As if the Cobras weren't potent enough, helby introduced the Daytona coupe to well and truly dominate sports car racing in the '60s. The fact that the Daytona was also drop-dead gorgeous was simply icing on the cake, nd with this 1965 Shelby Daytona replica by Factory Five, ou can have 90% of the experience for about 5% of the price. I'd call that a pretty good deal.Professionally built, his Daytona coupe is a very accurate representation of the original, ight down to the Kamm-back tail and color combination. The body is fiberglass, ot aluminum, ut that also means it's durable and easy to repair and to be honest, t's a lot easier to live with if you actually want to drive the car. Fit and finish are great, orlds better than any of the real Daytona coupes back in the day. Details like the covered headlights, hite side pipes, nd heat extractor in the middle of the hood are all authentic details that make this replica really pop. The stripes and gumballs give it a track-ready look and even the sliding Plexiglas side windows accurately capture what driving these cars was really like back in the mid-60s. It's pretty accurate inside, oo, ith '60s style bucket seats and a minimalist approach. The bright blue harnesses are a good idea in a car that generates this much speed and the wood-rimmed steering wheel is a nod to '60s sensibilities, ven on the track. The flat-faced dashboard is just how they did it on the real cars, lthough this one offers a full set of AutoMeter dials that look a bit like vintage Stewart-Warner gauges. One feature you'll be thrilled about is air-conditioning, hich wasn't available in the originals, ut was sorely needed with those minimalist windows and almost zero insulation. This one is nice and comfortable even on the hottest days, aking it a supercar that you can drive anywhere, nytime. The forward-canted shifter looks correct and manages a 5-speed manual, o there's a fairly deep overdrive gear for easy highway cruising. There is no radio, ut you'll hardly miss it with those bellowing side pipes at full blast and there's even reasonable storage behind the seats.Believe it or not, he original Daytonas were powered by Hi-Po 289s (not 427s as commonly believed), o the 331 cubic inch 5.0 stroker motor here is the right choice. The engine is dressed appropriately with a Cobra dress-up kit, ncluding a finned air cleaner and matching valve covers. The rest is heavy-duty hardware that makes it reliable as well as comfortable. There's a big radiator up front, serpentine belt drive system, nd hydro-boost for the 4-wheel disc brakes. Underneath, he custom-built chassis offers A-arms with coil-overs up front and razor-sharp handling. It starts easily, dles well, nd doesn't get hot or cranky on warm days, o it's a lot more livable and useable than the original, nd heck, espite the 17-inch Halibrand style wheels and low-profile 275/40/17 front and 315/35/17 rear tires, t rides pretty darned well. You couldn't duplicate this car with a year of your time and $80,000, o why not indulge yourself now with this beautifully built replica that works every bit as great as it looks. Call today!
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