Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe becomes the first Car recorded under U.S. Heritage Documentation Standards.

Washington, D.C. (January 22, 2014) – The Historic Vehicle Association (HVA) announced today that the 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (serial number CSX2287) will become the first automobile to be recorded under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Heritage Documentation. The documentation will be part of the HVA’s National Historic Vehicle Register and Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) that is permanently archived in the Library of Congress. The HVA and U.S. Department of the Interior collaborated on the effort and plan to document other historically significant automobiles.

In 1964, this Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe along with 5 others were built by Shelby American Inc. in Los Angles. The Coupe was designed by Peter Brock and enabled the Shelby American Cobra race team to compete successfully and win the International Manufacturer’s GT Championship in 1965.  This win was historical for the Shelby Daytona Cobra  Coupe as it was the first  American manufactured car to win an international race series.  The same year that the Coupe Won the GT Championship it also set 23 International and National speed records at Bonneville.

The Daytona Coupes were retired when  Ford brought the GT 40 project for Shelby to take over. CXS2287 was returned to Shelby American to be reconditioned and then it joined the public relations Cobra Caravan touring the country. After sitting around for a while the engine and transmission were removed and the CSX2287 was sold to Jim Russell, owner of Russkit Models for a mere $4,500.

Russell had advertised the car for $12,500. 00 and later sold it to music producer Phil Spector.  Phil found the race car uncomfortable for street use and after obtaining a number of speeding tickets his lawyer advised him to sell it. In 1971 Spector sold the car to his bodyguard, George Brand for $1,000.00.   The car then went to Brand’s daughter (Donna O’Hare) and husband who inexplicability placed the car in a storage in Anaheim California where it remained for about 30 years.  During that time O’Hare was offered as much as $2 million for the Daytona Coupe, but she refused to sell or let others see the car.  In 2000 Donna tragically committed suicide under a bridge in Los Angeles.  After O’Hare’s death the car sold for about $4 million.

CSX2287, as it is known, is among the most historically significant automobiles in America. Its historic significance is based on its association with important persons and events; its construction and aerodynamic design; and informational value as one of the few race cars from the period that has not been completely restored. The vehicle is part of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia.

"Having my Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe design recognized as the very first car to be included in the permanent archives of the Library of Congress is a great honor and the thrill of a lifetime,” said Peter Brock, Brock Racing Enterprises and the designer of the car. “I’m very proud that the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe helped lead the way to American’s first win in the FIA International Manufacturer’s GT Championship in 1965. The Coupe’s revolutionary design contributed to new standards for automotive aerodynamic efficiency.” 

The designation by the Historical Vehicle Association has taken this car’s value from variable and sensitive over its bumpy lifetime, to absolutely priceless.