Ford and Shelby
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Cars 1962-63 Cars 1964-65 Cars 1966-67 Cars in movies
See also : Cars 1962-63 Cars 1964-65 Cars 1966-67 Cars in movies
1962 Shelby CSX 2000
2016 SOLD for $ 13.7M by RM Sotheby's
Carroll Shelby wisely stops competition for health reasons in 1960. He can now focus on a visionary project : to create a car that will be capable of defeating the Europeans. He will succeed where the major American brands had failed.
The basic idea of Shelby was simple : assemble a powerful engine on a small chassis. The difficulty of reaching the suitable stability needed all the experience of a champion. Going small had also ensured the success of Porsche.
Shelby is not yet an entrepreneur. He looks worldwide for the chassis and the engine that will best meet his request.
In England, the small AC Cars company is facing a major issue : the engine used on their AC Ace chassis is no longer manufactured. Shelby's project comes at the right time to start a cooperation. Ford is working at the same time on the development of lightweight engines. Shelby borrows an AC chassis and has a V-8 engine 221 cubic inches assembled by Ford in Dearborn. The feasibility is assured.
Shelby must now work out the technical details. He requires the modifications to the AC chassis that will generate the AC Cobra, and chooses a Ford V-8 260 cubic inches engine (4.2 liters). The prototype is assembled in February 1962 in California by Shelby helped by Dean Moon.
This prototype named CSX 2000 from its chassis number enters the legend. It serves both the technical development and the marketing. Shelby does not have the financial means to assemble other cars : his unique prototype is painted in a different color for each presentation to the specialized press in order to suggest that a production line is already operational. The performance of the CSX 2000 pleases Ford. What will follow is a remarkable American success story.
Carroll Shelby had kept the CSX 2000. It is intact and retains traces of the tools from the settings by Shelby and Moon. A friend of Rob Myers, Shelby had required that the CSX 2000 is auctioned by RM after his death. It was sold for $ 13.7M by RM Sotheby's on August 19, 2016, lot 117. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
An image of CSX 2000 taken in 2010 is shared by Wikimedia with attribution : Jaydec at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
The basic idea of Shelby was simple : assemble a powerful engine on a small chassis. The difficulty of reaching the suitable stability needed all the experience of a champion. Going small had also ensured the success of Porsche.
Shelby is not yet an entrepreneur. He looks worldwide for the chassis and the engine that will best meet his request.
In England, the small AC Cars company is facing a major issue : the engine used on their AC Ace chassis is no longer manufactured. Shelby's project comes at the right time to start a cooperation. Ford is working at the same time on the development of lightweight engines. Shelby borrows an AC chassis and has a V-8 engine 221 cubic inches assembled by Ford in Dearborn. The feasibility is assured.
Shelby must now work out the technical details. He requires the modifications to the AC chassis that will generate the AC Cobra, and chooses a Ford V-8 260 cubic inches engine (4.2 liters). The prototype is assembled in February 1962 in California by Shelby helped by Dean Moon.
This prototype named CSX 2000 from its chassis number enters the legend. It serves both the technical development and the marketing. Shelby does not have the financial means to assemble other cars : his unique prototype is painted in a different color for each presentation to the specialized press in order to suggest that a production line is already operational. The performance of the CSX 2000 pleases Ford. What will follow is a remarkable American success story.
Carroll Shelby had kept the CSX 2000. It is intact and retains traces of the tools from the settings by Shelby and Moon. A friend of Rob Myers, Shelby had required that the CSX 2000 is auctioned by RM after his death. It was sold for $ 13.7M by RM Sotheby's on August 19, 2016, lot 117. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
An image of CSX 2000 taken in 2010 is shared by Wikimedia with attribution : Jaydec at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Ford GT Prototype
1
1964 GT/104 Coupe
2014 SOLD for $ 7.6M by Mecum
At the command of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford II (HF2) is a busy man who does not like his competitors and will not be contradicted. 1964 is a key year for both road and race. The Ford Mustang is developed by Lee Iacocca. Its innovative design will push the Ford brand on a par with General Motors which previously dominated this market.
In 1963 Ferrari had been for sale. Ford Motor Company was interested but Enzo Ferrari himself frustrated the negotiations despite his financial difficulties. Henry Ford II (HF2) is upset. He wants to beat Ferrari in its most prestigious playground, at Le Mans. He defines the target : Ford must win the 24 hours race of Le Mans in 1964 with a model capable of reaching 320 km/h in the Mulsanne Straight.
Ford, which does not have an experience in developing a competition car, finds the necessary alliances including with Lola Cars, Shelby and Kar Kraft, and hires as project manager John Wyer who had ensured the achievements of Aston Martin. The development is entrusted to the new Ford Advanced Vehicles (FAV) division created at Slough near Heathrow Airport for this project.
The development starts with seven prototype coupes, simply identified as Ford GT and numbered GT/101 to GT/107.
In April 1964, a testing at Le Mans is a disaster. The new model, whose aerodynamic characteristics were poorly designed, flow over at top speed. Their two cars crash.
The Ford team can not rest on this failure, although it is now accepted that it is not ready for the first wins. There are only two months left to change the bodywork. GT/103 and GT/104 are sent to Shelby for further testing and modification. The engineers meet this challenge : three Ford GT participate at the 24 Heures in June 1964. The spectacular start of the race shows that this model will ably compete with Ferrari. HF2 did not win, but he has not lost either.
