Ford GT40 featuring a body raced at Le Mans in 1966

In “One Piece at a Time,” Johnny Cash sings about assembling a Cadillac–one piece at a time–from parts taken off the assembly line over several years. The end product, however, ends up being a Frankenstein’s monster of a car, comprised of parts from multiple different models.

Well, this Ford GT40 is a bit like that Caddy, except all the parts came from roughly the same source and time period.

Starting with the body of the Essex Wire GT40 (GT40P1001) that competed at Le Mans in 1966–the oldest known surviving GT40 body–New Zealand-based restorer David Brown built a whole new car over nine years using as many authenticated original parts as possible.

These genuine original parts include the 289 V8 from Scuderia Filipinetti’s 1967 Le Mans entry (GT40P1042), suspension from a GT40 first owned by driver Peter Sutcliffe (GT40P1009), original parachute material seats from Holman Moody’s 1966 Le Mans entry (GT40P1032) and even a period-correct fire extinguisher refilled with new propellent.

The GT40 is accompanied by an FIA Historic Technical Passport as well as extensive documentation of the build process that covers the souring and authentication of parts used. The listing also notes the Ford is street-legal and is titled as a 1966 model.

Find this 1966 Ford GT40 for sale from Classic Motorcars for $775,500.

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Comments

Colin Wood Associate Editor
11/14/24 12:06 p.m.

Seeing as a GT40 can easily set you back millions of dollars, this could be a more affordable entry into GT40 ownership.

hochkraeusenracingteam New Reader
11/14/24 12:47 p.m.

Given the level of honesty, research, vetting and documentation of the construction of this car, it would be surprising if it does not significantly appreciate in the future. It would also be nice to see it participate in some vintage racing events. Our machine shop fabricates unobtainium parts and networks with many vintage racers. They care about the continuous history and their logbooks and less about some of the television auction antics which are more subject to fashion and financial bubbles. They also recognize the value of keeping a car on the track. Our shop campaigns a 1924 BSA Trials preservation class car with history in the U.K, Belgium and here in the States. It gets attention, because where are you going to find one? It's important to keep these cars going and participating so that future generations can see them, hear them and smell them on the track.

Dr. Paul Lynn

Hochkraeusen Racing Team

Braceville, Ohio

johnnyj47 New Reader
11/14/24 5:49 p.m.

Is this the ESSEX WIRE GT 40 that Skip Scott/ Peter Revson drove at Sebring, 1966?

John Jamison

J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
11/15/24 9:20 a.m.

johnnyj47 said:
Is this the ESSEX WIRE GT 40 that Skip Scott/ Peter Revson drove at Sebring, 1966?

John Jamison

From my brief research, it appears to be the car that DNF-ed in the event that was driven by Jochen Neerpasch and Jacky Ickx.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
11/15/24 10:04 a.m.

In reply to J.A. Ackley :

And I'll add it's just the body from that car, not the chassis, engine, etc.

Hooligan61 New Reader
11/17/24 8:41 p.m.

Not to be a stickler on the description, but a 289 was a Windsor block. I don't believe ford ever made a Cleveland block that size. And it wasn't until later that some astute machinist made the Clevor( Windsor block, Cleveland heads). At least that's the best of my meager recollection. Still an amazing car, then and now

J.A. Ackley Senior Editor
11/18/24 11:59 a.m.

Hooligan61 said:
Not to be a stickler on the description, but a 289 was a Windsor block. I don't believe ford ever made a Cleveland block that size. And it wasn't until later that some astute machinist made the Clevor( Windsor block, Cleveland heads). At least that's the best of my meager recollection. Still an amazing car, then and now

That's correct. The Cleveland engine didn't debut until the 1970 model year. The listing says a Cleveland, but that doesn't seem to be the case. We'll correct our story, though. Thanks for pointing that out!

Hooligan61 New Reader
11/19/24 7:01 a.m.

I was partially right about the astute machinist creating the Clevor. It was Ford in 68 creating the Boss 302 with its own Windsor style block, but 4 bolt mains that they stuck developemental Cleveland 351 canted valve heads on to create the Boss 302. Installed in 1969 Boss 302 Mustangs. Credit where credit is due.