Ford history · 1964–1969
Ford GT40 history: Mk I to Mk IV and four straight Le Mans wins
By CarWhere Research · Updated
The Ford GT40 is the endurance racer Ford built after talks to buy Ferrari ended in May 1963. It won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four years running (1966–1969), starting with a 1-2-3 finish in 1966. Hagerty estimates about 105 were built across the Mk I to Mk IV, and one sold for $11 million in 2012.
Ford GT40 history
On May 22, 1963, Ford and Ferrari announced that their talks had been suspended. Within weeks Ford set up a unit to build a GT car able to win at Sebring and Le Mans. Ford engineer Roy Lunn worked with Lola designer Eric Broadley, first in Broadley's garage in Bromley and then at Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough, and lowered the car to 40 inches tall. The first car was finished in April 1964.
The 1964 season showed speed but not stamina: all three Le Mans entries retired about 12 hours in with gearbox failures. Ford moved the program to the US, giving Carroll Shelby operational control, and developed the 427-cubic-inch Mk II. At Le Mans on June 18, 1966, Ford entered eight factory cars and finished 1-2-3, with Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon declared winners over Ken Miles and Denny Hulme after the organizers ruled out a tie.
In 1967 Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt won in the Mark IV, which The Henry Ford calls the first all-American car and team to win the race; that car is now in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. With factory entries gone, John Wyer's Gulf-sponsored team won in 1968 and 1969 with the same car, chassis 1075.[1],[2],[3],[5]
Years and production numbers
| Version | Years | Production (units) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prototypes and Mk I | 1964–1968 | — | First car completed April 1964; 289 V8; basis of the 1968–1969 Gulf cars |
| Mk II | 1966–1967 | — | 427 V8; RM Sotheby's describes P/1016 as the fourth of eight Mk IIs, while Hagerty gives 11 |
| Mk III (road car) | 1967–1969 | 7 | All road-going |
| Mk IV (J-car) | 1967 | 12 | Aluminum honeycomb chassis; 1967 Le Mans winner |
| All GT40 variants | 1964–1969 | about 105 (Hagerty estimate) | Other counts include additional cars and roadsters |
Generations and key variants
| Year | Car | Drivers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | GT40 Mk II | Bruce McLaren / Chris Amon | Ford 1-2-3; eight factory cars entered |
| 1967 | Mark IV | Dan Gurney / A.J. Foyt | Won by four laps over a Ferrari 330 P4 at an average of 135.48 mph |
| 1968 | GT40, chassis 1075 (J.W. Automotive/Gulf) | Pedro Rodriguez / Lucien Bianchi | Race held in late September |
| 1969 | GT40, chassis 1075 (J.W. Automotive/Gulf) | Jacky Ickx / Jackie Oliver | Narrow win over a Porsche 908; 1075 is the only car to win Le Mans twice |
Engine and drivetrain facts
- The Mk II used a 427-cubic-inch big-block V8; Ford's Engine and Foundry team developed a version for 1966 that made 485 hp at 6,400 rpm and could run for 48 hours.
- The Mk II's body was wider and taller than the Mk I's to fit larger wheels, and the 1966 cars used four-speed manual transmissions.
- The Mark IV's hull used aircraft-style aluminum honeycomb construction, and its V8 was based on Ford's stock-car racing engine with two four-barrel carburetors.
- Chassis 1074 in Gulf form used a 289-cubic-inch V8 rated at 440 bhp and, over its career, ran 289, 302, 305 and 351 Ford V8s.
What changed, generation by generation
- 1963Ferrari talks suspended May 22; Ford forms its GT program and works with Eric Broadley in England.
- 1964First car completed in April; all three Le Mans entries retire.
- 1965Program moves to the US with Shelby American in operational control; 427-powered Mk II developed.
- 1966Mk II sweeps Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans (1-2-3); Ford wins the manufacturers' championship.
- 1967Mark IV (J-car) wins Le Mans with Gurney and Foyt; road-going Mk III built.
- 1968–1969Gulf-sponsored J.W. Automotive GT40s carry on after the factory withdrawal; chassis 1075 wins Le Mans twice.
