This comparison isn't so much as a comparison between two competing models as it is a comparison of a stock car versus a race version of that same car as viewed via models currently available. One side benefit of this comparison for me was to realize just how nice the Ertl is even when compared to a $150 die cast. This one was one of Ertl's earliest offerings and in my opinion it still stands up quite well. Anyway, as to the point of this comparison, it is really interesting to see what it took in 1964 to make a race car out of a stock car. To be clear, when it came to the Daytona coupes, they had about as much in common with the street Cobras as a 286 computer has with a Pentium II. They both do basically the same thing but one just does it better and faster. Remember, the Daytona coupes had a custom built race body, and they weren't even all made in the same place (one was made in the US the rest were made in England. As impressive as the Cobras were on the race track, they just weren't aerodynamic enough with their relatively blunt shape and open cockpit to compete in world-wide GT racing.
Lucky
for Ford and Shelby GT rules allowed for a car to receive unique
bodywork and still compete as an existing street model as long
as the car underneath was mechanically similar to their street
counterparts (wheelbase, suspension style, engines and engine
placement). In fact, the Daytona Cobras are probably more similar
to the street Cobras than the Corvette Grand Sports were to the
street Corvette.
As
you can see, the overall size and wheel base are dead-on between
these two. Personally I like the color of the Ertl best, but I
have to suspect the color on the Exoto is more accurate to the
original Shelby color. You can really see how the sides of the
Daytona body were straight and flat compared to the street car's
flaring rear fenders. Overall you can see how the Daytona coupe
is more smooth and round with no abrupt changes in direction.
You can tell the engine, fuel cap and interior placement are the
same. Remember, the Daytonas are merely modified Cobras under
the skin. It is interesting to see how different they look even
though they start with the same basic platform. Interesting point:
the paint on my Ertl is comparable to the much more expensive
Exoto.
The
stance of the two is similar. Even the headlight placement is
equal in height and distance apart. The turn signals were moved
inside the head light covers on the Daytonas. You can really see
the aerodynamic superiority of the Daytona from this angle. It
appears the Daytona has a lower overall height, but look again
at the base of the windshield of each, the Daytonas have a noticeably
lower cowl height. Why can't they make cars that look like this
anymore? Yum!
The
rear really shows off the drastic changes made to the Daytona
body work. Even so, similarities are obvious in size and stance.
The street Cobra has a classic look, but to me the Daytona looks
much more modern. Seeing that USA badge on the tail of this championship
clinching coupe makes me feel downright nationalistic about my
homeland. And they clinched the championship in 1965 on July 4,
how fitting!
Of
course the race car engine is more sophisticated and elaborate
but other things jump out too. See how the body work is much more
open up front? The Daytona was certainly designed with racing,
and pit work maintenance, in mind. Also note the laid back angle
of the radiator and oil cooler on the Daytona to achieve a better
aerodynamic shape by allowing a lower height to the nose of the
car and ducting of hot air out the top of the hood thus keeping
the engine bay as cool as possible.
The
race car receive a full under belly pan so comparisons get harder
to make. But just keep in mind the Daytona had a Cobra chassis
underneath. You can see the wheelbase is exactly the same, the
engine and suspension placement is the same and what little we
can see of the race car's frame very much duplicate the street
car's parts. The race car of course received additional and modified
equipment to prep it for the rigors of racing such as air jacks
and additional and more sturdy suspension parts. Funny thing I
noticed: the street car has larger tires than the race car. I
would suspect either Ertl over did the tire size or GT racing
limited the size of the tires allowed.
The
race car must be a little more difficult to get into, but then
it was designed around racing not convenience. The interiors are
amazingly similar, same gauges, same steering wheel and same shifter
placement. The passenger seat is cocked slightly sideways in the
Daytona coupe probably due to the car being slightly lower thus
making the transmission hump intrude into the interior space more
than on the street car. My question is why a race car has a passenger
seat in the first place.
The
street car still looks pretty darn race ready. Well, most were
intended to be raced anyway. I would think the rear view mirror
mounted on the dash would be less than useful but probably more
steady than if mounted on the windshield frame. Roll bar or not,
I still wouldn't want to be in a street Cobra in a rollover. Well,
to be honest, I wouldn't want to be in ANY car in a rollover but
at the very least I'd like roof over my head!
Now
here is a collection that never happened in real life. Too bad
the Grand Sport program was killed before it really got rolling.
Grand Sports and Cobras dicing it up on the track would have made
for some very interesting racing. Can you imagine if two American
cars had been competing for the GT II honors in 1964 and 1965?
Enzo and Ferdinand would have been sick!