Heritage ESX – A Modern Tribute to the Shelby Daytona Coupe
Students of the Espera Sbarro school brought a bold idea to life – to create a functional car that pays tribute to the legendary Shelby Daytona Coupe. The result of their work is the Heritage ESX – a full-fledged prototype that combines the spirit of classic racing with modern technology.
Design: Classic and Modern
This is not a replica or a restomod, but an educational prototype, developed and assembled from scratch by a team of 25 students in five months. Heritage ESX retains the characteristic proportions of the Daytona Coupe but has received modern elements, such as LED headlights reminiscent of the Ford GT’s design.
The rear of the car is executed with sharper lines, featuring a large integrated spoiler, four lights, and additional ventilation openings. The color scheme is a blue body with white stripes and the number 60, reminiscent of racing history.
Technical Features
The car is built on a multi-tube chassis, and under the hood is a 5.0-liter V8 engine that sends power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. With a weight of just 1,150 kg, the Heritage ESX should be quite dynamic, although exact power specifications are not disclosed.
The interior is executed in a modern style with carbon elements, a central display, and analog stopwatches on the passenger panel, harkening back to the races of years past.
This prototype will likely remain a unique specimen. After the completion of the Espera Sbarro UTBM training course, the car will be presented at the Le Mans Classic exhibition in July 2025.
The creation of the Heritage ESX demonstrates how classic design can find new life in modern conditions. This project not only honored a legend but also became an important stage in the education of future automotive designers and engineers.