1967 Ford GT40 MkIII

POA from Hamann Classic Cars, Munich, Germany

FOLLOWING ITS EPIC victory with the GT40 at Le Mans in 1966, Ford decided that it would be a good idea to build a very small number of roadgoing 4.7-litre road versions. Known as the MkIII, it would be the ultimate domesticated GT40, with a detuned 306bhp road-spec engine, as well as revised bodywork – with different headlights and a longer tail, adding a small but useful luggage compartment.

Hamann Classic Cars is offering XP 130-1, the first prototype version of the MkIII produced by Ford. This car was built on a MkII chassis, and made its first appearance at the 1967 New York Motor Show. It was tested in period by Car and Driver magazine, too.

Marketed at a price of $18,500 (which, as Hamann points, out was $4100 more than a Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder!), this was the first of seven built for an extremely select group of ‘super rich’ buyers. Sold to its first owner in New York following the show, it later went to live in the Saratoga Auto Museum in upstate New York for decades.

Imported into the UK in 2005, the GT40 was converted into a MkII-specification race car, losing the original unique bodywork. After its short Historic competition career, it found its way to a prominent collection. Then the owner consulted GT40 specialist and historian Ronnie Spain to reunite the original body with the car, ahead of a two-year nut-and-bolt restoration, which took place in the UK.

It has since been exhibited at some of the world’s best events, and taken various prizes including third in the GT40 class at Pebble Beach in 2016. It’s currently located in Europe so, when restrictions lift, why not pack some (small) bags, and take this GT40 on the road trip it was designed for?