Estimate: $3,200,000 - $3,600,000Chassis: GT40 P/1065CAR HIGHLIGHTSTECHNICAL SPECSOne of Only 31 Original Road Coupes ProducedOriginally Used by Ford for Dealer PromotionRecent Inspection and Report by Marque Expert Ronnie SpainEligible for a Wide Variety of Racing and Touring EventsAn Immaculate Example of the Most Iconic 1960s American Sports Racer
289 CID OHV Hi-Po V-8 EngineFour Weber Twin-Choke Carburetors390 BHP at 6,800 RPM5-Speed ZF Manual Transaxle4-Wheel Disc Brakes4-Wheel Independent Suspension with Coil Springs
PROVENANCEFord Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan (used as a dealer promotional car)Al Grillo Ford, Lynn, Massachusetts (acquired from the above in November 1967)Charles Hill, Dallas, Texas (acquired from the above in late 1967)Andy Harmon, Hattiesburg, Mississippi (acquired from the above in 1969)Nick Shrigley-Feigl, United Kingdom (acquired from the above in 1970)William Loughran, Preston, England (acquired from the above in 1984)Richard Allen (acquired from the above)Alan Baker (acquired from the above in 1989)Private Collection, Washington (acquired from the above in 2000)Graham Revell (acquired from the above in 2002)Frank Sytner, United Kingdom (acquired from the above in 2004)DriverSource, Houston, Texas (acquired from the above in 2008)Current Owner (acquired from the above in 2010)
LITERATUREJohn S. Allen, Ford GT40Ronnie Spain, GT40: An Individual History and Race RecordAlberto Martinez and Jose Rosinski, Ultimate Automobiles
THIS CARThe legend of Ford’s world-class, Ferrari-beating GT40 abounds with remarkable accomplishments and famous names. Four straight Le Mans wins, record lap times by Phil Hill, and the managerial guidance of Lee Iacocca and Carroll Shelby all contributed to a spectacular tale. Though the story has been recounted time and again without losing its appeal, it sometimes does not fully illustrate the degree to which the GT40 truly shrugged off existing paradigms to force the motorsports world to reconsider its preconceptions of GT racing and the capabilities of American engineering and design.
This car is one of only 31 GT40 Mk I examples constructed for road use, and one of seven such cars that were consigned to the Car Merchandising Department-Ford Division as part of a Mk I dealer promotion program. 1065 was earmarked for “Road Car Specifications,” and came equipped with a Weber-carbureted 289 Hi-Po engine. Shipped from the factory to Ford’s Dearborn headquarters on December 23, 1966, this GT40 was eventually assigned to Ford’s Philadelphia Sales District for dealer promotion. On November 28, 1967, the car was invoiced to Al Grillo Ford of Lynn, Massachusetts, for $10,000.
Charles Hill of Dallas, Texas, then acquired the GT40 and kept it for approximately two years. In 1969, Mr. Hill sold this GT40 to Andy Harmon of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who set about changing the color scheme. Mr. Harmon sprayed 1065 from the factory blue to a turquoise blue with white pinstripes and non-standard Ford GT side stripes, a livery that matched his collection of other Shelby-related cars, including several Mustangs and one Cobra. In addition, Mr. Harmon added Mk III-style side windows and slightly flared the rear wheel lips.
In 1970, this rare Mk I traveled across the Atlantic when Nick Shrigley-Feigl, a resident of Great Britain, acquired it. Mr. Shrigley-Feigl repainted the car purple with white stripes. Records indicate that, upon completion of a full restoration that occurred from 1982 to 1984, the odometer displayed a mere 2,035 miles. In 1984, after more than 10 years of ownership, Mr. Shrigley-Feigl sold his GT40 to William Loughran of Preston, England. Mr. Loughran painted it red with black trim, and registered the car with the tag number “GT 40” for visual impact. With that eye-catching livery, 1065 was replicated by Jouef/Eagle’s Race as a die-cast miniature that was sold in 1:43 and 1:18 scale editions.
This captivating GT40 Mk I remained in England for many years, acquired next by Richard Allen and then, in 1989, by Alan Baker, who kept it for 11 years. An inspection of the car in 1998 revealed that it still displayed only 2,540 miles. In 2000, 1065 returned to the US when acquired by a private collector from the Northwest. The GT40 was eventually bought by Graham Revell in 2002; this car returned to the UK once again when purchased in 2004 by noted vintage racer and collector Frank Sytner.
In 2009, this GT40 underwent a substantial restoration that included a rebuild of the engine, transmission, brakes and suspension, and a repaint in its original color. This work, commissioned by DriverSource of Houston, Texas, incurred roughly $100,000 in receipts, and continues to display this car’s breathtaking performance and arresting presentation.
This remarkable GT40 was acquired by the consignor in 2010, and has since remained an important and charismatic part of his world-class collection of sports and racing cars. During the consignor’s ownership, renowned GT40 expert Ronnie Spain was asked to inspect the car and provide a report outlining correctness of the car’s specification in relation to new. This comprehensive 23-page document is included in the sale of 1065 and available for review. Additionally, 1065 received attention from noted GT40 specialist Rare Drive of East Kingston, New Hampshire.
Offered in its original color of Azure Blue without racing stripes, featuring Halibrand wheels and still displaying a remarkably low mileage of just over 3,200, this GT40 Mk I is a heart-stopping example of the exhilarating American sports car that captivated the world. It is accompanied by the Spain report and numerous photographs.
Indisputably rare, beautifully finished, and historically rich, 1065 is a striking testament to the early road-going counterpart that such production cars offered to the model’s celebrated racing achievements. It would easily qualify as the crown jewel of most collections and would make a peerless addition to any assemblage of 1960s sports cars.
Location:
Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Plantation6800 First Coast HwyAmelia Island, FL 32034(1 mile south of Amelia Island Parkway)
Viewing:
Thursday, March 109:00am - 6:00pmFriday, March 119:00am - 11:00amAuction:
Friday, March 1111:00amAdmittance:
Admittance - $30, admits one to all eventsCatalogue - $75, admits two to all eventsCash or credit card only.Children under 12 free.
