Race Ready & Magnificent – 1968 Ford GT40 For Sale
Images via Duncan Hamilton
This magnificent 1968 Ford GT40 enjoyed a career in sportscar racing in the late ’60s and is continuing its competitive pace today in historics. It’s up for sale at Duncan Hamilton.
The GT40, chassis P/1079, was delivered new by Ford Advanced Vehicles to Jean Blaton in April of 1968, fitted out in factory lightweight racing spec. Blaton finished the car in Belgian racing yellow and debuted it in the Monza 1000 Kilometres.
It was entered by Ecurie Francorchamps and driven by Willy Mairesse and “Jean Beurlys” (Jean Blaton’s racing pseudonym). It qualified in 6th and in the race was classified 7th overall and 2nd in class despite dropping out 89 laps in with a wheel problem.
The car would then head to the Spa 1000 Kilometres, where it was again entered under Ecurie Francorchamps and driven by Mairesse and ‘Beurlys’. The team qualified well again, putting the car onto the second row in third. In a repeat of the Monza 1000 Kilometers, this race would end early as well, although this time thanks to a spin.
The team would then head to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They qualified in 10th, but would leave the race ahead of schedule when Mairesse lost the car down the Mulsanne and collected the barrier.
P/1079 was then sold to Franco Sbarro, who left it as it was, selling it on to Yvan Caillet shortly after. Caillet completed its repair using its original tub before selling it in 1985 to Claude Desmas, who restored it over the next few years to race-ready condition. When completed it was bought by investment fund Société Galaxie, moving between owners until 1999 when Jean Pierre Lecou bought the fund and took ownership of the car.
Lecou put the car back on the track in 2003, performing further race preparation and restoration work on it over the next year. It was issued FIA papers in 2004 and would compete in the Tour Auto. Its current owner bought it not long after, racing it in the Modena Cento Ore as well as Tour Auto, Spa Six Hours, Goodwood Revival and the Le Mans Classic.
Its received yet more restoration work this year to bring into and race-ready and immaculate condition. Nick Padmore jumped behind the wheel at the Goodwood Revival, putting it on pole position and driving it to second in the Whitsun Trophy behind the GT40 of Chris Ward.
The chassis has had its authenticity confirmed by Ronnie Spain and will be sold with extensive documentation, including a 380 page report by Spain. An extensive spares package is available, including options to run the car in either 1968 or the earlier 1965 specification.
Race-ready, stunning, and spectacularly quick, this rare example of Ford’s legendary GT40 is in race-ready condition and would make for a legendary entry into historics. It’s up for sale at Duncan Hamilton. Hit this link for the full details at their website.
Images via Duncan Hamilton
