Baume & Mercier Clifton Club Shelby Cobra: When Carroll Shelby and Peter Brock created the Daytona Coupe in 1964, they revolutionised automotive design with a car so radical that aviation experts doubted it would even work. Sixty years later, Baume & Mercier has partnered with the Carroll Shelby Foundation to create a timepiece that captures that same spirit of innovation and triumph, the Clifton Club Shelby Cobra Limited Edition.
This isn’t just another racing-themed watch. It’s a collaboration that brings together 187 years of Swiss watchmaking precision with one of the most legendary stories in American motorsport history.
The relationship between Baume & Mercier and Carroll Shelby runs deeper than typical brand collaborations. As Alain Zimmermann, CEO of Baume & Mercier, stated: “We are very proud to partner with the Carroll Shelby Foundation. Our agreement is nurtured by a similar philosophy. The elegance of the lines, the attention to high quality, and commitment to humanism are some of our common characteristics.”
Neil Cummings, CEO of Carroll Shelby Licensing and co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International, added: “Shelby and Baume & Mercier have earned an international reputation for quality, precision and craftsmanship. Our shared pursuit of perfection has made both companies legendary. We’re honored that Baume & Mercier has created a one-of-a-kind watch to benefit the Shelby Automotive Museum, which was designed to inspire a new generation of enthusiasts worldwide.”
The collaboration also supports the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation, which Shelby created in October 1991 following his successful heart transplant. The foundation raises funds for families and children affected by heart diseases while providing education for underprivileged young people across the United States.
Peter Brock and Alexandre Peraldi, Baume & Mercier Design Director, worked in partnership to interpret each component of the iconic Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, proving how bold design can inspire engineering and precision to new heights.
The design celebrates the legendary Daytona Coupe, a car born from necessity and genius. By the end of the 1963 season, it became clear that the 289 Cobra roadster needed a roof to compete on the straights of European circuits. Competition rules allowed teams to change either chassis or body, but not both. While many team members wanted to alter the Cobra’s engineering, Peter and Carroll Shelby saw a different opportunity that would change automotive design forever.
Peter’s inspiration came from a study on aerodynamics by Dr. Wunibald Kamm in Germany during the late 1930s. He adapted these ideas about airflow for Shelby, knowing that reducing drag could lead to greater speed gains than simply increasing horsepower. The unforgettable shape emerged: rounded front, fairly flat roof, tapered width, and a chopped tail to improve downforce.
Every detail of the Clifton Club Shelby Cobra Limited Edition mirrors the original car’s groundbreaking design. The 44mm diameter case in polished/satin-finished steel or titanium replicates the Daytona’s aerodynamic shape with sweeping lines forged into the case structure. At the centre sits a dial celebrating the Daytona Coupe’s famous livery, with a choice of Daytona blue and white colourways to mirror the car’s flat tail, allowing easy identification during races.
On the reverse, the Daytona Coupe’s muscular magnesium alloy wheel design is perfectly replicated on the oscillating weight visible through the sapphire crystal case back. Between the wheel spokes lies a view of the engines that power the Clifton Club Shelby Cobra Limited Editions, featuring automatic Swiss-made self-winding chronograph or flyback chronograph movements.
The sporty style continues with black or blue calfskin “carbon-like” straps, each designed for supreme comfort and durability, offset by an adjustable triple-folding clasp with security push-pieces.
Baume & Mercier created two distinct versions to honour the Daytona Coupe’s racing achievements:
The 1,964-Piece Chronograph Limited Edition pays tribute to the first official race of the Daytona Coupe. Shortly before the first race of the 1964 season, the Shelby team took their creation to Riverside for a test drive. Ken Miles delivered his verdict: The Daytona Coupe wasn’t just lightning fast, but beautifully poised and stable. It was ready to compete without a single modification.
At its namesake track, the Daytona Coupe quickly established its fearsome reputation as the fastest GT car in the world. It outperformed competitors by such a wide margin that Peter and Carroll Shelby decided to slow the engine to boost fuel economy, an ingenious secret known only to the Shelby team.
The 196-Piece Flyback Chronograph Limited Edition celebrates the CSX2299’s speed record. At Le Mans 1964, the Daytona CSX2299 driven by famous duo Bob Bondurant and Dan Gurney set the world alight with a blistering 196 mph (315 km/h) performance at the famous Mulsanne straight.
