Lot 226: 2005 Ford GT Coupe

Based on Eric Broadley�s Lola GT, the original Ford GT40 was spawned by the Dearborn giant�s ambition to beat Ferrari at Le Mans, a feat it duly achieved for the first time in 1966. The GT40 project had commenced three years previously, following Ford�s failed attempt to buy into Ferrari, and was based at the Ford Advanced Vehicles plant at Slough, England. The GT40 first ran competitively in 1964, but failed at Le Mans that year and again in 1965. That first sweet Le Mans victory would fall to the 7-litre MkII, with victory the following year going to a US-built MkIV �J� car. (The GT40 MkIII was the British-built road-going version).
After its 1967 win, Ford withdrew from Le Mans, leaving the Gulf Oil sponsored team of John Wyer Automotive to carry on with a measure of works support. JWA fielded a team of three GT40s for the 1968 event: �GT40P/1074� for Paul Hawkins/David Hobbs; �GT40P/1075� for Pedro Rodriguez/Lucien Bianchi; and �GT40P/1076� for Brian Muir/Jackie Oliver. Although the Hawkins/Hobbs and Muir/Oliver cars failed to finish, the pale blue and orange liveried Rodriguez/Bianchi GT40 won, making it three consecutive victories for Ford.
JWA entered two of the 1968 cars - �1075� and �1076� - the following year. By now the ageing GT40s were considered uncompetitive, but despite this apparent handicap the team won yet again, with the two �Jackies� - Oliver and Ickx - bringing �1075� home in 1st place for the second year running. �1076�, driven by David Hobbs/Mike Hailwood, finished 3rd, a quite magnificent result for the team and a most fitting swansong for the GT40 at Le Mans.
A decade on, and the GT40�s status as an all-time great classic sportscar had been firmly established, leading to an increased demand for unmolested originals and the start of a replica-building industry. Perhaps the only surprise concerning the emergence of a reconstituted �official� version is that it took Ford the best part of 40 years to get around to it.
The �new generation� GT40 was developed by Ford�s Special Vehicle Team Engineering department under the direction of John Coletti and Fred Goodnow. The composite body panels are unstressed, as on the original, but instead of the monocoque chassis construction used in the 1960s, SVT Engineering developed an all-new aluminium spaceframe combining extruded sections and panels. Doubling as fuel reservoirs, a pair of massive sills contributed much to the original�s chassis stiffness, whereas the new GT40 relies on a centre-tunnel �backbone� that greatly improves ease of entry and exit. The suspension design is an advance on the original�s, consisting of unequal-length control arms and a pushrod/bell-crank system acting on horizontally mounted coil spring/damper units. Braking is handled by six-piston, Alcon calipers with cross-drilled and ventilated discs all round.
In defeating Ferrari�s more highly stressed V12s, Ford proved that the traditional American V8 possessed all that was necessary to compete at the cutting edge of international endurance racing. A far cry from the simple pushrod units of the 1960s, today�s supercharged MOD 5.4-litre V8 produces 550bhp at 5,250rpm and 500lb/ft of torque at 3,250 revs; figures on a par with those of the 7-litre engine that won at Le Mans in 1966 and 1967. The all-synchromesh six-speed transaxle uses ZF internals and was sourced from RBT Transmissions, who�s founder Roy Butfoy had been a member of Ford�s racing team at Le Mans.
The interior features leather-upholstered, Recaro bucket seats with aluminium ventilation grommets embedded into the panels. The instrument layout follows the original�s, comprising analogue gauges and a large tachometer complemented by modern versions of the traditional toggle switches.
Back in 1966, the Ford GT40 endurance racer became the first car to exceed 200mph along the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans. Matching that would be some achievement for the production road car, even allowing for nearly 40 years of technological progress. Tested for Motor Trend magazine by Indycar racing legend Bryan Herta, the new GT40 duly topped 200mph at Ford�s Kingman test facility in Arizona, emphatically demonstrating that it was indeed worthy of that famous name.
This left-hand drive GT40 is one of only 101 examples specially built by Ford for the European market, 28 of which were destined for the UK, and is a Heritage Model registered in Jackie Oliver�s name. Fully equipped with all available extras - Bluetooth telephone, audio system, tailored cover, intelligent garage battery charging system, etc - the car will have covered only 2,000-or-so miles by time of auction and comes with full service history at Roush. Also included in the sale is a silver engraved plaque with models of Jackie�s 1969 Le Mans-winning Gulf Mirage GT40 and of his Ford GT, both 1:20 scale; a pair of Jackie�s actual Gulf overalls and copy of his JWA contract for the 1969 season; a signed print by Adams depicting the Le Mans win and a framed celebration winning photograph of Jackie Oliver and Jacky Ickx.
Offered with current road fund licence and UK Swansea V5 registration document, this �as new� Ford GT, owned and driven by Le Mans winner Jackie Oliver and complemented by a wonderful collection of his racing memorabilia, represents a unique opportunity for collectors.