I don’t want to know how much a real-deal Shelby Daytona Coupe goes for. Big money is the understatement of the century. But the replica market on the closed-in version of the car that Peter Brock designed, Shelby American built six of, and over the course of 1965 proceeded to whip ass the world over is alive and well, with several companies cranking out high-quality duplications of the original. Factory Five Racing is one such company, and their take, the Type 65 Coupe, has been the past target of lawsuits from Shelby himself. For just over twenty grand, you can get a kit Type 65 Coupe and build it yourself, so long as you’ve got a Ford engine, transmission, and rear axle setup with brakes ready to go. 
Or, do yourself a favor and take a look at what throwing $86,000 at a Factory Five kit can do for you. A gentleman from Rhode Island had this car built up to the nines. We’ve gotten used to seeing these cars painted blue with white stripes and left as bare-bones as possible, so seeing a fully kitted out car in British Racing Green is a bit of a breath-taker, and that’s a good thing. Everything you could want here is appropriate: a 351ci Windsor powers the car, a C6 automatic sends the power rearward, and an 8.8 IRS out of a Ford Thunderbird plants the tires. Front suspension would be based upon a later Fox Mustang…nothing difficult, but plenty capable.
Inside, however, is a radical departure. The automatic is one thing, but a plush Daytona coupe might be a bit heretical. Unless you actually plan on driving the car, at which point the setup looks absolutely plush for what was Ferrari’s on-track nightmare. It’s not too plush, though…there’s no radio, for example. Try to listen to music above the noise that 351 is going to play out of the sidepipes…not happening, buddy.
Who cares if it’s a replica, really?
eBay Link: Factory Five Racing Type 65 Coupe
So is this the off road version?
Look at that ride height – and Factory Five’s designer must have been squinting through one eye if he thought that this thing looked anything like a Daytona Cobra coupe. No wonder there have been law suits as this is a travesty and its existence insults the memory of the Ol’ Chicken Farmer.
The ride height depends on the builder, most guys run at 3 1/2\” but the builder may have decided he wanted a bit more for real world speed bumps. The latest Shelby law suit happened when the old man got pi$$ed Factory Five got more traffic than his cars at SEMA one year. He had already lost his first suit over the roadster, and the only thing he could do was go after the coupe. He lost yet again, win for the average man!
The ride height depends on the builder, most guys run at 3 1/2″ but the builder may have decided he wanted a bit more for real world speed bumps. The latest Shelby law suit happened when the old man got pi$$ed Factory Five got more traffic than his cars at SEMA one year. He had already lost his first suit over the roadster, and the only thing he could do was go after the coupe. He lost yet again, win for the average man!
For that kind of money I would think the interior would look a little better, those seats look terrible.
Who the hell builds a car like that and puts an automatic in it? Fix the seats. (those look like $10 covers from Walmart), and wider rear tires. Then it’s good
Please send pictures of your cars which must be so much nicer…
I didn’t say mine was nicer I said that for that kind of money the seats should look better. I built mine for a third of that amount and my seats look like they should.
That car has a double wish bone suspension of tubular control arms and coil over shocks, hardly Fox based. Hey Mad Geordie, whats your ride???
I would love to get an answer from mad Gordie or better yet a photo of his car or cars, I’ve asked him before and no response just his continual judgement of others. Maybe its hard to build from your Moms basement? Would model cars count? I have cut down on the amount of car events I attend for the very reason of I am sick and tired of peoples negativity. I have watched people talk crap about someone’s project and then get in a ride I wouldn’t use as a daily driver.
I enjoy the garage BUILDING cars and maybe hit a couple shows a year. Maybe I’ll see Gordie at SEMA or a Goodguys event showing off his talent and have to eat some crow…I hope so.