The Daytona Coupe returned to competition in 1965 in dominating fashion. From Sebring and the Nürburgring to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Shelby fielded six Daytona Coupes to give America its first GT class World Sportscar Championship, culminating with glory at Reims on US Independence Day, July 4, 1965. At the end of the season, CSX2287 set 25 USAC/FIA world speed records on the dusty salt flats of Bonneville.
The Daytona Coupe became a symbol of futuristic design, with the original six models now worth several million dollars each. The result was a GT car with a style the world had never seen before. Its design was so radical that no one, including aviation experts, thought the car would work. But Carroll wanted a secret weapon for the 1964 season and gave the go ahead.
After working with Ken Miles to shape a plywood model, the Shelby team began to rapidly assemble a prototype. Design and engineering worked around the clock to meet the competition deadline and finally built the most aerodynamic car in America, powered by the workhorse Cobra 289 engine.
Fifty years later, Peter Brock returned to his original drawings to personally collaborate with Baume & Mercier on the creation of the Clifton Club Shelby Cobra Limited Editions. According to Peter: “The graphics of the Daytona were crucial, and it’s the same with the chronograph. You don’t need to see it close up to admire its beauty. Look across the room, and you just know it’s the Daytona Coupe. Every detail mirrors the original in form and purpose.”
As Baume & Mercier states: “Exceptional design has the power to move us at first glance. The true measure of a design icon is its ability to contribute to performance and precision. It is a formula known as form follows function: style and engineering in perfect balance to deliver an unparalleled experience to its owner.”
For 187 years, Baume & Mercier has followed this philosophy of perfection. Each timepiece they create is a handcrafted study of how design can deepen craftsmanship and quality. The Clifton Club Shelby Cobra collection represents a new timepiece inspired by an enduring design achievement: the legendary Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, the most iconic car in American motorsport.
Celebrating courage and ambition is at the heart of the new Clifton Club Shelby Cobra watches. This is a series of chronographs that celebrate life’s special achievements, as reflected in the innovation and passion of the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe.
Carroll Shelby asked Peter Brock, now recognised as one of the greatest automotive designers of our lifetime, to sketch a new body that could be adapted to the existing Cobra chassis. He then assigned his most important development engineer, Ken Miles, to the project.
The collaboration between legendary automotive design and Swiss watchmaking excellence has produced timepieces that are purely for those who aspire to the highest standard of design and performance. Whether you choose the 1,964-piece chronograph or the even more exclusive 196-piece flyback chronograph, you’re acquiring a piece of racing history translated into horological art.
We currently have the Baume & Mercier Clifton Club Shelby Cobra Limited Edition in stock at MVS Watches. The limited production numbers, 1,964 chronographs and just 196 flyback chronographs, make these watches increasingly rare to find, particularly in excellent condition with complete documentation.
Our piece comes with full documentation including the special presentation materials that tell the Daytona Coupe story. The craftsmanship reflects Baume & Mercier’s 187-year reputation for precision, with flawless finishing on both the case and the exposed movement visible through the display case back.
For collectors who appreciate both automotive history and fine watchmaking, this represents a unique opportunity to own a tangible connection to the Daytona Coupe’s legacy while supporting the charitable work of the Carroll Shelby Foundation.
The Baume & Mercier Clifton Club Shelby Cobra Limited Editions represent more than technical specifications and limited production numbers. They embody the moment when Carroll Shelby gave the go-ahead on a design so radical that experts doubted it would work, and watched it dominate international motorsport.
Every time you check the time on one of these chronographs, you’re connected to that spirit of innovation and courage. The Daytona Coupe proved that bold vision combined with engineering excellence can rewrite the rules. Baume & Mercier has captured that same philosophy in Swiss-made timepieces that honour the past while speaking to contemporary collectors who appreciate where true legends come from.
For those who understand that the greatest achievements come from calculated risk and unwavering commitment to excellence, the Clifton Club Shelby Cobra Limited Editions aren’t just watches, they’re wearable testaments to what happens when genius and courage collide.
Discover the Baume & Mercier Clifton Club Shelby Cobra Limited Edition. A Swiss chronograph honouring the legendary Daytona Coupe. Now at MVS Watches.
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