Latest news with #GT40
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Enter to Win a $250K Superformance GT40 MKI in Iconic Gulf Racing Livery
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector Automotive enthusiasts have a rare chance to bring home a legend. A meticulously crafted , valued at $250,000, is up for grabs in an exclusive sweepstakes sponsored by Downforce Motorsports—giving one lucky winner the keys to an iconic piece of motorsport history. Win here. Built as an authentic continuation model of the 1969 Le Mans-winning No. 6 GT40, this modern recreation mirrors the specifications of the original in both spirit and engineering. The GT40 famously conquered Porsche's dominance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, piloted by racing greats Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver. Chassis 1075, carrying the backing of Gulf Oil, went on to become one of the most revered race cars in the world. This Superformance example features the legendary Gulf Oil livery—a brilliant blue and orange color scheme accented by orange wheels, Gulf roundels, and vintage racing decals. Not just for show, the vehicle is powered by a 427 cubic-inch Windsor-based stroker V8 with Weber carburetors and silver powder-coated headers, offering a visceral driving experience that honors its race-bred lineage. Inside, the GT40 is outfitted with period-correct details including a Moto-Lita steering wheel, Smith gauges, and Alcantara racing seats with silver rivets. A Gurney bubble, originally developed to accommodate taller drivers like Dan Gurney, adds to the authenticity. Modern engineering elements such as Bilstein coil-over shocks, independent suspension, and vented Wilwood disc brakes make this GT40 both track-capable and street-legal, while amenities like air conditioning and a heater add comfort to its performance pedigree. Adding to its historical significance, the car also honors Pittsburgh's role in GT40 history, as Gulf Oil—formerly headquartered in the city—was instrumental in funding the original race program through its partnership with JW Automotive. For collectors and fans of motorsport's golden era, this giveaway offers more than just a car—it's a chance to own a rolling tribute to one of racing's most iconic moments. Enter here. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Own a Piece of Racing History: Win a Superformance GT40 MKI
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector Automotive enthusiasts and motorsport fans have the chance of a lifetime to own a Superformance GT40 MKI, a stunning replica of one of the most legendary endurance race cars ever built. This street-legal, track-capable machine, valued at $250,000, is being offered through an exclusive sweepstakes, giving one lucky winner the opportunity to take home a car that embodies the spirit of Le Mans. Get more donations for your money here. Inspired by the No. 6 GT40, which famously triumphed at the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans with Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver behind the wheel, this continuation model is a near-identical recreation of the iconic racer. With a monocoque chassis and over 244 laser-cut and pressed components, the GT40 MKI stays true to the original while incorporating modern engineering. Adorned in the unmistakable Gulf Livery, the GT40 MKI features blue and orange paint, matching orange-painted wheels, Gulf roundels, twin-pin rear clam, and aluminum-painted door eyebrows—all key details that honor its motorsport heritage. Under the hood, a 427 cubic-inch Windsor-based stroker engine breathes through Weber carburetors and Gurney-Weslake valve covers, ensuring both blistering performance and historic authenticity. Inside, the cockpit reflects a period-correct racing feel with a Moto-Lita steering wheel, Smith gauges, Alcantara-covered seats with silver rivets, and an iconic Gurney bubble for added headroom. Performance components include Bilstein® coil-over shocks, independent suspension, vented disc brakes, and Wilwood calipers for precise handling and stopping power. Modern comforts such as air conditioning and a heater provide added usability for street driving. This giveaway also pays homage to Pittsburgh's connection to GT40 history. Gulf Oil, once headquartered in the city, played a pivotal role in the GT40's dominance, backing JW Automotive Engineering and securing consecutive Le Mans victories in 1968 and 1969. The No. 6 GT40, bearing chassis 1075, remains one of the most celebrated race cars of all time. For those dreaming of owning a race-inspired masterpiece, this Superformance GT40 MKI offers a rare opportunity to bring a piece of Le Mans history home. Enter now for a chance to win this iconic car and continue its legacy on the road. Our readers get more chances to win here. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Car of the Week: This 1965 Ford GT Prototype Roadster Could Fetch $10 Million at Auction
Here is the car that helped pave the way for Ford's historic domination over the Prancing Horse at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, a motorsport saga that inspired the 2019 blockbuster film Ford v Ferrari. This 1965 Ford GT Competition Prototype Roadster was one of only five low-slung, open-top examples built in the run-up to Ford's four consecutive landmark victories at Circuit de la Sarthe between 1966 and 1969. Of that quintet, GT/109 is the only one that competed in the legendary French endurance classic. To see the car's place in racing history, rewind to 1965 when Ford was fast-tracking its Le Mans-focused GT40 program. In preparation, its Ford Advanced Vehicles division—in the UK—had built a total of 12 hardtop and roadster prototypes. More from Robb Report How the Jaguar XK120 Put the Marque on the World Stage Jerry Seinfeld Finally Sold His 'Le Mans' Porsche After Turning Down a $25 Million Offer Why the Jaguar E-Type May Be Our Automotive Ideal Compared to the other four GT Prototype Roadsters, GT/109 was unique in having a three-inch