The 2004 Shelby Cobra concept is as good as concept cars get. Unlike most other concepts which are just clay models or physical shells without a powertrain, this one-off Cobra is one that actually runs and can be driven. This one-of-a-kind lightweight roadster packs a lot of power under the hood, and it's about to be auction off for, probably, big bucks.

Back in 2003, Ford and Carroll Shelby revealed that they will collaborate once more to produce a new Cobra. The following year, Ford unveiled the result of their collaboration in the form of a muscular roadster concept at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It took the team just over five months to build this stunning concept, internally called “Project Daisy”.

The car was a modern take on the classic AC Cobra 427 from the ’60s and follows the neo-retro trend of the period with curves reminiscent of its renowned ancestor. }

The styling team was tasked with coming up with a design that wasn’t retro, however, it had to be a design that could be immediately recognized as a Shelby Cobra. It even wears racing stripes down the hood just like those old Cobras from back in the day.

Even the interior was anything but old school. It had custom gauges and switchgear designed just for this car. The convertible was supposed to be released in 2007, however, the financial crisis compelled Ford to scrap the project.

The recipe of the original 60’s Cobra was simple: plonk a massive engine into a little roadster and create a wild sports car. This is a contemporary version of that very formula. Under the hood of this two-seater, lies a 613-hp 6.4-liter V-10, which is one of just four Ford experimental V10s ever constructed.

The car delivered 605 horsepower and weighed in at just 3075 lbs. That is a lot of power for a car that weighed as much as a Miata, although it was as wide as a Ford GT.

This engine is paired to a six-speed manual transmission that is mounted well behind the front axle, giving the car a remarkable 50/50 weight distribution to improve handling.

2004 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept specifications

The suspension, like the powertrain and several chassis components, is the same as that on the 2005 Ford GT, but with different settings. To bring this high-performance motor to a halt the car comes with four-piston Brembo brakes.

The concept was thoroughly tested at Irwindale Speedway by the legend, Carroll Shelby himself. He was 81 at the time and drove it over a distance of 150 miles over a period of two days. Chris Theodore, who was a Ford VP at the time of its conception, bought the car in 2017. He has also authored a book on the car: The Last Shelby Cobra.

The car has since been refurbished and, as icing on the cake, is that it has now been certified and licensed to be used across the pond (Trans Atlantic). This Shelby then is no ordinary display car. The Shelby Cobra Concept or Daisy never went into production, but here’s your chance to get your hands on this one-off example. It will be offered by Mecum Auctions in August at Monterey in California. Its asking price might be north of a million dollars.

Watch Jay Leno take this concept Cobra for a Spin