By Cam Benty, Power and Performance News / Photos by Speedmaster

Faced with a six-week deadline to deliver a turnkey vehicle for the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Jay Verduzco and Gerald Laird did exactly that. Their Daytona Coupe - Project Blackbird - was recognised as one of the premier vehicles at the largest automotive aftermarket trade show in the world.

Completing the build in time was a significant milestone for Speedmaster CEO Jason Kencevski and General Manager Jay Verduzco, who oversaw the project from concept through final assembly. The coupe earned a Global Media Award from the SEMA New Products Committee - a strong result for a first vehicle build.

The Build

This Daytona Coupe marks the beginning of Speedmaster's turnkey vehicle program - complete cars built with Speedmaster-engineered components and sold directly to the public.

"We really worked hard to make this car come together in such a small window of time. I knew the crew we assembled was more than up to the task but figured there would be challenges that we just could not plan for. Regardless, the real purpose of the build was to demonstrate the quality and performance abilities of Speedmaster parts used for our new turn-key vehicle division."

- Jay Verduzco, Speedmaster

The Ford engine features Speedmaster's classic-look fuel injection system. While the design references the Weber carburettors used on original Daytona Coupes, it is a modern fuel injection system engineered for full tunability.

What Comes Next

The next phase for Project Blackbird starts on the dyno - measuring power output from the Ford engine and tuning the driveline for optimum efficiency. From there, the car moves to Southern California race tracks for suspension calibration. The objective: a car that performs on the track and the street.

"While the Daytona Coupe body is a highly recognisable shape for performance fans, we know that enthusiasts' tastes vary greatly. For that reason, we will offer other types of cars including a '33-style Hot Rod and the GTLM supercar body that features a mid-engined Chevy LS engine. The common denominator will be the use of Speedmaster parts to make them go."

- Jay Verduzco, Speedmaster

About Speedmaster

Founded in 1979, Speedmaster is a vertically integrated performance company delivering complete, engineered performance systems across engines, drivetrain, and forced induction. With more than 500 employees across three continents and over 25,000 parts designed, engineered, and manufactured in-house, Speedmaster operates as a unified brand built on engineering precision, long-term thinking, and measurable results. Learn more at speedmaster79.com.