CSX 2287, the Simeone Foundation Daytona coupe, at Sebring in 1964. Photos courtesy Ford Motor Company, unless otherwise noted.
This month’s Goodwood Revival in England is globally famous for the historic racing vehicles it attracts each year. This year’s edition, which runs from September 11-13 at the venerable British estate, will mark a first—the reunion of all six original Shelby Daytona Cobra coupes for the first time in Europe, and probably the first time anywhere, since they raced together at Le Mans in 1965. It’s being organized to mark the 50th anniversary of these dominating front-engine GT race cars, which is the Revival’s theme this year.
CSX2601 at Le Mans in 1965.
One of the cars is CSX 2287, an anchor of the Simeone Automotive Foundation’s fabulous collection of original racing cars that’s located in Philadelphia. It was actually built in 1964 by designer Peter Brock, the first of the six, completed from scratch in just 90 days, and is the only one of the Daytona coupes produced entirely at the Shelby American facility in Venice, California. After running in eight international races during 1965, it was retired except for a Goodyear tire test that November at the Bonneville Salt Flats, where it set 25 speed records. CSX 2287 was owned and driven on the street for a time by the pop music producer Phil Spector before disappearing for 30 years. In 2001, it was recovered by museum founder Dr. Frederick Simeone, who now displays it in completely original condition.
CSX2299 at the 1965 Daytona Continental race.
When the Goodwood Revival announced the gathering of Shelby Daytona Cobra coupes in June, their statement that all six would be gathered in one place was quickly met with a disclaimer from the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. Citing the cost of insurance and transportation, the museum stated that its Daytona coupe would not be attending the Goodwood event, but in the months since, this matter has been resolved to the museum’s satisfaction, allowing the reunion top proceed as originally planned.
CSX2287 today. Photos by Michael Furman, courtesy Historic Vehicle Association.
We spoke to Dr. Simeone and he told us that to the best of his knowledge, this will be the first time that all six coupes have been displayed as a group. One of the six, owned by Kazuo Maruyama of Tokyo, Japan, was invited to last month’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it was presented first place in Postwar Racing. The Daytona coupe is a landmark Ford racing car, which took the FIA championship in 1965, defeating Ford’s bitter rival, Ferrari. Unfortunately, tickets for the Goodwood Revival are completely sold out, but if you’ve never checked out the Simeone collection, you really should. Go to SimeoneMuseum.org to learn more about it.
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