The 1964 Tour de France marked the Cobra Daytona Coupe’s first real foray into the punishing French endurance circuit. Shelby American was still fine-tuning the new Daytona, and the team was learning how to manage the delicate balance between raw power and reliability.
The #186 car, entered by Shelby and driven by André Simon and Maurice Dupeyron, stood out with its sleek, aerodynamic bodywork and bold blue-and-white livery. Unlike the roadsters, the Daytona Coupe was designed with high-speed stability in mind, and the #186 featured the distinctive rear tail design that would become its signature. Preparations were meticulous: suspension geometry was adjusted for the tight alpine passes, and cooling ducts were added to ensure the 289 V8 could withstand the relentless pace.
Qualifying placed the Daytona solidly mid-pack, but the car’s true strength showed on the winding roads. Simon and Dupeyron reported the Coupe felt like it “glued itself to the tarmac,” yet even with the impressive handling, minor mechanical issues began to crop up. Despite these challenges, the #186 completed the race, finishing respectably and proving the Daytona’s potential as a genuine endurance contender. The drivers praised its power: “It pulls like a freight train but still corners like a road car. You never forget you’re driving a real race car.”
Our special Finish Line Plus (FLP) edition brings this Daytona Coupe to life with hand-applied weathering, capturing the wear and character of a car that raced hard through the stages of the Tour de France. Being finished by hand, no two FLP pieces are exactly alike.