‘It’s madness but in a good way. It’s amazing what this car can do’
Arron Nichols has lusted after the Ford GT40 for decades. Will Superformance’s exacting continuation stir his soul?
‘The air intakes ahead of the rear wheels have always been the defining GT40 feature for me’
Two GT40 MKIIS feature prominently in the recent Hollywood racing epic Le Mans ’66 – or Ford v Ferrari for our American readers – but neither are Fords, and both were recently constructed by US firm Superformance. A leader in continuation cars, the company creates GT40S whose components are at least 85% interchangeable with those fitted to the Blue Oval originals, and that carry legal rights to the GT40 name. Superformance machines also wear ‘GT40P’ chassis numbers – just like their Sixties predecessors – and can be added to the Shelby World Registry. They’re a faithful evocation and offer a more accessible way to experience the GT40 legend.
One such GT40 is sitting outside the Sussex workshops of Le Mans Coupes, the Superformance UK agent. Arron Nichols is visibly entranced; today we’re putting him in his dream car. He says, ‘I wasn’t sure of the mint green before I arrived – some shades don’t lend themselves to the GT40 shape. Now I’m seeing it in the metal, though, it definitely fits the car and the era of the design. The central stripe and the racing roundels are a key factor in that. There’s no part of the appearance that would make you think it’s modernised; this car could have come straight from the Sixties.’
The next few minutes are lost to first impressions, Arron circling the car time and time again. He doesn’t try to spy the engine or open the doors: the hip-high bodywork monopolises attention by itself, its blistered wheelarches matching the look of the revised MKI machines first raced in 1968. ‘It’s all about the stance and those haunches. Just look at the way the rear body hunches up around the wheelarches to contain those massive ten-inch wide wheels! The air intakes ahead of the rear wheels have always been defining GT40 feature for me; the softening lines that come forward over the doors make the car look like it’s speeding when it’s standing still.
‘One of the other things I’ve noticed are the front canards,’ says Arron. They’re an optional extra for Superformance cars. ‘When I was reading about the history of the GT40, I saw that the early cars struggled with lift at speed, so they added these for highspeed stability. There are pictures of the very first cars with wire wheels too – that’s a bit of a throwback! I much prefer these BRM alloys: the black finish sets off the paintwork brilliantly.’ They’re wrapped in Avon CR66ZZ historic competition tyres, chosen by Le Mans Coupes for their period looks and breadth of ability.
Click two catches, release a retaining pin and the rear clamshell shoulders backwards through a shallow arc. The sight below has has Arron grinning. ‘I’ve always been attracted to engines