Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe Wins International Car of the Year Award - Speedway Digest

Carroll Shelby International, Inc., (OTC: CSBI.PK) announced that the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe was crowned “Car of the Year” at the International Historic Motoring Awards. Currently owned by the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2287 again trounced Europe’s best during a gala at London’s St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel on November 20.

A ‘who’s who’ of historic motoring, famous names and familiar faces gathered for the award ceremony emceed by racing driver and television presenter Tiff Needell. Dr. Frederick Simeone, founder of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum and Neil Cummings, Co-Trustee for the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust and co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International attended the prestigious event.

“Carroll Shelby created the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe to do just one thing: win,” said Neil Cummings. “It delivered America’s first class victory at Le Mans 50 years ago. In 1965, the team Coupes won Shelby American and the United States its first FIA World Championship. This Shelby then went on to set numerous land speed records. These achievements captured the hearts of fans worldwide, who voted it ‘Car of the Year’ for 2014.”

The IHMA celebrates the achievements of the worldwide historic motoring industry with 14 categories judged by an international panel of experts. However, the general public voted online for the Car of the Year winner.

Finalists for the 2014 IHMA Car of the Year were:

Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2287
Ferrari 250 GTO
Ferrari 375MM Scaglietti
Mercedes 18/100
Jaguar’s E- type Lightweight Continuation cars
Lotus Type 56 Chassis 3
Rover-BRM
Malcolm Campbell’s record-breaking 150mph Sunbeam 350HP

The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe built by Shelby American in Los Angeles (CSX2287) carried the day. It was the first of six created for international competition. Shelby’s aerodynamic Coupes dominated and captured the International Manufacturer’s GT Championship, the first time an American manufacturer won the series. Fittingly, CSX2287 was the first American car to be nominated for this award and the only unrestored car among this year’s eight nominees.

CSX2287 is currently owned by the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia. Assembled by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Frederick Simeone, the collection has 65 of the world’s greatest racing sports cars. Using the theme “The Spirit of Competition”, it honors the history and evolution of the magnificent machines.

“Ironically, the competition for this prestigious award included both the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe and its chief nemesis, the Ferrari GTO,” said Joe Conway, Co-Trustee for the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust and Co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International. “Fine examples of both reside in Simeone Museum Collection. Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe chassis #CSX2287 played a crucial role in securing the 1965 Sportscar World Championship.”

Earlier this year, the Shelby became the first car ever to be accepted into The National Historic Registry of the United States thanks to the efforts of the Historic Vehicle Association. Dr. Simeone’s Museum and Carroll Shelby International cooperated with the HVA to chronicle this incredible story. Carroll Shelby Licensing donated images and provided HVA access to materials that will be part of its register archived in the Library of Congress.

“Carroll Shelby and his team at Shelby American have an incredible record of achievement and we appreciate the efforts of Dr. Simeone to promote those accomplishments,” said Cummings. “Thanks to his support of the HVA and IHMA, the world is recognizing the important contributions of Carroll Shelby and his companies to the automotive community. Next year, 2015, will be even more important as we celebrate the 50^th anniversaries of the FIA World Championship, the birth of the big block 427 Shelby Cobra and the introduction of the first Shelby GT350.”

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Adam Sinclair

NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.