The fate of concept cars can sometimes be mysterious, as many tend to disappear altogether if they don’t remain in the collection of the automaker who sanctioned them. That said, the 2004 Shelby Cobra Concept is a bit of an outlier.
Originally, this vehicle was designed and built for the 2004 Detroit Auto Show. Later, the vehicle appeared at the 2017 GAA Classic Cars auction, where it was purchased by former Ford engineer Chris Theodore, who was one of the original staff members that helped create it.
Since then, the car has popped up in several places, including at the M1 Concourse where it was piloted by none other than Ford fanatic Jay Leno. Finally, we have once again tracked down the whereabouts of the 2004 Shelby Cobra Concept. As it turns out, it’ll once again hit the auction block at Mecum’s upcoming Monterey auction this August 12-14.
Affectionately referred to as “Daisy,” this Shelby Cobra is a true one-off created in conjunction with Caroll Shelby himself, prior to his death in 2012. Developed as a follow-up to the 2005 Ford GT, the Cobra Concept is unlike many other concept models in that it is a fully-functioning vehicle that is still capable of everyday driving. At one point, Ford seriously considered putting the concept into production, though it never truly came to pass.
Nevertheless, the 2004 Shelby Cobra Concept is beautiful in every way. Under the hood, Daisy is powered by an experimental, aluminum 6.4L V10 that produces 605 horsepower and features dry-sump lubrication.
This power is delivered via a rear-mounted Ricardo six-speed manual transmission, which helps the car achieve a near-perfect 50-50 weight distribution. Other impressive features on this unique ride include all-aluminum space frame chassis, Ford GT-derived independent front and rear suspensions, double-wall fiberglass body with a foam core, billet aluminum A-pillars, rockers, and rear diffuser, as well as bumperettes with carbon fiber splitters.
The 2004 Shelby Cobra Concept is easily one of the coolest rides ever built by Ford, so we expect it to generate quite a bit of interest when it hits the auction block later this year.
Interested in some serious Ford engineering but don’t have the cash for a race car concept? No worries. At Haldeman Ford in Hamilton, NJ, our impressive new vehicle inventory is always changing! Click here to check it out today, then be sure to contact us online, by phone, or in-person for a test drive!