Shelby American used the Carlisle Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania last weekend to present the Shelby Camera Cobra, a car Carol Shelby wanted to race in 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Camera Cobra Shelby sequel is based on one of the Cobra Daytona coupes and at the moment it is officially a concept.
The real Daytona legends. Only six of them were built between 1964 and 1965, and in ’65 the car helped the constructors secure the title at the FIA World Sportscar Championship, making Shelby the first American constructor to win a title on the international scene.
The original Daytonas 289 was fitted with a Ford V-8, according to Shelby American president Gary Patterson, who wanted to fit a Ford large block to make the car more competitive in Le Mans. Shelby was able to create a one-off Daytona with a 427 V-8 compact wedge head, but what he wanted was a rare 427 V-8 with a single overhead cam.
Shelby Camera Cobra Idea
According to Patterson, known as the camera, the engine was good for 616 hp with a single four-barrel carburetor and 657 hp with a dual four-barrel setup. The chassis needed to be lengthened to install the engine on the Daytona Coupe, but that did not stop Shelby from running for such configuration at Le Mans in ’64.
Instead, Shelby was unable to secure an engine in time for the race. As a result, he drove a NASCAR 427 V-8, although the vehicle in this configuration never reached Le Mans and returned the Shelby car to the 289 V-8 for future races.
The modern Shelby Cammer Cobra was created this year to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of Shelby American. In keeping with Shelby’s original vision, the car has a hood change to accommodate a 427 V-8 with a three-inch-long chassis and a single overhead cam. The modern engine is rated at 650 hp and is paired with a 4-speed manual.
Shelby American plans to showcase the Camera Cobra all year round to measure demand for a limited production run.