Except for taking a Second at the Sebring 12 Hours and four hours at Le Mans in 1966, GT40 P/1032, one of eight Mark IIs, has spent most of its life as a showcar.
Ordered by Shelby Automotive as an unpainted bare chassis fitted with doors, sill panels, fascia, windshield, bulkhead glass and trim, it was slated to replace the second big-block GT40 (#107). After Shelby’s preparation it was shipped to Holman & Moody where it received a 427 big-block and a Kar Kraft transmission and was readied for competition. First stop was the 12-hour enduro at Sebring in March 1966. Finished in black and white, Mark Donahue and Walt Hansgen drove it to a second-place finish.
After Sebring, P/1032 underwent testing at the Ford winter proving grounds in Kingman, AZ and track time at Riverside in preparation for Holman & Moody’s effort at Le Mans. It was painted bronze for the 24-hour French classic. Driven by Mark Donahue & Paul Hawkins, it lasted just four hours. Fortunately 7-liter (427) Ford GT40s dominated, finishing 1-2-3. GT40s recorded three more consecutive wins at Le Mans!
After its DNF at Le Mans, it joined others that were painted to look like the Le Mans winning black GT40 (P/1046). It was later assigned to the show circuit and by the summer of 1967, made an appearance in Italy. Still owned by Ford when it came back from Europe, it went into storage at Holman & Moody. Ford loaned it to the Indianapolis Speedway Museum in 1970, later officially donating it to the incredible race car museum. Restored and refinished in its original 1966 Le Mans bronze livery, it has a place of honor among significant race cars, where Sarasota Café Racer, Gary Savage, photographed it, lead photo.
For more GT40 racecar information, check out http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z6301/Ford-GT40.aspx
Check out A.J. Baime’s book on the Ford GT40 and Ferrari battle for speed and glory at Le Mans http://www.amazon.com/Go-Like-Hell-Ferrari-Battle/dp/0618822194
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