1988 Ford GT40 Replica Coupe

Description

Ford's legendary GT40 was the result of the American giant's failed takeover of Ferrari in the early 1960s, with Henry Ford determined to beat the Italians at the event they had previously dominated, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Based on the Lola Mark VI, a new sports-racing prototype was developed by Ford Advanced Vehicles in time for the 1964 season, with a small-block 289-cid V8 rear mounted in the advanced monocoque frame. Standing just forty inches high, hence the name GT40, the first taste of victory came on the banking at Daytona in 1965 but it was the Mark II - with a 7-litre engine jointly developed by Shelby American and Holman and Moody - that finally brought victory at Le Mans in 1966 with Kiwis Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren sharing the laurels. In 1967 the J-Car derivative notched up another win at Le Mans, after which the official Ford GT programme was wound up, although Gulf-backed GT40s went on to score memorable back-to-back wins at Le Mans in 1968-1969. Beautiful, successful, rare (less than 100 were made) and now ultra-desirable, it is little wonder the GT40 has become a legend to legions of Ford and racing fans generally. With genuine cars worth seven figure sums, ownership is well beyond the means of most of us and many enthusiasts have turned to replicas to provide all the thrills of ownership at a realistic price.