One of the most prestigious races in the world – “24 Hours of Le Mans,” had over 350,000 spectators in 1964.  They all got to witness a first, some say “a miracle” :  an American Cobra Daytona coupe wins the GT class over the odds favorite and past winners – the  Ferrari team.

In order to compete with the European boys, the Cobra attained aerodynamic bodywork that helped increase its top speed to around 180 mph.  The Viking Blue #5 car – CSX2299, driven by the Dan Gurney/Bob Bondurant team won

the GT category and fourth overall, covering 2791 miles at an average speed of 121.5 mph.

Now the “Powered by Ford” Cobra, easy on the eyes and capable of the impossible,  had made history – as well as gained respect from the its foreign competitors.