GT/104, the first lightweight steel prototype and the 4th prototype overall, was sold for $ 7.6M by Mecum on April 12, 2014, lot S147.1.
The next prototypes are set by Shelby American after being built by Ford Advanced Vehicles. GT/105 is the first to be originally equipped with the 289 CI engine (4.7 liters) replacing the 255 CI (4.2 liters).
In 1963 Ferrari had been for sale. Ford Motor Company was interested but Enzo Ferrari himself frustrated the negotiations despite his financial difficulties. Henry Ford II (HF2) is upset. He wants to beat Ferrari in its most prestigious playground, at Le Mans. He defines the target : Ford must win the 24 hours race of Le Mans in 1964 with a model capable of reaching 320 km/h in the Mulsanne Straight.
Ford, which does not have an experience in developing a competition car, finds the necessary alliances including with Lola Cars, Shelby and Kar Kraft, and hires as project manager John Wyer who had ensured the achievements of Aston Martin. The development is entrusted to the new Ford Advanced Vehicles (FAV) division created at Slough near Heathrow Airport for this project.
The development starts with seven prototype coupes, simply identified as Ford GT and numbered GT/101 to GT/107.
In April 1964, a testing at Le Mans is a disaster. The new model, whose aerodynamic characteristics were poorly designed, flow over at top speed. Their two cars crash.
The Ford team can not rest on this failure, although it is now accepted that it is not ready for the first wins. There are only two months left to change the bodywork. GT/103 and GT/104 are sent to Shelby for further testing and modification. The engineers meet this challenge : three Ford GT participate at the 24 Heures in June 1964. The spectacular start of the race shows that this model will ably compete with Ferrari. HF2 did not win, but he has not lost either.
GT/104, the first lightweight steel prototype and the 4th prototype overall, was sold for $ 7.6M by Mecum on April 12, 2014, lot S147.1.
The next prototypes are set by Shelby American after being built by Ford Advanced Vehicles. GT/105 is the first to be originally equipped with the 289 CI engine (4.7 liters) replacing the 255 CI (4.2 liters).
2
1965 GT/108 Roadster
2019 SOLD for $ 7.7M by RM Sotheby's
The last five prototypes, GT/108 to GT/112, are open cockpit roadsters, aiming to demonstrate the duality of use of the GT for road and competition. These cars are using a special steel chassis. The production model will be the coupe, probably in a goal of industrial standardization.
The GT/108 and GT/109 are completed simultaneously in March 1965 and sent for testing to Carroll Shelby in California. GT/108 is demonstrated in a promotional tour while GT/109 is entered in Le Mans. Both cars will then be used as development models for the GT40 J-Car variant in another subsidiary of Ford, Kar Kraft.
Restored after 1983 in its original configuration, GT/108 was sold by RM Sotheby's for $ 7M on August 15, 2014 and for $ 7.7M on August 16, 2019, lot 252. Please watch the video shared in 2014 by the auction house including an introduction by Edsel Ford II, the son of Henry Ford II.
Completed by FAV in March 1965, the Ford GT/109 is prepared by Shelby for Le Mans. Driven by Trintignant and Ligier for Ford of France, it does not finish, gearbox broken in the 11th lap. It will remain the only Ford GT open cockpit car to have competed at Le Mans, against rain and cold.
It is afterward used by Kar Kraft as a development model for the J-Car.
This Ford GT Competition Prototype Roadster passed at Mecum on January 12, 2019, lot S138, after a three year restoration. The engine has been rebuilt but the original Le Mans livery has been re-established. Please watch the 2019 video shared by the auction house. It passed again at the same auction house on May 17, 2025, lot S139. Please watch the 2025 video.
GT/110, /111 and /112 are not surviving.
The GT/108 and GT/109 are completed simultaneously in March 1965 and sent for testing to Carroll Shelby in California. GT/108 is demonstrated in a promotional tour while GT/109 is entered in Le Mans. Both cars will then be used as development models for the GT40 J-Car variant in another subsidiary of Ford, Kar Kraft.
Restored after 1983 in its original configuration, GT/108 was sold by RM Sotheby's for $ 7M on August 15, 2014 and for $ 7.7M on August 16, 2019, lot 252. Please watch the video shared in 2014 by the auction house including an introduction by Edsel Ford II, the son of Henry Ford II.
Completed by FAV in March 1965, the Ford GT/109 is prepared by Shelby for Le Mans. Driven by Trintignant and Ligier for Ford of France, it does not finish, gearbox broken in the 11th lap. It will remain the only Ford GT open cockpit car to have competed at Le Mans, against rain and cold.
It is afterward used by Kar Kraft as a development model for the J-Car.
This Ford GT Competition Prototype Roadster passed at Mecum on January 12, 2019, lot S138, after a three year restoration. The engine has been rebuilt but the original Le Mans livery has been re-established. Please watch the 2019 video shared by the auction house. It passed again at the same auction house on May 17, 2025, lot S139. Please watch the 2025 video.
GT/110, /111 and /112 are not surviving.
1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe
2009 SOLD for $ 7.7M by Mecum
Carroll Shelby was developing his cars by fitting British AC Cobra chassis with Ford engines. Ford was offering a particularly favorable context to second Shelby's project : the Mustang, created in 1964, needed to increase its dominance and its market share against Chevrolet and Plymouth.
In 1964 the Daytona Coupe Cobra had an improved coupe body fitted on an existing Cobra chassis to increase the top speed by 25 mph. It was thus able to compete against the Ferrari 250 GTO in the FIA GT class. Only six Daytona Cobra coupes were built.
