Le Mans-Veteran 1965 Ford GT Prototype Roadster Could Fetch $10M
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious
A one-of-a-kind 1965 Ford GT Competition Prototype Roadster with deep ties to Ford's legendary Le Mans racing legacy is set to cross the auction block this May—and it could command a hammer price north of $10 million.
The historic race car, chassis number GT/109, will be offered by Mecum Auctions on May 17. It's one of only five open-top GT40 prototypes ever built, and the only one to have competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's most grueling endurance race. That distinction makes it a crown jewel in the storied development of Ford's mid-1960s motorsport program, which culminated in its domination over Ferrari from 1966 to 1969.
GT/109 ran at Le Mans in 1965, entered by Ford's partner, the Shelby American team. Piloted by American drivers Ronnie Bucknum and Herbert Linge, the car represented a bold attempt to fine-tune the GT40 platform during Ford's relentless pursuit of endurance-racing excellence. Though it did not finish the race, GT/109 helped inform critical engineering changes that paved the way for Ford's eventual four-year winning streak at Le Mans.
The car's inclusion in this chapter of motorsports history also lends it cultural weight. The rivalry was famously dramatized in the 2019 Hollywood blockbuster Ford v Ferrari, bringing renewed global attention to the battle between American innovation and Italian tradition.
Meticulously restored and retaining many of its original components, GT/109 has been displayed at concours events and motorsport gatherings worldwide. It's also one of just two surviving roadster variants of the GT40, making its appearance at Mecum's auction not only rare, but potentially record-setting.
Bidding will begin May 17 at Mecum's Indianapolis sale. Collectors and racing historians alike will be watching closely to see if this Le Mans legend lives up to its multimillion-dollar expectations.
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