There are far more affordable classic cars to perform a ‘restomod’ makeover on, but few can match the intrinsic style and iconic lines that make up performance car royalty like the original Shelby Daytona Coupe. It got built in 6 examples to take on Ferrari in GT racing in the 60s.
The Daytona Coupe doesn’t come up for sale or auction often, but when it does, it is likely to change hands for millions of dollars.
Replicas of the Shelby Daytona are worth an average of about $70,000 at auction though. You might have to call the appraiser for this one, which is a restomod Daytona Coupe, courtesy of HotCars artist Rostislav Prokop as a render concept.
How Rare Is The 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe?
There were only 6 cars built for racing, and they rarely come up for sale. Many more replicas exist, for a fraction of the price; for example, by Factory Five Racing.
The real Daytona Coupes came with 4.7-liter V8s and made around 385 hp. For this render, the engine would probably receive some form of turbocharged power – a 5.2-liter supercharged Predator V8 from the Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 would be a good unit. It makes 760 hp.
Rostislav chose dark brown paintwork for the design of this performance car, in contrast to the iconic blue of the racing cars, but white stripes make a comeback. The widebody doesn’t hurt the elegant style, though there are some aggressive changes to the car from all angles.
Up front there is a low bumper and splitter. Shelby’s covered lenses and front auxiliary lights got inspired by the original classic car, and the hood and fender vents were also features of the ´65 racer.
A Modern Shelby Daytona Racing Car To Take On Ferrari
You won’t find exhausts at the rear but on the sides, again like the original Daytona Coupe.
As you take a virtual walk around the classic car to the rear, the unmistakable flat design with those small light modules is as attractive and simple as ever.
Big changes include a huge new rear wing and diffuser, completing the look. It looks like a real Le Mans racing car built for high speed.
The cheapest way to achieve a Daytona restomod like this would be to base the car on a replica, and have the additional aero parts 3D printed.
A wide body replica would be an interesting project, and whether this performance car is a replica or not, it was born to live on the racetrack.