To say we quite liked this car when we first drove it in 2004 would be the understatement of the ensuing six years.
There was something utterly thrilling about what was then called the Superformance Le Mans Coupé – a recreation of the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupé that won the world sportscar championship 45 years ago.
Since 2004, a few things have changed. The car’s maker is still Superformance (in South Africa) but Carroll Shelby’s name has been added – fitting because its designer (Pete Brock), chassis engineer and test driver were the same guys who developed the Shelby Daytona in the 1960s.
See the test pics of the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe MKII
The chassis has also been mildly stiffened now, suspension geometry tweaked and the anti-roll bars adjusted to reduce road noise. Most significant, though, is that – although you can have a Ford V8 – this car is fitted with a 6.2-litre Corvette motor.
Sacrilege? Perhaps not; apparently Brock has a 7.0-litre GM V8 in his car. What it does mean is that the Daytona meets emissions regulations.
Changes to the interior are minimal. Adjustment to the seats has freed up more room, but it’s still a heady cabin that smells of oil and fuel and all things classically motorsport.