What to check before you buy one
- A GT40 is identified by its chassis number, not a VIN; confirm the number against period race entries, team records and documented ownership history.
- Ford Motor Company's historical archives are held at The Henry Ford's Benson Ford Research Center, which can help corroborate period documents.
- Many replicas and continuation cars exist; establish whether the car is an original period chassis or a later build.
- Confirm the engine fitted today against the car's history, since race cars often changed engines (chassis 1074, for example, ran four different V8 displacements).
Ford GT40 prices and values
RM Sotheby's Monterey, August 17, 2012 (Lot 139): the 1968 Gulf/Mirage lightweight GT40, chassis P/1074, sold for $11,000,000, at the time a record for an American car at auction.[8],[9],[10]
RM Sotheby's Monterey, August 25, 2018 (Lot 124): the 1966 GT40 Mk II P/1016, third at Le Mans in 1966, sold for $9,795,000.[8],[9],[10]
How to verify a Ford GT40's factory options
GT40s predate the 17-character VIN, which became standard for model year 1981 (49 CFR 565). They are identified by chassis numbers such as P/1016 or P/1075, and a car's history is traced through chassis records and documented race history rather than a VIN lookup.[13]
For cars built before the 17-character VIN, identification rests on the car's own serial or chassis number and its documented history. The Henry Ford's Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, Michigan, holds extensive Ford Motor Company historical collections and offers research by appointment as well as remote research services.[12]
Researching a later Ford? Start at the Ford research hub or the Ford history timeline.
Frequently asked questions
How many Ford GT40s were made?
Hagerty estimates about 105 GT40s across the Mk I to Mk IV, including 7 Mk III road cars and 12 Mk IV cars. Counts vary by source.
How many times did the GT40 win Le Mans?
Four times in a row, from 1966 to 1969. Ford finished 1-2-3 in 1966, the Mark IV won in 1967, and the Gulf-sponsored chassis 1075 won in 1968 and 1969.
Who won Le Mans in 1966 for Ford?
Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon were declared winners in a GT40 Mk II after the organizers ruled out a tie with Ken Miles and Denny Hulme, who crossed the line alongside them.
Why is it called the GT40?
Ford's history notes that engineer Roy Lunn lowered the car to 40 inches tall, and that early cars carried serials beginning "Ford GT" while later ones used "Ford GT40."
How much is a GT40 worth?
Original GT40s with racing history sell for millions: the Gulf/Mirage P/1074 brought $11 million in 2012 and the 1966 Le Mans Mk II P/1016 $9.795 million in 2018, both at RM Sotheby's Monterey.
Where is the 1967 Le Mans-winning Ford?
The Mark IV that Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt drove to victory in 1967 is at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan.
Related Ford histories
More Ford research
Sources
Production figures and dates come from Ford Motor Company, the Ford Media Center, Ford Performance and The Henry Ford wherever available; auction figures are public results from the auction house. Market medians are CarWhere's own analysis of live US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers.
- Ford vs. Ferrari 1964: Ford GT40 origins — Ford Motor Company
- Le Mans Victory 1966 — Ford Motor Company
- 1967 Ford Mark IV Sports Car Racing: An American Way of Doing Things — The Henry Ford
- Curating & Preserving The 1967 Ford Mark IV — The Henry Ford
- GT40 1075: A Two-Time Le Mans Champion — The Henry Ford
- 50 Years of GT40 Racing Wins — The Henry Ford
- Winners & Records — 1969 — 24 Heures du Mans (ACO)
- 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage Lightweight Racing Car (Monterey 2012, Lot 139) — RM Sotheby's
- GT40 Gulf/Mirage Lightweight Racing Car Brings Record $11 Million at RM's Friday Monterey Sale — RM Sotheby's
- 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II (Monterey 2018, Lot 124) — RM Sotheby's
- Putting a value on the Ford GT40 — Hagerty Media
- Research Services — Benson Ford Research Center — The Henry Ford
- 49 CFR Part 565 — Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) requirements — eCFR (U.S. Government)
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