LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shelby American and Shelby Legendary Cars will offer a limited number of Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes and FIA roadsters honoring world champion driver Bob Bondurant. The continuation series will be introduced at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, from Jan. 12-21, 2018. Based on Cobras raced by Bondurant, only 50 total cars will be built and each will bear a CSX2000 Shelby serial number. Owners of the new Shelby Cobra roadsters and Daytonas will also receive driver training at the Bondurant Racing School.
“The small block Shelby Cobra roadsters and Daytona Coupes crushed Ferrari to win the FIA Sportscar World Championship in 1965,” said Gary Patterson, president of Shelby American. “That achievement has never been matched by another American carmaker. This glorious history is one of the many reasons that Shelby still offers the iconic Cobras and Daytonas today. Our Cobras are extremely fast, very engaging to drive and retain classic good looks that still turn heads fifty years after winning it all. Given their rarity, the Shelbys offer instant collectability.”
Powered by a small block Ford engine, Shelby Cobras dominated sports car racing from 1963-1966. The competition model versions were piloted by legends including Gurney, MacDonald, Miles, Grant and Bondurant.
“Bob Bondurant was a fierce competitor in just about every form of road racing, winning in cars from Shelby American, Ferrari, Chevrolet and many other top sports car companies,” said Lance Stander, CEO of Shelby Legendary Cars. “He was one of the first and most successful Shelby American drivers during the 1960s. Bob helped America win its first and only FIA Sportscar World Championship and we felt it appropriate to honor that important achievement as he prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his world-famous driving school.”
In 1963, Bondurant joined Carroll Shelby’s racing team for the final three races of the season. He won all of them in a 289 Cobra roadster including the LA Times Grand Prix pre-race; he could not qualify in time for the grid, so he started last and still came in 8th overall against the prototypes. Bob then went to Europe in 1964 to win the GT class at Le Mans with teammate Dan Gurney in a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. He drove both Shelby Cobra roadsters and Daytona Coupes during 1965, winning seven out of ten total FIA World Championship races. His incredible feat secured the FIA GT Championship title for Ford and Shelby.
Those who purchase one of these continuation cars will enjoy a day of training at the Bondurant Racing School in Arizona. Over 500,000 students have learned from Bondurant’s expertise since it opened on February 14, 1968.
“I’m very proud to have been behind the wheel when we won the FIA World Championship on July 4, 1965,” said Bob Bondurant. “That victory was for everyone in America. I loved driving any version of the Shelby Cobra, from taking a roadster up a tough hill climb to hitting close to 200 mph in a Coupe on one of the high-speed tracks. The Shelby American team was incredible as they made the Shelby Cobra a dominating racecar.”
The Bondurant edition Shelby FIA Cobras roadsters and Daytona Coupes will bear a CSX2000 series serial number and will be supplied as a turn key car, minus the engine and transmission.
The Shelby Cobra continuation roadster is based on CSX2345, which had five first-place wins and was also the only roadster on the team in 1965. The tribute Cobra roadsters include a laid-back windscreen, driver’s door knee-pad, high beam activation switch, diagonal roll bar and Shelby American engine compartment tag. Available in aluminum and fiberglass, they feature the historically-accurate original leaf spring suspension and rack & pinion steering, period correct gauges and 14-Gallon fuel tank.
The Bondurant edition Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes are historically-accurate continuations with leaf spring suspensions, tube frames, and thin wooden-rimmed steering wheels. They also feature modernized disc brakes, aluminum bodies, updated and strengthened frames and a racing interior.
Shelby will offer the Cobras in liveries used by Bondurant during his racing career. Roadster owners can choose between the #3 (1964 victory) or #21 (1965 victory). The Daytona Coupe is available as the #26 in 1964 (Viking) or 1965 (Guardsman) blue team colors
The Bondurant edition Shelby 289 FIA Cobra roadster in fiberglass will start at US$149,995.00 and the aluminum version will begin at $249,995. A roadster set up to HTTP FIA specifications and for track use only starts at $289,995. The aluminum Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe will start at $394,995. Each will be built to order and delivered with a Shelby American serial number for documentation in the Shelby American Worldwide Registry. Orders are now being accepted. For more information, visit www.shelby.com, www.Shelbylegendarycars.com or www.HillbankUSA.com.
About Shelby American, Inc.
Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby American manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. The company builds authentic continuation Cobras, including the 427 S/C, 289 FIA, 289 street car and Daytona Coupe component vehicles; it offers the Shelby GT, 1000, Super Snake and Shelby Terlingua Racing Team post-title packages for the 2005-2017 Ford Mustang. Shelby American also builds the Shelby Raptor and Shelby F-150 muscle trucks. For more information, visit www.shelby.com.
About Shelby Legendary Cars
Legendary Shelby Cars continues the heritage of Shelby American’s world famous 1960’s Cobras, Coupes and GT40's. The company is keeping the Shelby flame alive with licensed vehicles that include a documented Shelby serial number, just as though production never ended. The current vehicle lineup includes the nimble small block Shelby Cobra roadster in both street and racing (FIA) configurations, the mighty big block Cobra roadster, the world champion Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe and the Le Mans-winning Ford GT40. Each one honors the 1960s era cars with authentic chassis, bodies and powertrain options. Additional information is available at www.shelbylegendarycars.com or www.Superformance.com or by calling (800) 297-6253.