CSX 2601 was the fourth car. On 1965 it won in class at Monza, Nürburgring, Reims and Enna. It secured at Reims the points for making Shelby American the first ever US brand to win an International Championship for GT Manufacturers.
This car was sold for $ 7.7M by Mecum on August 15, 2009.
In 1964 the Daytona Coupe Cobra had an improved coupe body fitted on an existing Cobra chassis to increase the top speed by 25 mph. It was thus able to compete against the Ferrari 250 GTO in the FIA GT class. Only six Daytona Cobra coupes were built.
CSX 2601 was the fourth car. On 1965 it won in class at Monza, Nürburgring, Reims and Enna. It secured at Reims the points for making Shelby American the first ever US brand to win an International Championship for GT Manufacturers.
This car was sold for $ 7.7M by Mecum on August 15, 2009.
Special Report
Ford GT40 varieties
Ford GT40 Mk I (1964–1969)
The Mk I was the original production GT40, primarily a race variant with a 289 ci (4.7 L) V8, though some were built or converted to road specification (detuned engine, full interior trim, quieter exhaust, etc.). Some late examples supported Gulf/JWA racing with wider bodies (1968–1969 style).
The Mk II featured the 427 ci (7.0 L) V8 for racing, primarily built for the 1966 Le Mans campaign (and early 1967).
Ford GT40 Mk III (1966–1969)
The Mk III was the dedicated road car, with modifications for street use (detuned 289 ci V8 ~305 hp, extended nose for headlights, luggage space, central shifter in some).
Notes:
Ford GT40 Auction Chassis Numbers
Here is a summary of the chassis numbers for the specified GT40 lots, based on auction records and historical documentation:
The Mk I was the original production GT40, primarily a race variant with a 289 ci (4.7 L) V8, though some were built or converted to road specification (detuned engine, full interior trim, quieter exhaust, etc.). Some late examples supported Gulf/JWA racing with wider bodies (1968–1969 style).
- Race (standard and competition, including privateer and later Gulf wide-body): Production primarily 1965–1968 (racing through 1969). Chassis range: GT40P/1000 to GT40P/1086 (approximately 87 chassis total for early production; many raced).
- Road (street specification): Built mostly 1966–1967 (some delivered later). Approximately 30–31 examples (sources vary slightly). Specific examples include P/1057, P/1058, P/1059, P/1065, etc., often from mid-1060s chassis.
- Lightweight (Alan Mann Racing specials): 1966. Only 2 completed (AMGT-1 and AMGT-2; aluminum bodies, weight reductions; raced but not successful).
The Mk II featured the 427 ci (7.0 L) V8 for racing, primarily built for the 1966 Le Mans campaign (and early 1967).
- Race (standard): 1965–1966 production (raced 1966–1967). Approximately 8–10 chassis (e.g., P/1016, P/1031, P/1032, P/1046, P/1047).
- Lightweight (Alan Mann or factory specials): 1966. 3 examples (XGT-1 to XGT-3; rare factory lightweight bodies).
Ford GT40 Mk III (1966–1969)
The Mk III was the dedicated road car, with modifications for street use (detuned 289 ci V8 ~305 hp, extended nose for headlights, luggage space, central shifter in some).
- Road: Production late 1966–1969. Only 7 built. Chassis: GT40 M3/1101 to M3/1107 (or equivalent P/1101–1114 range).
Notes:
- Total original GT40 production (Mk I–III): ~105–120 chassis (excluding prototypes GT-101 to GT-112 and Mk IV J-cars).
- The Mk IV (1967, ~12 J-chassis, honeycomb lightweight design) is sometimes considered a separate model, not a direct Mk I–III sub-variant.
- Chassis numbering: Prototypes GT-101–112; production GT40P/1000+.
- Sources include historical registries, auction records, and period documentation; exact counts vary slightly due to conversions and rebuilds.
Ford GT40 Auction Chassis Numbers
Here is a summary of the chassis numbers for the specified GT40 lots, based on auction records and historical documentation:
- Mecum, August 20, 2016, lot S103: Chassis GT40P/1028 (1966 Mk I road car; first road GT40 delivered to North America).
- Mecum, January 18, 2025, lot S214 (Kissimmee): Chassis GT40P/1034 (1966 Mk I road car; extensively raced but retaining many original components).
- Mecum, January 12, 2024, lot F155 (Kissimmee): Chassis GT40P/1089 (1966 Mk I road car; low-mileage original example, restored by RUF Automobiles; one of ~31 road cars produced).
- Broad Arrow, March 2, 2024, lot 229 (Amelia Island): Chassis GT40P/1069 (1967 Mk I road car).
- RM Sotheby's, August 24, 2018, lot 124 (Monterey): Chassis GT40P/1016 (1966 Mk II; finished 3rd at 1966 Le Mans).
- RM Sotheby's, February 27, 2025, lot 102 (Miami/ModaMiami): Chassis GT40P/1032 (1966 Mk II; competition history including 2nd at 1966 Sebring).
- RM Auctions, August 17, 2012 (Monterey): The primary GT40 sold was the famous Gulf/Mirage lightweight, chassis GT40P/1074 (1968; used as camera car for Le Mans film; record sale at the time). A second GT40 (Mk I road car, chassis GT40P/1059) was also offered but did not sell at this event.
- Mecum, August 17, 2024, lot S90 (Monterey/Daytime): Chassis GT40P/1080 (1969 Mk I lightweight; one of 10 factory competition lightweights).
