Daytona Coupe - Thoughts?

renaissance man · #1 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 05:57 PM

Just considering for the next car a Daytona Coupe.

- Does anyone like them?

- Does anyone own one? (Pics please)

- What make would you consider?

- What engine would go in it?

Just thinking down the road a bit...... Perhaps an "HDR Coupe" with a 289?

Edley Rondinone · #2 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 06:11 PM

Coupes are WAY rarer than roadsters....you wont see yourself coming and going. people might mistake it for a Viper! Just might wanna get A/C for the Coupe!

Dan Semko · #3 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 06:39 PM

Question: when will the fabricator that was completing the rear end build, return from lunch and finish the job?

Edley Rondinone · #4 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 08:06 PM

I think the clay model was left on the table overnight......slight earthquake in the middle of the night (or was that one of the 427 cars starting up?), and the clay model fell bass-ackwards onto its rear, flattening the voluptuous rear end.....Janitor comes in the early morn, sees the clay model on the floor, picks it up and puts it back on the table....courier comes early, picks up the clay model in its' box, and heads to Styling........Viola!!!............

CRZN427 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-22-2003, 11:24 PM

Coupes are getting off to a good start.

FFR, for one, offers a single donor car concept kit which, of course, can be built with all new parts.

FFR also chopped the top off and has an altogeter different look for a roadster. Same single donor option too.

I haven't visited their web site for a while but I think these kits can be made with a big block as well as a 302.

Bill Wells · #6 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 03:42 AM

dan/ edley. you mean kinda like the sausage was too long to put in the box, so someone just cut off one end / squaring it off til it fit inside ? LOL> bill

Clois Harlan · #7 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 07:28 AM

Dave,

Last weekend at Run and Gun Rich Anderson of Shell Valley had one of his new Daytona Coupes and it was beautiful.Blue of course and powered by a 289 with 351 heads and a toploader. He claims the Coupe is going to sell for about $2000 more than his Cobra Kits.

Go to the Shell Valley web site below:

http://www.shellvalley.com

I think they are producing the cars now.

Clois

Roxie_427 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 07:33 AM

If you'd like to see an FFR Daytona in progress, I've posted some pics of a friend's build on my site: http://www.welovecritters.com/cars.htm. Click on the "Pat's Daytona and Cobra" link.

Pat's Daytona is powered by a late model 5.0 and a T-5 (If I remember correctly).

TT

Randy Resetar · #9 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 09:18 AM

Ren man: If you have the 85,000.00 go with HDR. What a car!!! Full race adjustable suspension. They only do a turnkey car and only a 289/302 block will fit. You can do a 347 450hp and have a 200 mph car...RR

Pete Gibbs · #10 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 09:42 AM

Ren man,If you are very tall (say over 5'4") you may want to crawl into one of these babies before buying.I found entry and exit to be more of an athletic challenge than I would prefer.Once inserted into the brute headroom is also a bit of an issue.However,I am a grumpy card carrying AARP member who drives an air conditioned FFR so my input must not be taken too seriously.I have to say that these cars are absolutely beautiful and that my whining is more a result of my own physical shortcomings than any problems with the machine itself.If you want to see an FFR coupe there is one being built in Houston that I know of. Let me know if you'de like more info.Pete.

Tony Radford · #11 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 10:10 AM

I picked up a European mag in Paris on Monday that had a Ford GT 40 on the front cover. There was a three or four page article from one of the journalists who came to the US and took a test drive in one of the pre-production cars. The first thing I noticed was the shot of the rear. It is beautiful. It looks more like a Ferari 308 in back. Truly gorgeous. The guy put the car through its paces. He returned to UK after the test drive and did the same thing in a new Carerra GT ($300K). He said he'd take the GT 40 if given a choice due to the raw sex appeal.

Excaliber · #12 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 10:24 AM

The thing I would "worry" about with a Coupe is the exhaust. With the tips coming out right below the door window I would think "fumes" would be a problem.

A/C would be a MUST have. Personally I like that idea of blanking off the side exhaust so it still looks good, but the actual exhaust exits out back.

So, Ren Man, how's the new restaurant doing?

