Car collectors and enthusiasts are excited about an extremely rare street model of one of America's most legendary race cars.
A shiny metallic dark blue 1966 Ford GT40 MkI road car with a black interior and right-hand drive will go on sale at Mecum Auctions on January 2, 2024, with one estimate pegging its value at $7 million. I am.
“The GT40 is one of Ford's great masterpieces, and we are thrilled to see it come to public auction,” Sam Murtaugh, COO of Mecum Auctions, said in a statement to FOX News Digital. “This is a very rare event.”
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“To put it in perspective, when a Picasso masterpiece hits the market, art collectors know that if they don't take action, it may never see the light of day again.”
The vehicle featured on this list is reportedly one of only 30 GT40 road cars ever built. It has just 13,442 miles on the odometer and has not been seen in public in the past 30 years under the most recent of its four owners.
Mecum Auctions has put up for sale a very rare 1966 Ford GT40 Mkl road car on January 2, 2024. Some estimates put its value at up to $7 million. (Photo provided by Mecum Auctions, Inc.)
“The result is a rarely used, concours-quality GT40 that may be one of only 29 on the planet,” AutoBlog.com reported on Monday.
“The GT40 is one of Ford's greatest masterpieces, and it is extremely rare for it to come up for auction.”
“Mecum does not provide a pre-sale estimate, but given the quality of this GT40, the coupe could be valued at just over $7 million, according to Hagerty.”
Mecum Auctions has put up for sale a very rare 1966 Ford GT40 Mkl road car on January 2, 2024. Some estimates put its value at up to $7 million. (Photo provided by Mecum Auctions, Inc.)
The shining jewel of American muscle is up for bid at Mecum's Kissimmee, Florida 2024 Showcase, which ends on January 14th.
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The GT40's appeal lies in its rarity, power, and stunning design. This is fueled by the car's international legend among car enthusiasts as the American car that overthrew the Ferrari dynasty in France's Le Mans.
“Perhaps the most successful and iconic American racing car ever built, the Ford GT40 has become an automotive icon for many enthusiasts,” Mecum wrote.
Drivers run toward their cars at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France, June 18, 1966. The four cars in the foreground are Ford GT40 MkI models. Of these, No. 2 and No. 1 came in first and second place, respectively. (Getty Images)
“The GT40 helped shape automotive history in many ways, being a huge success in its era against the European manufacturers that had dominated sports car racing for far too long.”
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Mecum said the race car's fame was built after negotiations broke down between Ferrari and Ford.
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“Henry Ford II decided that if he couldn't buy this legendary sports car builder, he would beat them at their own game, and that's exactly what he did with the GT40,” the auction house wrote. ing.
Mecum Auctions has put up for sale a very rare 1966 Ford GT40 Mkl road car on January 2, 2024. Here are his two views of this car. (Photo provided by Mecum Auctions, Inc.)
“Ferrari's last Le Mans victory was in 1965 with the 250LM, at a time when Ford was just starting to gain traction with its GT program. By 1966, Ferrari's Le Mans dynasty was over.”
The Ford GT40 didn't just win races in 1966; It occupied the top three positions.
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“The Ford GT40 is the car that brought Le Mans to America's consciousness and brought Dearborn victory in the French Classic,” the Florida Automobile Museum Revs Institute writes on its website.
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