- Chassis numbers are typically prefixed as GT40P/ followed by the four-digit number (e.g., P/1028).
- All identifications are cross-referenced from official auction listings, expert authentications (e.g., Ronnie Spain), and sale results. Variations in year designation (e.g., 1966 vs. 1967) often reflect completion/delivery dates.
- GT40s frequently appear at auction due to their rarity and value; these are distinct examples unless noted.
1965 Ford GT40 MkI Road Car
2025 SOLD for $ 7M by Mecum
In early 1965, while a new version Mk II is developed for competition, the original variant Mk I is converted for the road.
Ford hopes that the commercial success of this vehicle will be at the level of its performance and the arrival from UK in the USA of a first demonstration car in the road legal version is eagerly awaited. Its promotional tour is extensive with a culmination at Sebring where it makes the parade throughout the weekend of the event. Four pages are devoted to it in Playboy magazine in July 1966.
This specific car appeals the customer with an additional care provided to comfort, including air conditioning, layout of luggage and increased use of leather.
It traveled less than 18,000 km from new, significantly for its promotional activities. When it was to restore it the experts were astonished by its authentic condition. This restoration that just ended had lasted four years and the car was established in the most detailed configuration from its glorious exhibition at Sebring half a century earlier.
This historically important example of one of the most elegant road cars of the twentieth century was sold for $ 4.4M before fees by Mecum on August 20, 2016, lot S103.
A car completed in December 1965 and titled 1966, chassis GT40P/1034, had been in March 1966 the first road going GT 40 delivered to a private owner, who was the CEO of the English company which supplied the dynamometers for the GT40 project. It entered a few historic racing events in the 1980s and 1990s. It was extensively raced but retained many original components
Repainted in its original pine green color, it was sold for $ 7M by Mecum on January 18, 2025, lot S214. Its odometer is reading 4,472 miles. It is accompanied from new by an additional spare engine. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Made in 1966 by Ford in England and delivered to Italy in November, a road going GT40, chassis GT40P/1089, was sold for $ 6.9M by Mecum on January 12, 2024, lot F155. Originally prepared with some competition options in a stunning metallic dark blue, it has never been damaged or raced. It has been restored by RUF Automobiles in as new condition and has less than 22,000 km from new. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Delivered in February 1967 to Michigan and titled 1967, one of the Ford GT40 road examples, GT40P/1069, was displayed in March at the Geneva Motor Show on loan to Scuderia Filipinetti.
Kept in Switzerlznd for the rest of the year, it was nicknamed the Hostage car when vainly required by Ford for participation in their press promotion program. By early 1968 it was returned to JWA in UK. A photo in 1969 depicts the world champion Graham Hill entering it for a demonstration. It was restored in 1972 after a fire by contact between the fuel and hot brakes.
It was sold for $ 4.4M by Broad Arrow on March 2, 2024, lot 229. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Ford assembled 31 road going GT40 Mk I in support to the FIA GT homologation. With their additional trim, Borrani wire wheels and comfortable interiors including carpet, ruched fabric map pockets in the doors and a cigarette lighter, they are considered as the most beautiful variant.
Ford hopes that the commercial success of this vehicle will be at the level of its performance and the arrival from UK in the USA of a first demonstration car in the road legal version is eagerly awaited. Its promotional tour is extensive with a culmination at Sebring where it makes the parade throughout the weekend of the event. Four pages are devoted to it in Playboy magazine in July 1966.
This specific car appeals the customer with an additional care provided to comfort, including air conditioning, layout of luggage and increased use of leather.
It traveled less than 18,000 km from new, significantly for its promotional activities. When it was to restore it the experts were astonished by its authentic condition. This restoration that just ended had lasted four years and the car was established in the most detailed configuration from its glorious exhibition at Sebring half a century earlier.
This historically important example of one of the most elegant road cars of the twentieth century was sold for $ 4.4M before fees by Mecum on August 20, 2016, lot S103.
A car completed in December 1965 and titled 1966, chassis GT40P/1034, had been in March 1966 the first road going GT 40 delivered to a private owner, who was the CEO of the English company which supplied the dynamometers for the GT40 project. It entered a few historic racing events in the 1980s and 1990s. It was extensively raced but retained many original components
Repainted in its original pine green color, it was sold for $ 7M by Mecum on January 18, 2025, lot S214. Its odometer is reading 4,472 miles. It is accompanied from new by an additional spare engine. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Made in 1966 by Ford in England and delivered to Italy in November, a road going GT40, chassis GT40P/1089, was sold for $ 6.9M by Mecum on January 12, 2024, lot F155. Originally prepared with some competition options in a stunning metallic dark blue, it has never been damaged or raced. It has been restored by RUF Automobiles in as new condition and has less than 22,000 km from new. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Delivered in February 1967 to Michigan and titled 1967, one of the Ford GT40 road examples, GT40P/1069, was displayed in March at the Geneva Motor Show on loan to Scuderia Filipinetti.
Kept in Switzerlznd for the rest of the year, it was nicknamed the Hostage car when vainly required by Ford for participation in their press promotion program. By early 1968 it was returned to JWA in UK. A photo in 1969 depicts the world champion Graham Hill entering it for a demonstration. It was restored in 1972 after a fire by contact between the fuel and hot brakes.
