The Ford GT40 is one of the most important American racing cars built and designed to win the world’s most prestigious endurance race, the 24 hours of Le Mans. Not only did it achieve this but it did it four consecutive times from 1966 to 1969. In 1966, with Henry Ford II himself in attendance at Le Mans, the MkII GT40 provided Ford with the first overall Le Mans victory for an American manufacturer. In addition to four consecutive overall Le Mans victories, Ford also won four FIA international titles with the GT40. For 1968, the FIA banned unlimited capacity engines, making the MkII and IV both obsolete. However, the MkI, with its smaller engine, was still legally able to race. Utilizing 4.7L (289 CI) Ford V-8 engines that were enlarged to 4.9 liters with special alloy Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads, a total of 10 lightweight competition GT40s were built, three of which were allocated for the J.W.A./Gulf team. The MkI was modified and run by John Wyer in 1968 and 1969, winning Le Mans in both of those years, as well as Sebring in 1969. In just 24 months, Chassis No. P/1075 claimed more world championship victories than any other GT40. Specific to these cars were the masterful Gurney-Weslake engines producing 440 HP, Stage II ventilated disc brakes, a lightened aluminum roof and lightweight body panels. Rarely do examples like this incredibly important 1969 Ford GT40 come to market, as it is one of the mere 10 original factory competition lightweights produced at the end of GT40 production. They are the most sophisticated and winningest MkI specification with the famed factory Gurney-Weslake engine. It was originally sold new to a privateer, and the factory build sheet includes the specifications, with factory records indicating: Cirrus White with Black trim, “1968 Weslake- heads, 289 c.i.d., wet-deck,” (Engine No. 67/19), and a ZF 5-speed transmission (No. NR 1005) with 4.22.:1 final drive and “C” ratios. Other order details included BRM 10-inch and 12-inch wheels with an 8.5-inch spare, Firestone tires, anti-surge foam in the fuel tanks, Stage II ventilated brakes and lightweight panels; also noted was “weighed, dry of fuel, but including oil and water: Front 845 lbs, Rear 1,110 lbs, total 1,945 lbs.” Prior to when it was shipped, it was photographed directly after it was built during testing at Silverstone with one of the Gulf Team GT40s. The car was dispatched to the docks on February 6, 1969 and shipped on February 15, 1969 to customer A.F. Pires. Ferreira Pires was a successful Portuguese driver who acquired the car new directly from J.W. Automotive Engineering LTD in 1969 with the financial support of his hometown. Pires only competed in three races before he retired from racing altogether soon after the car had arrived. The car was then sold in 1970 to another racer, Emilo Marta. Marta was a successful businessman and industrialist with wide business interests that ranged from his hotel, The Hotel Praia Morena, to his motor-rental company, Volante Livre. Having already established himself on the racing scene during the mid-1960s in different Lotus race cars, Marta raced extensively in the Angolan international sports-car races after acquiring the GT40. He contested for the championship, finishing third overall in 1970, second in 1971 and finally winning outright in 1972. Unlike most original GT40s, this is one of the very few cars that made it through its life still retaining its original body, chassis, engine and transaxle, as documented by GT40 expert Ronnie Spain’s dossier, which also includes photos of the car being assembled new at the factory. Recently, this example underwent a concours-quality, nut- and-bolt restoration back to how it was delivered. Original assembly details were correctly refinished down to the proper fittings and fasteners, and the bodywork was taken down and restored to its correct shade of Cirrus White. The original chassis was stripped and repainted black, just as it left the factory. The original Gurney-Weslake engine and ZF 5-speed transaxle were rebuilt as well. A set of original Firestone racing tires were sourced and fitted to an original set of BRM magnesium wheels. The GT40 will always remain one of the greatest postwar racing cars ever produced with its incredible origin story and its multiple racing triumphs including the four overall victories at Le Mans. There will never be another American racing car that has such an impact on automotive history as the GT40. This example offered here is one of the most desirable specifications and comes with an incredible history, impeccable originality and a concours-quality restoration. This spectacular GT40 would make a crowning addition to any remarkable collection and now invites consideration by any collector of the best modern postwar sports cars.
