OK, this isn’t going to be a Ford VS Ferrari recount. Actually, this isn’t even a real Ford GT40; it’s a reproduction, but at first glance, I found it to be mostly convincing. Constructed of fiberglass, and riding on an aluminum chassis, this LeMans wannabe resides in Lake Helen, Florida.
The seller tells us that RCR (Race Car Replicas) is responsible for this GT40 which is currently titled as a 1966 Ford. The seller claims that it has only experienced 11K miles and it “Runs and drives excellent“. From what can be discerned, it looks good and appears to be a pretty faithful reproduction – though I admit that I’m no GT40 expert. The RCR website mentions an interesting bit, specifically, “The original race cars are actually still around, and unsurprisingly, there are several companies making a range of replicas. But the only one with bodies molded from original cars, and an aluminum monocoque chassis and CNC-machined aluminum suspension is Race Car Replicas. In fact, the cars are so accurate that the producers of the Ford vs Ferrari movie chose RCR to build 28 cars for what has become the reference movie for the GT40“. I had wondered about the cars/props used in the film and now I know.
As for power, you won’t find a monster 427 CI “FE” V8 shoehorned into the rear portion of that aluminum monocoque chassis. Nope, it’s a Ford 408 CI V8 which I understand to be a stroked version of the 351 Windsor. It produces a claimed 600 HP and is married up to a Porsche 930 manual transaxle. That’s a surprising choice but I would imagine a solid one from a strength perspective. Whether it’s a direct connection or uses an adaptor, is not stated.
The interior, with its U.S. sanitized, left-hand drive appears to be a bit more accommodating than a race-spec GT example. There are vented, velour-covered seats and an instrument panel that seems more appropriate for street cruising than an actual track outing. And…wait for it! Yes, this GT40 is A/C equipped.
The listing states that this example is number 34 of a particular run, but how many in totality have been produced is not stated. The construct is listed as being a “wide-body” example – note the rear wheel wells, but I’m not certain if it’s a Mark I or II.
So, what to do with it? Well, just drive it around and just enjoy a rather faithful reproduction of an iconic member of Ford’s “Total Performance” era. Of course, you could also vintage race it but that’s a dicey proposition with any old, valuable collectible. How valuable you ask? Well, it’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $70,100 with the reserve not yet met.
I’ve always liked the GT40 and sure wouldn’t kick one off my driveway, unless it had that all-too-familiar clatter of a VW engine. I thought there was a replica that used an aluminum body, which is what I would prefer. I’d also prefer an FE engine, even if it was a bone-stock 390 out of a truck, to a Windsor block. Of course it’s all a matter of what you would be willing to settle for. They were an iconic car…
Very cool, that has to be very close to the reserve, i hope it sells.
As someone who has size 14 shoes and is well over 6 foot, I will never fit in one of these “original” sized GT40s. The 2005 Ford GT will fit surprisingly tall people though. Not that I own one, but I have sat and ridden in one.
Maybe you could fit into one with a “Gurney Bubble”? Dan was 6’4″.
Price way above my budget, but I totally love it. If I had the money for such a car, this would be the choice for me over an original. The AC has me sold. Got to have AC in SW Florida. Any car that doesn’t, is a hard pass for almost anyone down here, although I see classics without AC regularly. Car shows every weekend down here, so any trip in town on a Sat morning, you’ll see tons of classics in all parts of town headed to a car show at a local county park. 👍
Nice ride. As for the street cruising dashboard, looks just like one in one of my race cars. Adapting engines to transmissions is common and pretty easy. We’ve got one British car engine adapted to a Ford T-4 transmission with a
bellhousing cast specifically for the job. With today’s 3D manufacturing capability you can make almost anything. Ford to British on left in picture.
Wonder if the 7 bidders on ebay know it’s not a real GT40? Seller has a couple of words in the description that alludes to this but is listed as a GT40.
The first full sentence in the description says “…built by Fran at RCR…” Seems pretty clearly stated to me.
Looking for wipers & turn signals.
Starfire tires up front on an exotic?
GM racing mirrors?
I recall a guy at a gas station in Athens Greece almost crying on seeing my X1/9. He said: i was in Italy around late 70’s and i saw one of these and fell in love. Got into the dealership and tried to sit in the car. No way that could happen because he was more than 6 feet tall. Obviously he developed something like a PTSD about this car! I felt sorry for him!
this came in 6 – 9 yrs early for the supercar era but certainly IS one. THE one I’d have, but no room for such in my life. Who cares abt seeing behind, gettin in’n out? Not I, esp when equiped as some street and trac owners did w/the 428/9.
Ended at $75,600.
Reserve Not Met.