1964 Shelby Daytona Cobra coupe (CSX2287) vs The Monkeemobile

TV Show: The Monkees ’68

One of the most interesting of the original Daytonas is the prototype, CSX2287, also the only US-made car. It was raced extensively at Daytona, Sebring, Spa, Reims (and even the Bonneville Salt Flats), which only added to its value. It was owned subsequently by eccentric music producer Phil Spector, who paid all of $7,500 for it in 1966 and painted some outlandish slogans on it, including “Winner 33 grand prix,” “Land speed record 227 mph” and “427 cu in engine.”

CSX2287 was used in an episode of The Monkees TV show “The Monkees Race Again” (a.k.a. “Leave The Driving To Us”), which was filmed December 18-20, 1967 and originally aired on February 12, 1968.

All trace of CSX2287 was lost by the mid-1970s, with car historians and collectors fearing the car had been destroyed. In 2001 the car was rediscovered in a rental storage unit in California. The owner Donna O’Hara had committed suicide by burning herself alive. The car had remained undiscovered for almost 30 years. Due to its estimated worth of over $4,000,000 the car was part of an extensive legal battle between her mother who sold the car to Dr. Frederick A. Simeone, and a friend of Ms O’Hara who was the recipient in her will of the contents of the storage unit. An earlier owner of the car appears to have been music producer Phil Spector who had been known to drive it on the streets of Los Angeles. Built for high-speed sprints, the cab became uncomfortably warm as the car engine heated up, among other problems. “It wasn’t a street car; it was a race car”, Shelby said. Still, Spector drove it on the streets, and legend is that Spector racked up so many speeding tickets, his lawyer advised him to get rid of the car before he lost his license.

CSX2287 is restored. It has been preserved and mechanically reconditioned. It is part of the permanent collection at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

The Monkeemobile is a modified Pontiac GTO that was designed and built by designer Dean Jeffries for The Monkees, a pop-rock band and television program. The car features a split two-piece windshield, a touring car convertible top, modified rear quarter panels and front fenders, exaggerated tail lamps, set of four bucket seats and an extra third row bench where there was originally a trunk, a rear-mounted parachute and a GTO emblem on the front grille.