With SEMA less than a week away, progress on the Speedmaster Daytona Coupe has truly been impressive. Not unlike those reality show build scenarios where a team of car builders, facing a ridiculous deadline, fight the clock to ultimately reveal a beautiful vehicle. But this build is real and the deadline – arriving in Las Vegas the weekend before the biggest of all automotive trade shows – is fact, not fiction.

Speedmaster's General Manager Jay Verduzco and Lead Technician Gerald Lair have hit the home stretch with their build despite the fact that there is plenty yet to do on the Daytona Coupe. With a body set in place, it is easy to see the look they are going for. The chassis is close to complete requiring running of the wiring harness and finishing the engine systems. All of the key components from brakes to fuel system are complete and ready to go.

The body has been sprayed with guide coat to help in the final sanding efforts to ensure a straight body shape before applying primer and color. The hood will still require some fitment efforts placing major pressure on their friends at First Street Collision Center in Rialto, California Center to fit and finish the body – all within the ten-day window.

The idea to build the car was the vision of Speedmaster owner Jason Kencevski who tasked Jay and his team to build the car for SEMA. While the exposure for Speedmaster’s extensive line of products, which are exclusively used to build up the 347 c.i. Ford Small Block, it terrific, the bigger picture is an all-new product for Speedmaster – turn key cars.

“While the Daytona Coupe is a great platform to show the diversity of our products, we have customers who would love to have complete cars assembled with our engine, drivetrain and accessory products,” Said Verduzco. “On the heels of this build, we are planning to offer other vehicles including GT40’s and ’33 Fords. To that end we have dedicated another section of our warehouse exclusively for the construction of vehicles built to individual customer requirements.”

The Speedmaster Daytona Coupe will be on display in the Speedmaster’s booth at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV starting Oct. 31 – Nov. 3. If you are in town, please visit their booth in the Central Hall, #20735.

Credits: Power and Performance News

Words and Photos: Cam Benty