At a black-tie gala in England, the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (CSX2287) owned by the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum of Philadelphia added another award to its growing list of accolades by being recognized as Car of the Year at the 2014 International Historic Motoring Awards program.
Earlier this year, the car that broke 23 records at Bonneville in 1965 became the first automobile accepted to the National Historic Vehicle Register, a program by the Historic Vehicle Association and the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Library of Congress.
Making the Daytona Coupe’s latest honor even more special is that of all the 2014 International Historic Motoring Awards, it was the only one voted by the car-loving public, not by a panel of experts.
Speaking of those other awards, they were:
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Willy Cave
- Club of the Year: Vintage Sports-Car Club
- Industry Supporter of the Year: Mercedes-Benz Classic
- Motoring Event of the Year: Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille
- Motorsport Event of the Year: Le Mans Classic
- Museum or Collection of the Year: Haynes International Motor Museum
- Personal Achievement of the Year: Norman Dewis
- Publication of the Year: Jacques Saoutchik, Maître Carrossier
- Race Series of the Year: Stirling Moss Trophy
- Rally of the Year: The Royal Automobile Club 1000 Mile Trial
- Restoration of the Year: Mercedes-Benz Streamliner 540K
- Specialist of the Year: HK-Engineering
- Tour of the Year: Maserati Centennial International Gathering
Cave, now in his 80s — and still rallying — made his motorsports debut as a navigator in a Magnette for the factory MG team in 1954. He co-drove with John Sprinkle in many rallies and already is planning to compete in the historic Monte Carlo rally as part of his 90th birthday celebration.
Dewis is another living legend. The 94-year-old was a long-time Jaguar test and racing driver who was very active this year in the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Jaguar D-type.
The annual international awards program was sponsored by EFG private bank and Octane magazine with the gala at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.
Mercedes-Benz Classic was honored in part for its support of a series of events in 2014 celebrating the 120th anniversary of the parent company’s involvement in motorsports and for its part in the restoration of the Mercedes-Benz 540K Streamliner.
Meanwhile, German restoration specialist HK-Engineering was honored after cars it restored took honors at Villa d’Este and the Concours d’Elegance Royal in England.
Serving on the panel of experts deciding those awards were car designers Ian Callum and Peter Stevens; former World Sports Car racing champion Jochen Mass; former Bentley chairman Franz-Josef Paefgen; Scott George of the The Revs Institute for Automotive Research; Shiro Horie, editor of Octane’s Japanese edition; and Dave Kinney, who’s titles include editor of the Hagerty Price Guide.
