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The Shelby Cobra Daytona was the ultimate iteration of the Cobra platform. Crafted to scythe through the air, its job was to out drag the Ferrari 250 GTO on the Mulsanne straight. Given the Italian could howl down the 3.7-mile stretch at 186mph, the 190mph-plus speeds the Cobra Daytona were said to be good for ought to have done the trick.
Video: Sit back and listen to a Daytona Coupe’s booming V8 opera
And do the trick it did, securing Shelby a GT class win at Le Mans in 1964, along with numerous others that year and next, culminating in a class win in the Championship in 1965. Due to their rarity, we don’t get to see Daytona’s used in anger in historic racing as much as we used to, so it’s fabulous to see this replica example attacking Circuit Paul Ricard, exercising its monster V8. The rapturous warble that comes out of those iconic side-exit exhausts never gets old. Of course, the Daytona is something of a typical big American brute, as you can see a scrappy little Escort catching up towards the end of the last corner, before the Daytona stomps off down the start/finish. Fabulous to see.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Is the F50 Ferrari's most underrated car?
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