It was sold for $ 4.4M by Broad Arrow on March 2, 2024, lot 229. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Ford assembled 31 road going GT40 Mk I in support to the FIA GT homologation. With their additional trim, Borrani wire wheels and comfortable interiors including carpet, ruched fabric map pockets in the doors and a cigarette lighter, they are considered as the most beautiful variant.
1966 Ford GT40 Mk II
1
1016
2018 SOLD for $ 9.8M by RM Sotheby's
The first GT40 series, in 1964, is the Mk I with a 4.7 liter V8 engine. Aerodynamics is poorly designed and the results are bad. Meanwhile the arch-rival Ferrari won at Le Mans in 1965 for the sixth year in a row.
From the beginning of the GT40 project, Ford managed to be seconded by competent racing specialists with a mission to perfect the model, independently from one another. They were Shelby American, Holman-Moody, and Alan Mann Racing.
HF2 is stubborn. In 1966 you have to win at any price. The Mk II series is equipped with a 7-liter Ford V8 engine. Carroll Shelby replaced Wyer and transferred the maintenance to the United States. The technical problems observed on the early Mk I have been dealt with and the performances of the Mk IIs at Daytona and Sebring are promising.
The triumph occurred at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1966 in the presence of the boss. Entrusted to several private teams, the eight built Mk II and five Mk I are qualified after the practice. Of these cars only three finish the race, all of them Mk II, but they occupy brilliantly the first three positions. For the first time an American brand has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
There is no reason to minimize this success, and the GT40 will win again the next three editions, in 1967 with a Mk IV and with a return of the Mk I in 1968 and 1969 following a rule change limiting the power. However it should also be reminded the very poor result of Ferrari in 1966, the first car of this brand being outpaced not only by the three Ford but also by four Porsche 906.
On August 24, 2018, RM Sotheby's sold at lot 124 for $ 9.8M an MkII from the 1966 winning trio. This example assembled and teamed by the US racecar constructor Holman-Moody ranked 3rd at Le Mans in 1966 behind two MkII from the Shelby team.
After that race it was used as a promotional car and then as a development car for the Mk IIB series. Timed at 326 Km/h at Mulsanne in 1967, it meets HF2's target that his GT40 exceed 320 Km/h.
Its image at 1966 Le Mans 24 is shared by Wikimedia with attribution : ZANTAFIO56, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
RM Sotheby's, August 24, 2018, lot 124 (Monterey): Chassis GT40P/1016 (1966 Mk II; finished 3rd at 1966 Le Mans).
Ford's sporting goal is now achieved. FAV is dissolved and the Slough factory is sold to John Wyer as a subcontractor for Ford's commercial production.
From the beginning of the GT40 project, Ford managed to be seconded by competent racing specialists with a mission to perfect the model, independently from one another. They were Shelby American, Holman-Moody, and Alan Mann Racing.
HF2 is stubborn. In 1966 you have to win at any price. The Mk II series is equipped with a 7-liter Ford V8 engine. Carroll Shelby replaced Wyer and transferred the maintenance to the United States. The technical problems observed on the early Mk I have been dealt with and the performances of the Mk IIs at Daytona and Sebring are promising.
The triumph occurred at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1966 in the presence of the boss. Entrusted to several private teams, the eight built Mk II and five Mk I are qualified after the practice. Of these cars only three finish the race, all of them Mk II, but they occupy brilliantly the first three positions. For the first time an American brand has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
There is no reason to minimize this success, and the GT40 will win again the next three editions, in 1967 with a Mk IV and with a return of the Mk I in 1968 and 1969 following a rule change limiting the power. However it should also be reminded the very poor result of Ferrari in 1966, the first car of this brand being outpaced not only by the three Ford but also by four Porsche 906.
On August 24, 2018, RM Sotheby's sold at lot 124 for $ 9.8M an MkII from the 1966 winning trio. This example assembled and teamed by the US racecar constructor Holman-Moody ranked 3rd at Le Mans in 1966 behind two MkII from the Shelby team.
After that race it was used as a promotional car and then as a development car for the Mk IIB series. Timed at 326 Km/h at Mulsanne in 1967, it meets HF2's target that his GT40 exceed 320 Km/h.
Its image at 1966 Le Mans 24 is shared by Wikimedia with attribution : ZANTAFIO56, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
RM Sotheby's, August 24, 2018, lot 124 (Monterey): Chassis GT40P/1016 (1966 Mk II; finished 3rd at 1966 Le Mans).
Ford's sporting goal is now achieved. FAV is dissolved and the Slough factory is sold to John Wyer as a subcontractor for Ford's commercial production.
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2
1032
2025 SOLD for $ 13.2M by RM Sotheby's
Three GT 40 MkII have been allocated by Ford to Holman-Moody for the 1966 season. One of them, narrated above, was sold for $ 9.8M by RM Sotheby's in 2018.
An MkII finished by Shelby and raced by Holman-Moody was 2nd overall at the 12 hours of Sebring and did not finish Le Mans after losing its tail section.
Still in a highly original condition, it was displayed after the 1966 season in European motor shows and was donated in 1968 to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Restored in 2011 in its Le Mans configuration, it was sold for $ 13.2M from a lower estimate of $ 8M by RM Sotheby's on February 27, 2025, lot 102 in the sale of 11 cars from that museum.
RM Sotheby's, February 27, 2025, lot 102 (Miami/ModaMiami): Chassis GT40P/1032 (1966 Mk II; competition history including 2nd at 1966 Sebring).Pre sale response by Grok :
Quote
RM Sotheby's @rmsothebys Dec 30, 2024 0:25
The 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II, chassis P/1032, roars with the unmistakable sound of Ford’s Le Mans dominance, a symphony of raw power and engineering excellence. https://bit.ly/3DDRwLi
An MkII finished by Shelby and raced by Holman-Moody was 2nd overall at the 12 hours of Sebring and did not finish Le Mans after losing its tail section.
