By Dean Larson

The beauty of component cars like the Factory Five Type 65 Coupe is that they are a perfectly clean slate. You’re provided the basic pieces to assemble a car, but it is up to you to give it an identity through the mechanical details and cosmetic touches. Many decide to pay homage to the original Daytona Coupe, and outfit their car with guardsman blue hues, Halibrand-style wheels and Ford Windsor blocks, an approach that always resonates with us. But there are others that throw away convention, and create something brand new from the fiberglass and steel parts they were given. This FFR Coupe is an extreme case, where the blank slate mindset was interpreted very literally, and a brand new sportscar was born within the Daytona Coupe profile.

This one-of-a-kind Coupe was born a few years back at Littlefield Customs of Charlestown, Rhode Island, and was shown at the SEMA Show in 2014. The car started with standard MkII chassis and suspension before Littlefield upped the ante with a supercharged GM LS engine, full carbon ceramic brakes and a host of visual modifications. Said LS engine, is a MAST Motorsports LS3 block with built internals and a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger. The finished combo, know as the Mast 416 Black Label S/C, churns out 820 hp and 713 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. (The sale includes a couple of dyno sheets for your own personal records and bragging rights.) 

Of course, when you jam over 800 horsepower into a street-legal vehicle, you’ll need to make a few supporting modifications. A Tremec six-speed T56 Magnum built by Bowler Performance Transmissions handles the gear changes while an 8.8-inch rear axle with 4.10 gears ensures quick launches. This combo should be a great mix for the car, provided you don’t mind pushing that clutch pedal often. To ensure the large 335/30ZR18 rear tires don’t turn to smoke on every launch, Littlefield fit the Daytona with a Davies Technologies traction control system. To bring all 2,531 pounds of Shelby to a halt, Wilwood six-, and four-piston calipers and 14-inch carbon ceramic rotors are fit on all four corners.

The interior has been refreshed with modern components but retains the Daytona Coupe feel. The Daytona Coupe interior always has a bit of a fighter pilot feel, and this car is no exception. The adjustable bucket seats are fitted with custom leather covers and Simpson harnesses, and custom padding has been added to the roll bars. The gauges, sold by New Vintage USA, are a throwback to classic military vehicles of the 1940s, and suit the Spartan interior well.

The exterior of the coupe has been dressed up with Ferrari red paint and graphite racing stripes, but it's really the wheels that catch your eyes. The monoblock HRE wheels measure a full 18 inches in diameter and are made from 6061-T6 forged aluminum. Light window tinting and LED lighting further separates the coupe from its 1960s beginnings. 

The Daytona is offered for sale by RK Motors, Charlotte, with an asking price of $159,900. On the web, most Factory Five Daytona kits are advertised between $40,000 and $60,000, making this car a standout in terms of price also.