1966 Ford GT40 Mk I

The failed merger in 1963 between Ford and Ferrari and the subsequent return to competition motorsport at the highest level by the American company is motoring lore. After their rejection by Ferrari, Lee Iacocca and Leo Bebee formed Ford Advanced Vehicles and went shopping for a Le Mans winner. Following their visit to Eric Broadley's business in England, they knew they had the basis for a winning car for international long-distance road racing. The resultant car was unveiled in April 1964 and the inaugural race for a GT40 was at the Nürburgring 1000 Km in May of that year.

Variants of the GT40 continued to race through the end of 1969 with wins at Le Mans, Sebring, Daytona, Monza and Spa, making the GT40 one of the most successful road/competition cars ever built. Homologation rules prompted a number of road-going GT40s to be built, and S/N 1065 is such a version. Built to near the specifications of a racing model but detuned, it is fitted with a...