Factory Five Type 65 Coupe: The Shelby Daytona Coupe Replica
“It makes me feel like Gurney when I drive it, and my wife wrinkles her nose and says it smells like gas when I make her ride in it with me.”
The Shelby Daytona Coupe is one of the rarest and most sought-after racecars ever produced. Just six of them were built before Shelby got distracted and went off to help Ford build the GT40, and they went on to win the 1965 FIA World Championship for America and accumulate more than twenty land speed records on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
And you’re now much more likely to see one, as Factory Five Racing has begun producing a replica kit – the Type 65 Coupe.
Before you get excited and try to buy one, understand that it is, in fact, a kit. While $20,990 gets you the Complete Kit, you’ll still need an engine, transmission, and the rear end from an ’87-’93 Mustang GT. You’ll probably also want wheels, tyres, and paint at some point.
Then, of course, you have to apply those parts to the vehicle. The mere thought of that brings back memories of Airfix models ruined by a single errant stroke of the brush. Same principle here, only instead of tearing a decal, your wheels may fall off.
Nevertheless, the chance to kind-of drive the American legend that took the fight to Ferrari and dominated GT sportscar racing during the mid-sixties is probably worth the thousands of dollars and hours required. Not to mention that the Type 65 Coupe is still $7.25 million cheaper than the real thing.
Images via Factory Five Racing
