For Sale: 1968 Ford GT40 Mk. 1

Images and history via Maxted-Page

This magic 1968 Ford GT40 Mk. 1 was the last GT40 Mk. 1 to receive a number in the works production series run. Unlike most cars we look at, it’s interesting because of how little racing it’s done in the past 52 years. It’s up for sale at Maxted-Page.

The car, chassis P/1085, was supplied as a chassis to Sir Malcolm Guthrie in England on behalf of Gilbert Jackson of New York. Guthrie shipped it to the States in 1970, along with a collection of parts to build it up into a race car, and a second car – the ex-Alan Mann Mk. 2.

However, it would be some time before the chassis was built up – 35 years in fact. Jackson mounted the chassis to a trolley frame and put it into storage, along with a collection of original parts including a correct Gulf Mk. 1 Gurney-Weslake engine, sequential five-speed ZF box, original exhaust system, drive shafts and suspension and a full set of unpainted body panels and a set of wheels. That’s how it stayed for the next three and a half decades until it was bought by Jonathan Turner in 2006.

Turner shipped the whole collection back to the UK and commissioned Ian Jones of Racing Fabrications to build the car, restoring where necessary and preparing it for historic racing. As the chassis was essentially in time-warp condition, completely original and with period-correct bits intact, the project was complete in just twelve months. During the process, the Gurney-Weslake engine was completely rebuilt by Tim Adams.

The car competed in the Tour Auto in 2009, also racing in the Masters series at Donnington. In 2011 it went to its current owner, who placed it into storage while entrusting it to Maxted-Page for maintenance.

The car will be sold with both UK registration and its FIA Historic Technical Passport. Its history has been fully documented and documentation will be included in the sale.

With such minimal track work under its belt and significant as the last numbered chassis in the works GT40 MK. 1 production sequence, this is an original and fascinating car. For the full details, head to Maxted-Page’s official website here.

Images and history via Maxted-Page