Shelby has built a V8-powered ‘Cammer Cobra’ concept, and it is SHINY

This is the Shelby American Cammer Cobra concept, and it shall ride eternal, shiny and chrome. An extraordinarily shiny and chrome reminder that Carroll Shelby did in fact, love Le Mans.

So much, he’d envisaged shoehorning a big engine into a small car and heading out to La Sarthe to give his rivals what for. This new concept – a continuation Cobra Daytona Coupe – is what he always dreamed of.

“Shelby wanted to fit a massive Ford big block engine in a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe for Le Mans in 1964,” said Shelby American boss Gary Patterson. “While many know that a one-off car was built with a 427 ‘wedge’ Ford engine, that was not Carroll Shelby’s initial vision.”

Instead Shelby wanted to fit the aluminium, single OHC FE motor into the Daytona’s body, but “it was impossible to obtain one of those rare engines in time for the race”, and lo, Shelby installed the NASCAR version. “Our concept car was built to realise Carroll’s initial Cammer vision,” Patterson added.”

The 7.0-litre SOHC Ford V8 punched out 616bhp with a single four-barrel carb, or a whopping 657bhp with a dual four-barrel set up back in the day. This modern version kicks out an entirely respectable 650bhp, sitting inside an aluminium-bodied Daytona with a three-inch longer chassis. Oh, and a modified bonnet to accommodate, well, seven litres of engine. It’s matched up to a four-speed manual gearbox.

“This concept is a tribute to the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, one of the most celebrated cars in automotive history,” said Patterson. “It answers the question of ‘what if’ for everyone who shared Carroll’s dream and will gauge demand for a limited series of the vehicle.”

Shelby is planning on exhibiting it throughout the year (as part of its 60th anniversary) to see if it sticks. If it does, it will indeed ride eternal…