If you’re in the vicinity of Kissimmee, Florida, be sure to mark your calendar for mid-January when Mecum’s collector car auction takes place.
What’s the reason for the excitement? An original 1966 Ford GT40 Mk I—one of only 31 road-registered units ever made—will be available for bidding, potentially attracting offers in the millions.
According to the auction listing, this particular car, which has chassis number P/1034, was completed by Ford Advanced Vehicles, the U.K. firm responsible for designing and constructing the initial GT40 models, in late 1965 and was handed over to its first owner the following March. This vehicle is thought to be the first GT40 road car delivered to a private individual.
The first owner, James Fielding, was the chairman of Heenan & Froude, the company that produced the dynamometers utilized by Shelby American for testing GT40s. In 1971, he reportedly sold the car to his neighbor Paul Weldon in a swap for a Rolls-Royce. Weldon then raced the car in various amateur competitions on tracks such as Silverstone and Brands Hatch.
Like most Mk I GT40s, this car is equipped with a 4.7-liter V-8 engine fitted with Weber carburetors, along with a 5-speed manual transmission. While the transmission remains original, the engine was constructed by U.K. engineering experts Mathwall Engineering and has been dyno tested to confirm a 335-horsepower output. Additionally, the vehicle comes with another engine dated from 1966 that has been with it since its completion. The sale also includes a report from esteemed GT40 historian Ronnie Spain.
Every original GT40 is a rarity, with around 105 units produced across the Mk I to Mk IV versions. The enhanced Mk II version clinched Ford’s first Le Mans victory in 1966, driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, while the revised Mk IV replicated this success the following year. The Mk III edition was an extremely limited road version, with only seven manufactured.
This vehicle is listed as Lot S214 for Mecum’s auction in Kissimmee, which is scheduled from January 7-19.
The GT40 will not be the only Le Mans legend featured in Mecum’s auction. Steve McQueen’s Porsche 917, which was utilized in the making of the 1971 cult classic film “Le Mans,” will also be auctioned. Although several 917s appeared in the movie, chassis 022 is the specific car acquired from Porsche by McQueen’s Solar Productions, and it was the one he drove most often on screen.
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