New and Pre-owned Ford GT 40 for Sale

The Ford GT40 for sale is a replica of the legendary high-performance American endurance race car. It is the first and only American sports car ever to win the 24-hour-long Le Mans competition in Europe. The Ford GT40 race cars were built to compete against Ferrari in the 1960 Le Mans competitions. They were designed at the behest of Henry Ford II in retaliation against Enzo Ferrari’s last-minute rejection of a takeover deal in which Ford had invested lots of time and money.

Spurred on by this personal vendetta, Ford built arguably the fastest, most durable American vehicle of its day, effectively upstaging the European competition. The Ford GT40 Mk I was the first version of the Ford GT40 to compete. The Mk I won the 1968 and 1969, Le Mans after the Mk II was disqualified due to new rules capping engine size. The Ford V8 engine initially had 4.2L, which was then upped to 4.9L capacity and 425 horsepower, enabling it to outperform Porsches and Ferraris with smaller engines.

The Ford GT 40 Mk II was redesigned with a heavier body (including a massive 7.0L engine), more speed, and more powerful brakes to increase performance. The Ford GT40 Mk II also had a four-speed transmission while all other models came with five-speeds. The Mk II won the 1966 Le Mans race. The Mk II’s performance also won Ford the 1966 International Manufacturer’s Championship for the first time.

Very few original Ford GT40 for sale are available as they were each bespoke designs produced in extremely limited runs as a result of the intense research and development. Since they are virtually impossible to buy, there are a handful of Ford GT40 replicas that have been inspired by the original GT40.

The Ford GT40 kit car for sale has been crafted for at-home assembly by dedicated aficionados. There are two types of Ford GT40 replicas—continuations (that are essentially copies of the original design) and modernizations (that remain true to the concept of the GT40 but upgrade the components and improve on the design).

There are also used Ford GT40 replicas for sale, including some kit cars that are now factory-built in South Africa. Continuations of the Mk II’s originally built by Holman Moody can be ordered from their original 1966 blueprints. In 1995, Ford revived the GT40 design with the modified Ford GT, and again in 2015 with a road-ready, street-legal version.

There is one livery that always gets catches my attention no matter what may be wearing it, and that would of course be the Gulf Oil livery. It originated in 1967 when then Gulf Oil Corporation vice president, Grady Davis, entered his own GT40 at Daytona and Sebring. This was also the same year that Ford withdrew from sports car racing, allowing Gulf Oil to take over sponsorship of the new acquired GT40 race team, J.W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.

When the 1967 season started, the Gulf Oil GT 40 was known as Mirages and were recognized by their Gulf Powder Blue finish with Marigold accents. Only three of these original Mirages were built, and only one exists today. In total, five JWAE/ Gulf Oil livery GT40s were created.

Even though the Mirages don't race competitively anymore, they are still honored worldwide. Below are some vehicles wearing the famous blue and orange livery, paying homage to one of the most recognizable race teams in history.