Ferrari GTO vs. Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

I just finished watching a special on the Daytona Coupe and it got me thinking...

Let me first get out of the way that I am a diehard tifosi. My fascination with the marque draws from my fascination with Enzo Ferrari, the marque's unequaled racing pedigree, and the beauty and passion of their automobiles. However, unlike many on this board, I don't believe that Ferrari cornered the market on great supercars, and I believe Porsche, Chevy (Corvette), Dodge (Viper), and Lotus, have built some world class sports cars, which have also drawn from their racing pedigree. This brings me to my point. How in the world does a Ferrari GTO have an estimated value of 20+ million dollars, when they built 39 of them, but the Shelby Daytona Coupe---the car that BEAT THE PANTS OFF OF THEM---and of which their are only 6 in the world, fails to fetch 7 million at auction. While we have certainly built some crappy cars, their have been some incredible bright spots. Why is it that we are so quick to dismiss our racing success but elevate Ferrari (which had quite a dry spell I might add) to mythical status?

Corvettes and Vipers have kicked serious ass in tracks around the world, and these cars cost a fraction of their international competition. Its a shame that the American public doesn't give two ****s, because if they did, we might actually get back in the ring with Ferrari in F1 once more...and what a good time that would be!


Rant over...

 

That DEFINITELY does not count!!!

 

And remember the GTO was beat in some races back then by fairly stock Jaguar XKE's too. It was a high priced car by comparison to the Jag, but was not the 'supercar' it is today. XKE's bring peanuts and there were not that many of those built in total of early cars and even Enzo himself praised the Jag lines and design. Still pretty spectacular today alongside those GTO's and Cobras. I love them all, but the XKE coupe is still very nice in design for its day. And still affordable for most compared to the million dollar plus stuff.

 

Can't believe I missed the show! Both the GTO and the Daytona Coupes are legends.

Docf

 

To answer your question Joe, Price at auction does not reflect original cost or value. It's how far one bidder is willing to go to outbid another. Ferrari, as you said, is about Passion and someones passion was 20.mil worth.


Viva la passion...Andrew.

 

Actually, that is my point...How can people be so passionate about a Ferrari that lost badly, but not have the same passion for a much rarer, much more important, American Legend. A car with a more fascinating almost mythical history. There is an anti-american sentiment in the automotive community. A myth that Americans only build crude crappy cars that can only go in a straight line. The Cobra is a world beater of the highest order, yet when it came up for auction, people from around the world didn't exactly come calling. By contrast, when the Auto Union car and Pontoon Fendered Testarossa came up for auction last year, EVERYBODY NOTICED. Again, THERE ARE ONLY 6 Daytona Coupes--4 of them are in private collections, the one up for auction actually won the whole bag of goods, and NOBODY CARED---It didn't even make a reserve.

Believe me, if I had a Pontoon Fendered TR in my back yard, people would track me down. I understand the red mist---I have it too, but it actually offends me as an automotive enthusiast that the Daytona doesn't demand a premium commensurate with its historical relevance.

 

7.25M mid-'geddon ...

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=CA0809-82174&entryRow=103

 

I think you should shake your piggy-bank and put a bid on the Daytona. he he. I believe the 250 in question was to complete a set ( you know those few spare square meters in the grand hall )

 

Update---Just watching Chasing Classic Cars. The Daytona ultimately sold for well over 7 million. According to the show, it is the most money ever paid for an American car.


There is some justice in this world

 

The GTO did not loose, it won for many seasons and helped to put Ferrari on the map. The Daytona might have ultimately won but where is Ford and Shelby now? ... making boring production cars or doing nothing but lending his name to replicas.

Thus you have one brand that has become if you like the greatest car on earth, and the other that died or did nothing with that win ... it is easy to see why the last great front engined road registered car that happened to win races (against almost anything including Jags and Fords with larger engines) gets such a premium.
Pete
ps: Rather own a genuine original GT40 myself than the Daytona coupe.

 

Joe:
I too watched the special --Greatest American Race car-- or something like that. It was a great show with some tremendous historical footage and Dave Friedman's stills.

In my opinion, the difference in value between the Cobra Coupe and the GTO has to due with the long term single minded effort that Ferrari has made to auto racing. Sure, Shelby went and beat the best in the world. That was what they set out to do, they did it and then quit. Ford came back with the factory team and the GT-40 and beat the P4's at LeMans and then quit. Simply put, Ferrari has been the benchmark against which other teams compete.

The Cobra Coupe was basically a one off effort to do one thing...win the GT class against Ferrari. Ferrari, although beaten, continued to race at the highest levels of international competition.

Teams with the longest continuous history are the most valuable. Think about the future value of a McLaren F1 car from 2009 compared to a 2009 Brawn. The Brawn won the WDC and the WCC, but I will bet that the Mac will have a higher value in the future. A body of work helps create that value and desirability.