longer chassis and a thundering Shelby Cobra–spec 289 cubic-inch V-8 that was mid-mounted behind the cockpit. It also came with knock-off Halibrand magnesium racing wheels instead of wires, front corner air dams, side-mounted engine oil coolers, and a removable center-section rollover bar. Prepared by Carroll Shelby's famed Shelby American workshop in Venice, Calif., GT/109 was painted in the Ford of France racing livery presenting white with a dark blue center stripe bordered in red. Weighing 2,350 pounds, the car was the lightest of the six Ford GTs entered at Le Mans in 1965. For the race, the car would be piloted by French motorsport stars Maurice Trintignant, who drove a Daytona Coupe for Shelby in the 1964 Tour de France, and Guy Ligier, who went on to compete in Formula 1 before becoming a long-time F1 constructor. Trintignant was pilot for the start of the race but was in the pits after just two laps with an engine misfire. Back out on the track, the car lasted just nine more laps before a broken gearbox ended its race. None of the other five GT Prototypes would finish either. After the race, GT/109 went to Ford's Michigan-based prototype builder, Kar Kraft, for use in the development of the GT40. There, it was tested with an experimental four-cam racing V-8 as well as an experimental braking system. When Kar Kraft's work on the vehicle was completed, it was shipped to Shelby American in Los Angeles for a full rebuild, then trucked back across country to Ford's headquarters in Detroit, where it was mothballed in storage. In 1968, Dean Jeffries, a renowned Hollywood stuntman and car customizer, was in Detroit with racer A.J. Foyt to see Ford's head of racing, Jacques Passino. The story goes that during the meeting, Jeffries spotted GT/109 sitting in the warehouse and asked Passino if he could buy it. 'No problem, you can have it. We're done with the Roadsters,' said Passino. Jeffries, famous for having painted 'Little Bastard' on the side of James Dean's ill-fated 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, would go on to keep this open-top GT for 45 years, until his death in 2013. That year, auction guru Dana Mecum bought the car from Jeffries' son and immediately plunged into a concours-quality restoration with Harley Cluxton III of Arizona-based Grand Touring Cars Inc. The renovation of GT/109 was completed in the nick of time for its debut at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, part of a special class celebrating the 50th anniversary of Ford's Le Mans victory. It took second in class, behind the fabled 1966 Le Mans–winning GT40 piloted by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon. A week later, it won Best in Show at the Milwaukee Concours d'Elegance. Last year, it finished second in class again, this time at the Amelia Concours d'Elegance in Florida, where it lost out to the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that won the 1964 Tour de France. Martyn L. Schorr, Ford GT40 authority and author of Ford Total Performance, calls GT/109 'a stunning example of Ford's open-top Prototype GT, with the added distinction of being only one of two still in existence. He also states: 'This is the car commissioned by the Godfather of the GT40, head of Ford Advanced Concepts, Roy Lunn. . . . It is truly a unique part of Ford racing history.' The only other Ford GT Competition Prototype Roadster in existence, GT/108, was sold at the 2019 RM Sotheby's Monterey auction for $7.65 million. This example is set to cross the auction block at Mecum's Indy 2025 sale in Indianapolis on May 17, where it's estimated to fetch between $7.5 million and $10 of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Original 1965 Ford GT40 Prototype Roadster Heads to Mecum Auction
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector One of the most historically significant American racing prototypes, a 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster, will cross the auction block at Mecum's annual Indianapolis sale this May, presenting a unique opportunity for collectors. The GT40 Roadster, bearing chassis number GT/109, is one of only a dozen original prototypes built by Ford between 1964 and 1965. Of these, just five were roadsters, and today only two survive. Notably, GT/109 is the sole roadster variant ever to compete at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race. In its single Le Mans outing in 1965, GT/109 was driven by the renowned French racing duo Maurice Trintignant and Guy Ligier. Although it showed promise, mechanical issues forced its retirement after just 11 laps. After its brief competitive life, Ford sent GT/109 to Shelby American for refurbishment. However, the car instead became a testbed for various Ford and Kar Kraft developments, including experimental automatic transmissions, innovative brake systems, and high-performance Indy-style engines. In 1968, Ford released the car to famed customizer Dean Jeffries, who maintained it until it was eventually acquired by Mecum Auctions founder Dana Mecum in 2013. Mecum commissioned an extensive restoration, meticulously returning the car to its original Le Mans racing configuration. Its distinctive features now include a rebuilt HiPo 289 cubic-inch V8 engine equipped with a rare Shelby-designed experimental intake manifold and the famed 'Bundle of Snakes' exhaust system. Additionally, the original five-speed manual transmission has also been fully restored. While most early GT40 prototypes were destroyed after testing, GT/109's survival underscores its exceptional rarity. The other remaining roadster prototype, chassis GT/108, sold in 2019 for over $7.6 million, highlighting the potential value of GT/109 at the upcoming sale. This marks Mecum's third attempt to auction the iconic GT40 prototype. Previously offered in 2018 and 2020, the vehicle did not meet its reserve price. Now, collectors have another chance to own a unique piece of motorsport history at the Indianapolis auction running from May 9-17, 2025. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
