Mecum Auctions to Offer Shelby Cobra Daytona CSX 2601
Looking for a recipe for the “perfect storm” of car auctions? Take an impressive racing facility with hundreds of high performance cars and dozens of veteran instructors, and add a multi-million dollar race car with impeccable lineage. Sprinkle in a world-famous race car driver who drove this actual vehicle to victory over the Ferraris in 1965, and add a dash of the brilliant young designer who created six of these incredible race cars. Mix well, along with a versatile insurance provider that can cover such a valuable vehicle, along with a rock-solid transport company to deliver it, and top it with the kind of auction company that can market the vehicle and deliver the buyers. Viola – you have the perfect auction storm in the form of the 1965 Cobra Daytona being put up for bid by Mecum Auctions on May 15 in Indianapolis.
Hagerty Collector Car Insurance had the privilege of attending the unveiling of the Cobra Daytona CSX 2601 at the fabulous Bondurant School of High Performance Driving near Phoenix last week. Along with Mecum Auction’s Dana Mecum and John Hollansworth, Jr., also attending were both Bob Bondurant, co-driver in 1965, and Peter Brock, who designed the wind-cheating coupe to improve the aerodynamics of the Cobra Roadster. The car scored the first-ever U.S. victory in the 1965 World Championships in Reims, France. Mecum’s Transportation partner, Reliable Carriers out of Canton, Mich., was represented by president Tom Abrams, who brought along one of the company’s 350 long-haul transporters.
After brief presentations by all, the car was unveiled, and it took all of 10 minutes to get Mr. Bondurant to jump behind the wheel and treat all in attendance to the cackle of the six-carb 289 V-8. He took a number of laps on the Road Course, showing no fear of pushing the car hard, and his smile was obvious as he cruised past. The car looked great and ran strong, and many expect it to sell in May for a world-record price for an American vehicle.
Hagerty is proud to be working with Mecum Auctions and Reliable Carriers to present this incredible piece of racing history to the public at the 22nd Annual Mecum High Performance Auction on May 15 in Indianapolis. As Mecum’s Preferred Insurance Provider, Hagerty will have licensed agents at every Mecum sale in 2009, ready to provide the same impeccable service and solid protection that the company provides to the CSX 2601. For information on Hagerty, visit www.hagerty.com or call 877-922-9701. Offices are open seven days a week.
