60th Anniversary of the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe's Triumph: Carroll Shelby's Historic Win

The 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe is more than just a car — it is a legend and an iconic part of automotive history. Fueled by a desire to do the impossible and to defeat Ferrari, Carroll Shelby and his irrefutably talented team created the Cobra Daytona Coupe. The genesis of this car led to the first-ever FIA World Manufacturer's GT Championship for America in 1965.

The Genesis of the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

Rivalry is often the greatest catalyst for innovation and success. Carroll Shelby's rivalry with Enzo Ferrari was one of the key factors in his unwavering motivation to create the legendary 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe.

Two Visionaries Collaborating

When deciding who would help bring his vision to life, the choice was simple — Pete Brock. Together, the Shelby American team created a car to dominate the races. Their vision aligned with Carroll Shelby's ethos from the start of his car designing career — combining American muscle with European handling finesse. The team's ultimate goal was to outpace the competition through unparalleled aerodynamics and speed.

Aerodynamic Innovations and Design

Time, money, and aerodynamics were the Shelby American team's biggest challenges. Pete Brock had to redefine automotive aerodynamic design and create a faster, more powerful car with limited time and resources.

"I sketched up a few ideas — ballpoint pen on legal pads. Nothing fancy. I'd been sketching the lines in my mind and on paper for some time. While at GM, I'd found some translations of studies on automotive aerodynamics done by Dr. Wunibald Kamm in Germany in the late 1930s. The data seemed perfectly logical—why try to dispute the laws of physics? The shapes, however, looked so strange that no manufacturer was willing to risk trying them in production." — Pete Brock

Carroll Shelby, world-renowned racer Ken Miles, engineer Bob Negstad, Dave MacDonald, John Collins, John Ohlsen, and Peter Brock only had four months to do the impossible. Their tireless work, innovation, and dedication allowed them to create a car that was 3.5 seconds faster per lap and 30 mph faster on straightaways than the previous roadster. All of Brock's aerodynamic work paid off and even led to a 20–30% reduction in fuel use, meaning fewer pit stops for the drivers.

The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe's Impact on Racing

The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe made its debut at the 1964 Daytona Continental 2000 km. Though it faced a few setbacks, the debut made an impact and set 25 different practice speed records. According to SimeoneMuseum.org, Ken Miles told Pete Brock, "We're much faster than the Ferraris, Pete, much faster."

Victory at Sebring and Beyond

Its first victory was at the 12 Hours of Sebring during 1964. The car and its drivers went on to land a historic class win at the 1964 Le Mans race, where it won against the true titans of racing. This set the racing world ablaze and solidified its debut on the scene — the Cobra Daytona Coupe was here to win.

The 1965 World Manufacturer's GT Championship

At the time of the 1965 World Manufacturer's GT Championship, Ferrari had reigned supreme as the winner of 10 FIA sports-car titles in the previous 12 years. America had never won this title. That was about to change. The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe secured America its first championship at this historic race.

Legacy and Influence

For 60 years, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe's legacy has endured. As the first car to achieve that level of success and racing victory, it's no wonder it has been cemented in automotive history as an icon. The Daytona Coupe has influenced countless car manufacturers around the world for decades, setting new standards and benchmarks in automotive and racing excellence.

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

The 60th anniversary of the Daytona Coupe honors this historic car's impact on racing and automotive design. Defying all odds, the legendary car out-raced Ferrari for the 1964 Le Mans class win and the 1965 World Manufacturer's GT Championship.

Commemorating the Daytona Coupe

Our exclusive Shelby Daytona Coupe collections, including Apparel and Merchandise, are a great way to honor the legacy of this iconic car. Visit the Shelby Store to commemorate six decades of Daytona Coupe.