It is this very fact that is driving the whole Ferrari Chassiche program. Ferrari as a company has created all of these cars over a long time, but paid no attention to them. Now that others have paid attention and value has been created, the Factory wants to control that value. The simple fact is that they don't own their history and the fact that it exists at all is due to others finding value in those old cars. While they are making a grab for it, they have been shooting themselves in the foot so many times that they are doomed to failure.

 

you should really read more about the 250 GTO. You will find how well it really did in the early 60s.

Don't forget everyone... that all of the shelby cars were in essence factory backed race teams.

With 39 GTOs... majority were customer cars.

 

When Carrol kicks the Bucket..wait a few years and see!

Real Cobras will continue to soar, and the daytona will reach immortality as well..

Besides Carroll did not cheat on his wife as bad as Enzo did.

It makes for an more interesting story line..

You know, his heartbreak about not being there for Dino etc.


Flame suit on!

 

Both Great points and well taken. However, I remain disappointed that perhaps the most important car in American racing history is not at least on par with a period racer from Ferrari. The Daytona story represents America at its finest. Our team consisted of a bunch of young brash upstarts long on ingenuity and relatively short on experience, beating the greatest sports car maker in history through dogged determination. They built the car in 90 days!!!!!!!!

This was all against a backdrop of settling a score and proving to the world that, if so inclined, we are capable of building a sports car of the highest order. The fact that after kicking Enzo's a$$ so badly we packed up our stuff and went home only adds to the lore. What more did they have to prove? Ford was not a figure in international racing, but they proved that they were capable of doing anything they damn well pleased.

This is great stuff! As a Tifosi, I can't understand why the Daytona is not in the rarest of air from a collector car point of view. In addition to being an American treasure, IMHO, this car is as essential to the history of Ferrari as it is to Ford.

As an aside, its funny, lately I have been delving deeper into Ferrari history and reading what I can where I can. The more I read, the more respect I have for Ferrari...AND for the marques that competed against him. I never liked American cars until recently, but I beam with pride whenever I go to the Simeon Museum in Philadelphia and look at that old unrestored Daytona Coupe, sitting a hundred feet away from storied Ferrari race cars of old.

The American auto industry has made a lot of mistakes, but sometimes we really get it right...the Daytona Coupe was one of those times.

Just my .02

 

Firstly the Daytona Cobra Coupe did sell north of 7MM $.

Secondly it's not " most important car in American racing history".

 

As a slight aside what do you consider the "most important car in American racing history?" In my opinion it is one of 4 cars a GT40, Daytona Cobra Coupe, 1921 Dusenberg won Le Mans with Jimmy Murphy, or a Corvette Grand Sport.

Erik

 

I think I noted in an earlier post that it went for over 7 Million. I think something like 7.25. I meant to say one of the most, not most important cars in American Racing History, but that was only because I would put the GT40 up there as well. Out of curiosity, what cars would you rank above it and why?

I am not being facetious, I am acquainted with your knowledge of racing history, and would really be interested in your views on this, as well as your views on the historical importance of the GTO vs. Daytona.

As you can probably tell, I am pretty fascinated by the topic, and am really curious to hear all views.

 

One element of the Ferrari mystique and brand value is their relentless focus on competitive motor sports. American car companies enter and exit racing based upon the transient egos of their leadership and the whims of the marketing and finance departments. Not so with Ferrari. Americans with true racing passion (Shelby, Balchowsky, Neil Ressler, Pete Brock, Penske, etc.) have carved-out their bit of history, but none were successful in building a enduring brand of the scale and value of Ferrari.

 

I think that while SHELBY cars are indeed legendary the Daytona Coupes are not iconic like the GTOs. They arent plastered all over the internet and indelibly linked with Shelby. Yes, there is definitely a "red mist" surrounding the F cars, but when people hear SHELBY they mostly think of the standard Cobra or the Mustangs. The fact that 66% of them are in private collections and rarely seen or heard of doesnt help matters.

Bottom line, IMO: They simply arent as well known as the GTOs.


PDG

 

IMO The Most important car in American Racing History would be "The Big Red One" J 5 the only car made in America to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

(A Duesenberg won the French GP held at Le Mans)

 

I would definitely give you that one! The GT40 and, in particular, the J5 are probably a tick or so above the Daytona in terms of importance. However, given the budget behind the GT40 and the development time versus that of the Daytona Coupe, the Daytona Coupe's accomplishments are formidable.

 

They are very cool.

 

If Ferrari built a baby buggy, it would sell 10 times higher than the McClaren baby buggy for sale HERE: http://www.strollers.com/Maclaren-WOX01073-EK1528.html


"I like the word Ferrari, I even like to say the word Ferrari" - Jeremy Clarkson

 

http://formula1mall.com/index.php/ferrari-iron-baby-stroller.html?___store=formula1mall_eng