Still in a highly original condition, it was displayed after the 1966 season in European motor shows and was donated in 1968 to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Restored in 2011 in its Le Mans configuration, it was sold for $ 13.2M from a lower estimate of $ 8M by RM Sotheby's on February 27, 2025, lot 102 in the sale of 11 cars from that museum.
RM Sotheby's, February 27, 2025, lot 102 (Miami/ModaMiami): Chassis GT40P/1032 (1966 Mk II; competition history including 2nd at 1966 Sebring).Pre sale response by Grok :
Quote
RM Sotheby's @rmsothebys Dec 30, 2024 0:25
The 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II, chassis P/1032, roars with the unmistakable sound of Ford’s Le Mans dominance, a symphony of raw power and engineering excellence. https://bit.ly/3DDRwLi
- The X post by RM Sotheby's features a 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II, chassis P/1032, a rare and historically significant race car that competed in the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it faced mechanical issues but contributed to Ford's dominance in endurance racing.
- This particular GT40 Mk II, one of only eight ever built, is being auctioned with an estimate of $8,000,000–$11,000,000, reflecting its value due to its racing history and the iconic status of the GT40 series, which famously achieved a 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans in 1966.
- The video showcases the car's powerful engine sound and dynamic visuals, emphasizing its engineering excellence and the legacy of Ford's rivalry with Ferrari, as dramatized in the film "Ford v Ferrari," which highlights the development of the GT40 to challenge Ferrari's dominance at Le Mans.
MkII Factory Lightweight, XGT-3
2026 SOLD for $ 12.4M by Mecum
A 1966 Ford GT40 Factory Lightweight was sold for $ 12.4M by Mecum on January 16, 2026, lot F188. The car's near-unrestored state, with 95% original components including paint and engine, justifies the price.
pre sale asking :
Ford GT40 : Compare XGT3 (MkII factory lightweight, for sale by Mecum on January 16, 2026, Lot F188), with AMGT-1 (Alan Mann MkI lightweight, passed at Gooding on August 13, 2021, lot 39). Which one should be the more valuable ?
Comparison: Ford GT40 XGT-3 (Mk II Factory Lightweight) vs. AMGT-1 (Alan Mann Mk I Lightweight)
Chassis/Model
Factory : XGT-3; 1966 Mk II factory lightweight (one of 3 lightweight Mk IIs out of ~11 total Mk IIs built)
Mann : AMGT-1; 1966 Mk I lightweight (one of only 2 aluminum-bodied Mk I lightweights built)
Engine
Factory : 427 ci (7.0L) V8
Mann : 289 ci (4.7L) V8
Racing History
Factory : Built as spare for 1966 Le Mans; never raced in period. Used for U.S. victory tours and advertisements post-Ford's 1-2-3 win.
Mann : Competed in 1966 Sebring 12 Hours (retired with clutch issue) and Le Mans test weekend (4th fastest time).
Provenance/Condition
Factory : Considered by GT40 historian Ronnie Spain as "the most original Mk II in existence" – retains original body, thin-gauge steel chassis, aluminum roof, suspension, and engine/transmission. Minimal owners (including Ford).
Mann : Meticulously restored over 15 years; Pebble Beach Concours participant (2nd in class, 2019). Only surviving intact aluminum-bodied Mk I lightweight.
Rarity/Significance
Factory : Ultra-rare lightweight spec tied to 1966 Le Mans-winning program (Mk II era). Bridge between Alan Mann's small-block experiments and big-block winners.
Mann : Prototype development car for Alan Mann's advanced lightweight program; represents "what could have been" for small-block evolution (later influenced Mirage/Gulf winners).
Auction Details
Factory : Upcoming sale; no estimate published, but expected in high seven figures (multi-million).
Mann : Offered with $7M–$9M estimate; passed unsold (did not meet reserve).
Which is More Valuable?
The XGT-3 (Mk II lightweight) should command a higher value in the current market.
ArtHitParade notes about AMGT-1 :
From the beginning of the GT40 project, Ford managed to be seconded by competent racing specialists with a mission to perfect the model, independently from one another. They were Shelby American, Holman-Moody, and Alan Mann Racing.
Based in Surrey, Mann had previously improved the Ford Cortina. He started by evaluating two GT40 Mk I. Actively supported by Ford in 1965, he endeavors to reduce the weight and orders five chassis to Abbey Panels in his own specifications including about one hundred modifications from the FAV design.
For the body Abbey Panels replaced the standard fiberglass by lightweight aluminum. Two GT 40 Alan Mann cars were completed in parallel in March 1966, using the 289 cubic inch (4.7 liters) V 8 Ford engine. Both immediately debuted at the 12 hours of Sebring where AM GT-2 was driven at Sebring by no less than Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill.
Despite a promising early achievement, Ford abruptly terminated the Alan Mann design before the 24 hours of Le Mans superbly dominated by the new 7 liter GT 40 Mk II. AM GT-1 was then sold to Holman-Moody who used it for the Mk IIB development. It was acquired soon afterward by Firestone for high speed testing.
