This 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster is one of just five ever built, and it looks set to fetch millions when it goes up for auction in July. With actual racing experience at Le Mans, this GT40 can be yours for the princely sum of around $10 million.
Racing at Le Mans
One of the most exciting things about this car’s history is the fact that it actually hit the track at Le Mans in 1965. The GT40 was built in England and entered into Le Mans by Ford France. Although this car did enter the famous race in 1965, it only managed 11 laps before retiring due to gearbox issues. Still, that’s a rich history, and it’s sure to be the reason people are going to be bidding millions to add the car to their collection.
The Car’s History
After leaving the 1965 Le Mans race early, this GT40 was sent to Shelby American to refresh its V8 Shelby Cobra engine. It then became a development car for Ford as the manufacturer created automatic transmissions for its high-performance vehicles. Stuntman Dean Jeffires later acquired the car in 1968, and the legendary screen star kept it until his passing in 2013. Dana Mecum, the founder of Mecum Auctions, then bought the GT40 and restored it to its original condition, including the original V8 engine.
Future Plans
After restoring the Ford GT40 Roadster, Mecum has decided to enter it into his own company’s auction in Indianapolis in July 2020. Mecum believes it will be sold for anywhere between $7.5 and $10 million, matching the only other surviving GT40 Roadster that sold for $7.65 million in 2019.
After restoring this car to its former glory, Dana Mecum looks to be selling one of the most sought after GT40s in the world. It might not become the most expensive car ever sold at auction, but $10 million certainly isn’t cheap.