Shelby Daytona Coupe
Discussion
So a bit of an update - we are beginning to close in on completion and the car is now complete and ready for its IVA retest (it passed most of the 4.5hr test, but struggled on the emissions and a few minor reflector positions - all rectified by Dave).
With fingers crossed, we’ll get through that and then next weekend I need to head up to choose the paint colour…..
In other news, took RAK1T down to LeMans 24hrs again - ran like a Swiss clock there and back and drank 369 litres
of fuel!
The cars and bikes are now in storage, as I’m getting a few modifications done on the garage in prep for the Daytona Coupe arrival - can’t wait!
With fingers crossed, we’ll get through that and then next weekend I need to head up to choose the paint colour…..
In other news, took RAK1T down to LeMans 24hrs again - ran like a Swiss clock there and back and drank 369 litres
of fuel!The cars and bikes are now in storage, as I’m getting a few modifications done on the garage in prep for the Daytona Coupe arrival - can’t wait!
How is the coupe coming along? Please provide an update when you can
A good few years ago I was given a 427 Cobra ( a long story for another time and another thread perhaps, but I did save the client from certain financial ruin and a legal liability of over £10,000,000 at the time)- it was an original 427 side oiler, top loader.
Wonderful car to look at and drive but the handling, modest brakes weight in the nose as well as a tendency towards over heating showed that its design origins were in the 60s
Fast forward to 2022 and I decided I needed the rumble and low down shove only available from a big capacity USA V8 back in my life as a Sunday Toy
I always liked the shape of the C3 Corvette and bought one- low owner 1981 2 owners, 69000 miles and California car imported to the UK a few years earlier
Owned by a nice but sad anorak (like me!) who knew the 1981 model was built to be light, to compensate for a 5.7 litre small block that only created 190 BHP - as it was of course sold when the USA in general and California ( the biggest market place for Corvettes in the USA then) n particular had very strict anti- smog requirements for all car engines!
I then basically employed Thunder Road ( TR) of Woking- as they are renowned Cobra experts,
TR at my request threw away 99% of the original mechanics - the largest remaining items on the car from when it was made in the Kentucky factory are the motors for the windows and windscreen wipers- all other items larger than that were brand new as at 2022 and 2023
The engine was made to my specification by Blueprint in the USA- wonderful people to deal with and their YouTube Video is worth watching if you ever seek a replacement engine
I wanted low end power- so peak power of 500 ft lbs of torque is at 1600 revs. The BHP of 500 is also useful for top speed but I really wanted lots of low down grunt and a noise from the exhausts that would stir the soul of all ( except Stop the Oil supporters of course !)
I only collected the car 2 weeks ago- so I am gently running it in at present and it will then go back for an oil change and a check up before I can then accelerate properly - so far 500 miles driven and already it makes the Cobra feel very dated- especially in handling
I am not going above 2500 at present- but that is 80mph so enough for me to realise that the handling is phenomenal - it really is like a big Scalextric car- it just goes round corners with no roll and as if on rails.
It is already clear to me that it is a lot quicker than the 427 - the only thing it will not pass is a petrol station
Reaction from the public, and the police (!) is lovely. Nice comments, lots of nice chats, many photos taken and no jealousy as they can see it is an old car
At 42 yeas old it is registered as a classic so I am ULEZ compliant!
I spent a lot of money ensuring that all the replacement mechanical items were as light as possible.
I follow closely Colin Chapmans 2 philosophies- "for more speed add less weight " and of course "lighten and simplify"
The wet weight of the car i.e. with oil, water, a full tank of fuel and adding 75 kg for the weight of a notional driver ( I sadly passed 75 kilos a long time ago and am not likely to ever get back there!) is 1445 kilos- and the weight balance is 50.1% at the front and 49.9% at the rear.
The last time I was in a car with that balance ration was a 944 Porsche when I was a guest at a track day at Brands Hatch- I was taken round by Tiff Needell no less, who told me that the balance of the 944 was so good that it made a bad driver look good
The shape of the door as it blends into to rear arch reminds me a little of the 427- more obvious when I looked at it alongside Cobras in Woking at Thunder Roads garage
I know how you feel- I have been shelling out money and champing at the bit for over 2 years but the wait has been worth it
Parts are of course from the USA - so very cheap.
For example I have a 100% new complete interior installed- the cost of all items including center consoles, switches etc etc was £750 excluding shipping costs
I stopped buying Ferrari a long time ago as I resented the prices they charged - such as £2500 for head gaskets for a V12 I owned
Prices that I fail to see as to how they can be justified. A friend had to replace the front foglamps of his 348- and Ferrari original replacements were £1700 each!
The bodyshop who pained mine showed me 2 wing mirrors for a Ferrari, and the cost of the 2 complete wing mirrors was more than the cost to me of the engine and gearbox of my Corvette - insane prices
Anyway enough of my ramblings - I will look for you when I take the car to Bicester which I hope will be soon- I will be going to the Rally of the Giants at Stonor on the 28th July and hope perhaps to see your Coupe there perhaps?
All the best and please post an update when you can
legalman58 said:
Anyway enough of my ramblings - I will look for you when I take the car to Bicester which I hope will be soon- I will be going to the Rally of the Giants at Stonor on the 28th July and hope perhaps to see your Coupe there perhaps?
All the best and please post an update when you can
no no no - please, MORE of your ramblings! The C3 sounds fascinating (always fancied one of those - either a '78 'Pace Car' or the '82 'Special Edition' - sadly never got around to it and I think were I to go that far back these days I'd be more likely to look at an earlyish Camaro)All the best and please post an update when you can
legalman58 said:
The engine was made to my specification by Blueprint in the USA- wonderful people to deal with and their YouTube Video is worth watching if you ever seek a replacement engine
I bought a Blueprint 383sbc to replace the cracked block and knackered 283 that I had in my '32 Ford.
tadaah said:
Nice to watch it coming along.
My 289 was jostling for position with it but lots of bits have slowed it down, not least a cracked head on my freshly built 289 lump.
Ho hum!
Miss my 427 too. Glad yours gets so much use! Hopefully I'll use the FIA289 a lot more
Ah - Dave did mention that! The amount of money I have spent on the Peter Knight engine in mine, I’m hoping for a bit of luck!My 289 was jostling for position with it but lots of bits have slowed it down, not least a cracked head on my freshly built 289 lump.
Ho hum!
Miss my 427 too. Glad yours gets so much use! Hopefully I'll use the FIA289 a lot more
I’m up next weekend to see Dave, so no doubt will see your car - will take a picture.
duggan said:
nordboy said:
That's come along quick, well, seems to be quick, I'm sure times dragging for you? 
It’ll be two years by the time it’s safely in my garage - Dave is a perfectionist! Going to be stunning though.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff