1968 Ford GT40

Model History Ford GT40

The Ford GT40 is without doubt one of the most iconic and collectable cars from that great manufacturer. Created in response to a demand by Henry Ford II to beat Ferrari on the track, reportedly due to Enzo Ferrari snubbing a Ford buy-out offer, the GT40 project was born of a partnership with Lola in 1963. The British racing car manufacturer had already used a Ford V-8 with some success in their GT, and the resulting prototype resulted in a 4.2-litre, mid-engine, alloy V8 race coupe clad in a fiberglass body that was unveiled in April 1964. The sophisticated car could exceed 200 mph and was a sleek 40 inches tall (thus the “40” in the car’s name) but although the GT40 showed promise on the track, it was ultimately too fragile to reliably compete.

Ford knew they needed a specialist to develop the car further, and based on his success with the Cobra, Ford handed the reins of the program over to Caroll Shelby in 1965. Due to engine shortages, the Cobra’s 4.7-litre V8 was installed instead of the 4.2-litre unit (signaling the start of the Mk I cars), and the Shelby team won their first race but couldn’t duplicate the success elsewhere. The 1966 campaign, however, was a different story. In 7.0-litre GT40 Mk II form, the cars swept the podium (in dramatic and controversial fashion) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

It was the start of an extraordinary winning streak for the GT40, taking top spot at Le Mans for four consecutive years between 1966 and 1969. Driven during this time period by the likes of A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney, Bruce McLaren, and Jacky Ickx, among others, the GT40 became the first four-time winner in Le Mans history, the first and only American constructor to win at Le Mans, and the first specific chassis to win more than one Le Mans.

In addition to the Mk I and Mk II cars, seven road-going Mk IIIs were built, with several concessions to practicality. Amongst other modifications, the Mk IIIs had a larger rear to accommodate luggage, a slightly de-tuned engine a more forgiving suspension, and some interior alterations that improved comfort.

The so-called “J-chassis” cars, which combined an aluminium honeycomb chassis with a kammtail body and other aerodynamic modifications, were completed in 1966, and the cars were much lighter than the Mk II race cars and very quick. Ultimately, the car proved to be unstable at speed, with Ken Miles tragically suffering a fatal crash behind the wheel of a J-car during a test run late in the 1966 season. The Mk IV incorporated safety and stability enhancements to the J-chassis car as well as the Mk II’s larger V8 engine, and a total of six were built by Shelby American in America, as opposed to England.

The Mk IV only competed twice, winning both events.

Five Mk I roadsters were built, a total of five Mk I and Mk II cars received weight-saving modifications by Alan Mann, and several cars used bored, 4.9-litre versions of the Cobra engine, rounding out the car’s 133-unit production history.

Today, the Ford GT40’s legacy is undisputable, and its importance to American automotive history cannot be overstated. In any form, it is one of the most collectable racing cars on the planet.