Posted on 02/16/2016 5:55:07 PM PST by MtnClimber
Ford's GT40 enjoyed great success as a racing car, but as a passenger car, a role required for FIA homologation, it was a failure. In order to move the 20 or so cars built for homologation purposes, Ford promoted the car with a dealer roadshow and deep discounting, eventually clearing its inventory with very little (or perhaps no) profit. On March 11, a 1966 Ford GT40 Mk I, once part of the automaker’s Promotion and Disposal Program, will cross the auction block in Amelia Island, where (this time) no additional fanfare will be needed to market the car.
The Ford GT40, in its various forms, captured overall victory at Le Mans from 1966 through 1969, and won scores of other races in Europe and the United States. Race cars, however, have radically different design criteria than street cars, and in this regard the GT40 was a victim of its own success. The car's 40-inch height may have lowered the center of gravity and reduced drag, but it also resulted in the car being nearly invisible on public roads. It also made entry and exit challenging for those dressed in street clothes, and the World Registry of Cobras & GT40s, 4th Edition, describes entry and egress from the car as a "spectator event."
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
I think I could endure the hardship of entry/exit.
Out of my price range now.
Outta my price range then. And did I mention now? ERA Replicars built a GT 40 MK II kit. It was a GT 40 you had to build. Everything like the original. The kit cost 50K. It was a great kit. Did Imention out of my price range?
I do remember. It was a thing of beauty. Now all I remember is Ford is that company I won’t buy any longer since they choose Mexico over the US. I don’t think that their decision to move production is going to work out like they hope.
I still remember my friend’s disappointing trip to the Ferrari dealership back in the Eighties. He made the fundamental mistake of having his wife come along.
Her first question to the salesman: “I can’t drive standard shift. Do you have anything with an automatic transmission?”
Second question: “So where do I put the groceries?”
Needless to say, no Ferrari was purchased that day.
Great pics! One of the coolest cars ever imho.
Fords only reason for building the gt40 was to beat Ferrari the sanctioning body said you had to sell the cars on the street Ford did not care their mission was to beat Ferrari of which state did very well
That’s hilarious. 308 —lovely curves, almost timeless lines.
That was a 1,2,3 finish right? Quite a feat for the ford factory boys — great story about the design, very quick IIRC.
My friend made the mistake of not having his wife come when he bought a Corvette. She wanted to go on a picnic outing with their new car. No room for the picnic basket, no trunk, not practical. Car only lasted a few months before they resold it. Always bring the wife, and keep your marriage intact.
I look at that thing today, and get claustrophobia.
The Gulf colors are my favorite!
Try driving one of those things into the setting sun on an equinox....
Don’t they make ‘vette trailers, like for the motorcycles?
I am so claustrophobic that I roll my windows down BEFORE I get into my truck (3/4 Ton Dodge)
Heat and Cool are unused options, Rain is a bitch, Fog or high humidity sucks (defrost is stuck on AC since it is rarely used)
But I could easily drive that puppy if the windows are down!
I would have to drive alone as my claustrophobia seems to get worse if there are people anywhere within an arms reach.
I want to drive one!
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