Presented again in its original configuration including Alan Mann livery with gold stripes, AM GT-1 passed from a lower estimate of $ 7M at Gooding on August 13, 2021, lot 39. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
pre sale asking :
Ford GT40 : Compare XGT3 (MkII factory lightweight, for sale by Mecum on January 16, 2026, Lot F188), with AMGT-1 (Alan Mann MkI lightweight, passed at Gooding on August 13, 2021, lot 39). Which one should be the more valuable ?
Comparison: Ford GT40 XGT-3 (Mk II Factory Lightweight) vs. AMGT-1 (Alan Mann Mk I Lightweight)
Chassis/Model
Factory : XGT-3; 1966 Mk II factory lightweight (one of 3 lightweight Mk IIs out of ~11 total Mk IIs built)
Mann : AMGT-1; 1966 Mk I lightweight (one of only 2 aluminum-bodied Mk I lightweights built)
Engine
Factory : 427 ci (7.0L) V8
Mann : 289 ci (4.7L) V8
Racing History
Factory : Built as spare for 1966 Le Mans; never raced in period. Used for U.S. victory tours and advertisements post-Ford's 1-2-3 win.
Mann : Competed in 1966 Sebring 12 Hours (retired with clutch issue) and Le Mans test weekend (4th fastest time).
Provenance/Condition
Factory : Considered by GT40 historian Ronnie Spain as "the most original Mk II in existence" – retains original body, thin-gauge steel chassis, aluminum roof, suspension, and engine/transmission. Minimal owners (including Ford).
Mann : Meticulously restored over 15 years; Pebble Beach Concours participant (2nd in class, 2019). Only surviving intact aluminum-bodied Mk I lightweight.
Rarity/Significance
Factory : Ultra-rare lightweight spec tied to 1966 Le Mans-winning program (Mk II era). Bridge between Alan Mann's small-block experiments and big-block winners.
Mann : Prototype development car for Alan Mann's advanced lightweight program; represents "what could have been" for small-block evolution (later influenced Mirage/Gulf winners).
Auction Details
Factory : Upcoming sale; no estimate published, but expected in high seven figures (multi-million).
Mann : Offered with $7M–$9M estimate; passed unsold (did not meet reserve).
Which is More Valuable?
The XGT-3 (Mk II lightweight) should command a higher value in the current market.
- Market Evidence: Mk II GT40s consistently outperform Mk I variants at auction due to their direct association with Ford's landmark 1966 Le Mans 1-2-3 victory (the year Ford decisively beat Ferrari). Recent comparables include a race-proven 1966 Mk II selling for $13.2M (RM Sotheby's, 2025) and another for ~$9.8M (2018). Even non-race Mk I lightweights have topped out around $7–8M (e.g., 1969 P/1080 at $7.85M in 2024).
- Preservation Premium: XGT-3's unmatched originality (praised as the "most original Mk II surviving") is a massive draw for collectors, often adding millions over restored examples.
- Rarity Balance: Both are extraordinarily rare (3 lightweight Mk IIs vs. 2 aluminum Mk Is), but the Mk II's big-block power and victory-era tie give it broader appeal.
- AMGT-1 Context: Its 2021 no-sale at a $7–9M estimate reflects caution around restored cars and the Mk I's lesser "win" pedigree compared to Mk II/Mk IV. If re-offered today, it might approach $8–10M, but still likely below a pristine Mk II.
ArtHitParade notes about AMGT-1 :
From the beginning of the GT40 project, Ford managed to be seconded by competent racing specialists with a mission to perfect the model, independently from one another. They were Shelby American, Holman-Moody, and Alan Mann Racing.
Based in Surrey, Mann had previously improved the Ford Cortina. He started by evaluating two GT40 Mk I. Actively supported by Ford in 1965, he endeavors to reduce the weight and orders five chassis to Abbey Panels in his own specifications including about one hundred modifications from the FAV design.
For the body Abbey Panels replaced the standard fiberglass by lightweight aluminum. Two GT 40 Alan Mann cars were completed in parallel in March 1966, using the 289 cubic inch (4.7 liters) V 8 Ford engine. Both immediately debuted at the 12 hours of Sebring where AM GT-2 was driven at Sebring by no less than Jackie Stewart and Graham Hill.
Despite a promising early achievement, Ford abruptly terminated the Alan Mann design before the 24 hours of Le Mans superbly dominated by the new 7 liter GT 40 Mk II. AM GT-1 was then sold to Holman-Moody who used it for the Mk IIB development. It was acquired soon afterward by Firestone for high speed testing.
Presented again in its original configuration including Alan Mann livery with gold stripes, AM GT-1 passed from a lower estimate of $ 7M at Gooding on August 13, 2021, lot 39. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Ford GT40 MkI Lightweight
1
1967-1968 Ford GT40 by JWA, 1074, originally a Mirage Prototype
2012 SOLD for $ 11M by RM Auctions
Ford's sporting goal is achieved with the full podium at Le Mans in 1966. FAV is dissolved and the Slough factory is sold to John Wyer, the former head of FAV as a subcontractor for Ford's commercial production with the company name John Wyer Automotive (JWA).
For 1968, the FIA limited the capacity of the engines, obsoleting the Ford GT40 7 liter MkII and IV but not the MkI.
A series of 10 MkI was then built in a lightweight competition configuration with a Ford V-8 engine enlarged from 4.7 to 4.9 liters and special alloy Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads. Three of them were allocated for JWA/Gulf and the rest of it for other private teams. A Gulf won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.