Ernie

Badger · #13 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 11:30 AM

Renman...the car of your dreams is in full production right now at Superformance. Current production is three per week so the wait is only about 90 days. The car comes complete with real glass rollup side windows and air-conditioning. and less you think these comfortable "amenities" might limit the performance, I suggest you take a stop-watch when you take that test ride! Cars are available for test at any Superformance dealer right now.Bobby Olthoff had a red coupe at Road Atlanta last weekend for the ALMS Championship finale. Badger

Tony Ripepi · #14 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:04 PM

Hello Renman,

I won a FFR Daytona Coupe at the DVSF II June a year ago, I sat on the car until I decided to have it built and the construction started November a year ago. The car is now built and ready for prime time.

It has a 351 Windsor stroked to 418 with an eight down stack intake manifold, spark and fuel injection, Tremec TKO 5- speed into an SVO rear end with 3.55 gears, 540HP @ 5400 RPM and 578 lb. ft. torque @4400 RPM...Dyno figures at the tail shaft. (engine pictures in my photos)

The car and all the details will be on the forum soon but, here is a link that has pictures of Bill Hough's FFR Daytona that is just beautiful.

http://www.ffcobra.com/ubb/ultimateb...c;f=5;t=000747

FFR has sold 150+ of their kits now and I would estimate that there are about 40 of them on the road. I have not driven one yet but, have sat in the FFR rendition numerous times , it is 13% bigger in all dimensions from the original cars and that equates to 5" in wheelbase and all of the proportions for the rest of the car are changed.

When I have the Coupe here and driven it a bit I will be posting impressions and a Club Photo link that will have a lot of pictures. In between time if you go to the FFcobra web site there are numerous albums, pictures and discussions about the Coupe that will give you a huge amount of information.

http://www.ffcobra.com/cgi-bin/ultim...?ubb=forum&f=5

Best Regards,

Tony R.

Excaliber · #15 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:23 PM

Hey Tony isn't that the one DV put together for you? I was checking that thing last year at his shop (and drooling of course).

Ernie

Tony Ripepi · #16 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:35 PM

Hello Ernie,

The coupe in the pictures not mine it is Bill Hough's....DV just finished with my car and it has turned out extremelly well. Ed, Jay and the crew at Elite at calling it the FFR Daytona Coupe -----"Armani Edition"

There will be a lot of pictures and tech details available soon.

TR

Excaliber · #17 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 12:39 PM

Ernie

Ron61 · #18 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 01:09 PM

Dave,

about a year or so ago I was looking into having a Daytona Coupe built and there are some really great ones out there. But I would go with Highlander in Montana if I was going to do it. Unfortunately, living in Calif. makes it almost impossible to get one registered unless you do it in those GRAY areas which I want to avoid. They won't accept a turn key car and I don't want to mess with putting one together. Plus the 500 numbers that SB-100 allows has about 1,500 people already in line for them for 2004. I talked to Rick at Highlander several times and a person that came down to see me flew back to their shop and was really impressed with their generation 3 frame and the whole setup. And, yes I was going to have air conditioning installed as these 115-118 degree days around here in the Summer make it nice. And for their turn key car, either the race version or street version, I don't think you could beat the price and quality. Just my opinion and not meant to start any flame wars as I know there are other really nice ones on the market. Actually living in Montana really doesn't sound to bad to me at the moment.

Ron

Chics LI · #19 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 01:10 PM

Randy,

I don't know where you got that 85k price from on the HDR coupe. Price is 69.5k turnkey, out the door. Car is closer to original, not stretched out or with roll up windows and A/C is available for extra 1.5k. Not that all the SPF niceities, not that this NOT a good thing. Pictures of SPF look terrific. I would sure be a happy camper with one.
I guess it depends what you want. One thing, the HDR is a tough car for me to get into and I am only 5'11' and weigh around 190lbs. but I also have a limited leg/hip mobility issue. The thing is that when you are finally able to afford these damn cars age kinda catches us and kicks us in the butt. Where there is a will there is a way and I am getting tempted to move up to the Coupe. I just have to move before I get too old and cranky...these cars due tend to keep us young though. Who says you can NEVER go back?

Tom

jrussell · #20 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 01:28 PM

Ren,
It's good to hear from you, and this would be a good way for you to come back into the fold-so to speak. I am personally aware of two Coupes currently on order, and nearing completion for different members of the TCC. I believe one, if not both cars should be ready for our next meeting this coming February in Austin, so you should get a real "up close & personal" look then.
You might want to give either Doug Reed or Don Barnes of Superformance a call for more information and other particulars.
It sounds like the restaurant is really taking off for you, which is absolutely great!
Your friend in Dallas,
John Russell