelby American Collection, Boulder

   • “289ci V8, lowered about an inch”
   • 289ci V8
   • “the 390-hp Coupe”
   • “could exceed 185 mph” with the right gears
   • Colours 1964 and 1965
   • Body by Carrozzeria Gransport, chassis from A.C. Cars
   • “won its class and finished fourth overall”
   • 1964 Goodwood TT class win
   • 1965 Daytona and Sebring GT wins
   • Chassis CSX2299

   Accessed 2026-11-11
9. 9
   Carroll Shelby’s former Daytona Cobra Coupe becomes most expensive American car ever sold at auction at $42.9 million Level C duPont Registry · 2026-08-15

   • 289 cu in (4.7 L)
   • Four Weber two-barrel carburettors
   • “roughly 385 hp”
   • Guardsman Blue with white Le Mans stripes
   • Hammer $39,000,000; $42,905,000 with premium

   Accessed 2026-11-11
10. 10
    Peter Brock: Building the Daytona Coupes in Modena Level B Peter Brock · VeloceToday · 2015-10-27

    • Daytona's bare AC chassis were completed in Thames-Ditton in the UK
    • transverse cowl-support hoop ... on the lower main frame tubes
    • Building the Daytona Coupes in Modena (Brock)

    Accessed 2026-11-11
11. 11
    AC Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe – specifications Level C Wouter Melissen · Ultimatecarpage.com · 2026-11-11

    • Wheelbase 2,286 mm (90 in) (Specifications – Dimensions)

    Accessed 2026-11-11
12. 12
    The works Shelby Cobra Daytona chassis CSX 2601 Level C Supercar Nostalgia

    • Guardsman Blue metallic, white stripes
    • Red Line 7000
    • Chassis CSX2601

    Accessed 2026-11-11
13. 13
    Daytona Cobra breaks U.S. auction record at $7.25M Level C Old Cars Weekly

    • Clinched the 1965 championship
    • $7.25 million

    Accessed 2026-11-11