There were only 133 GT40 overall, cumulating all variants. The GT40 P/1074, sold for $ 11M by RM Auctions on August 17, 2012, is related to the JWA phase of the model. Please watch the video shared by RM Auctions.
It successfully started its career by winning at Spa in May 1967 in a Mirage M configuration. Due to one of these changes in race regulations, it was rebuilt in the following year by Wyer under a configuration identified as 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf / Mirage Lightweight Racing Car.
It is one of two survivors from three lightweight GT40 by Wyer, and one of the earliest racing cars to use carbon fiber.
It then went to the movies industry, but not in the star role which its supreme elegance would have earned. In 1970, its roof was cut to allow the use of a 35 mm camera by an operator on the passenger seat, and it was launched in the pursuit of the Porsche 917 of Steve McQueen as a camera car for the preparation of the film Le Mans.
The Ford GT40 in question is chassis P/1074 (also originally Mirage M.10003), a Gulf/Mirage lightweight racing car. It was constructed in 1967 as a Mirage prototype but converted and titled/registered as a 1968 Ford GT40 Group 4 spec car (completed February 23, 1968). This is the one sold by RM Auctions (now RM Sotheby's) for $11,000,000 (including buyer's premium; $10 million hammer price) on August 17, 2012, at their Monterey sale during Monterey Car Week/Pebble Beach weekend. It set a world record at the time for the highest price paid for an American car at auction.
Here is the full known historical timeline of this car (P/1074), based on its documented racing, ownership, and appearance history:
This timeline draws from RM Sotheby's original auction catalog description, period reports, and GT40 historical records. The car's story blends motorsport achievement with Hollywood cinema.
For 1968, the FIA limited the capacity of the engines, obsoleting the Ford GT40 7 liter MkII and IV but not the MkI.
A series of 10 MkI was then built in a lightweight competition configuration with a Ford V-8 engine enlarged from 4.7 to 4.9 liters and special alloy Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads. Three of them were allocated for JWA/Gulf and the rest of it for other private teams. A Gulf won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.
There were only 133 GT40 overall, cumulating all variants. The GT40 P/1074, sold for $ 11M by RM Auctions on August 17, 2012, is related to the JWA phase of the model. Please watch the video shared by RM Auctions.
It successfully started its career by winning at Spa in May 1967 in a Mirage M configuration. Due to one of these changes in race regulations, it was rebuilt in the following year by Wyer under a configuration identified as 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf / Mirage Lightweight Racing Car.
It is one of two survivors from three lightweight GT40 by Wyer, and one of the earliest racing cars to use carbon fiber.
It then went to the movies industry, but not in the star role which its supreme elegance would have earned. In 1970, its roof was cut to allow the use of a 35 mm camera by an operator on the passenger seat, and it was launched in the pursuit of the Porsche 917 of Steve McQueen as a camera car for the preparation of the film Le Mans.
The Ford GT40 in question is chassis P/1074 (also originally Mirage M.10003), a Gulf/Mirage lightweight racing car. It was constructed in 1967 as a Mirage prototype but converted and titled/registered as a 1968 Ford GT40 Group 4 spec car (completed February 23, 1968). This is the one sold by RM Auctions (now RM Sotheby's) for $11,000,000 (including buyer's premium; $10 million hammer price) on August 17, 2012, at their Monterey sale during Monterey Car Week/Pebble Beach weekend. It set a world record at the time for the highest price paid for an American car at auction.
Here is the full known historical timeline of this car (P/1074), based on its documented racing, ownership, and appearance history:
- 1967 (built as Mirage M.10003): Constructed as a Mirage prototype racer by John Wyer Automotive (J.W.A.) in the UK. Debuted in Gulf's iconic powder blue and marigold livery.
- May 1967: First race at Spa-Francorchamps (1000 km). Driven by Jacky Ickx and Dick Thompson to 1st overall—marking the first win in Gulf colors for any car.
- 1967–early 1968: Raced in other events as Mirage M.10003.
- 1968 (converted to GT40 P/1074): Following FIA regulation changes (limiting prototypes to 3.0L engines), converted to Group 4 GT40 spec at J.W.A. Retained original Mirage lightweight bodywork (easily reversible). Chassis number became P/1074.
- 1968 racing season: Competed extensively for the J.W.A./Gulf team in powder blue/marigold livery. Key events included Daytona, Le Mans trials, Le Mans 24 Hours, and other rounds—often driven by Jacky Ickx (among others).
- Post-1968: Retired from active factory racing after the season.
- 1970: Sold to Solar Productions (Steve McQueen's company). Modified (body cut down for camera mounts) and used extensively as a high-speed camera car during filming of the 1971 movie Le Mans (starring McQueen). It captured much of the on-track footage.
- 1971–1980s: Post-film ownership transitioned through private collectors. Maintained as a historically significant piece tied to both Gulf racing and the McQueen film.
- September 1989: Appeared at the GT40 25th Anniversary Reunion at Watkins Glen.
- July 1994: Appeared at the GT40 30th Anniversary Reunion.
- 1990s–2012: Remained in private collections, preserved with its racing and film history intact. Well-documented in GT40 registries and literature.
- August 17, 2012: Sold by RM Auctions at Monterey, California, for $11,000,000. This was lot 139 in the sale, a highlight of the event. The buyer was not publicly named at the time, but it achieved a standing ovation and set the American car auction record (surpassed in later years by other sales).
This timeline draws from RM Sotheby's original auction catalog description, period reports, and GT40 historical records. The car's story blends motorsport achievement with Hollywood cinema.
