Every gearhead dreams of a barn find; a rare, seemingly-unattainable car tucked away like a lost artifact in an Indiana Jones movie. Barn finds aren't at all common, but they do occur from time to time.
Case in point is this 1966 Ford GT40 Mark I literally found under a pile of junk in a Southern California garage, according to The Gentleman Racer (via Motor Trend).
The car--chassis number P/1067--was the last 1966 GT40 produced, but it was sold in 1967 with a rear clamshell from the updated Mark II. Just three cars were produced this way, and this one is believed to be the only one with its original rear clamshell.
The car was raced until 1977, when an engine failure put it out of commission. The owner reportedly started to repair the GT40, but never completed the job due to an injury. A wooden frame was built around the car and covered with junk, entombing it for decades.
At least the GT40 remained largely intact during its long time in storage. Most critical components were apparently recovered with the car, including the engine and a set of extra tires.
The GT40 is most famous as the car developed by Ford to beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, after Enzo Ferrari changed his mind about selling his company to the Blue Oval. The story--and the model's on-track success--makes the GT40 highly prized by today's collectors.
Once restored, chassis P/1067 will certainly look good on the lawn at a concours, or possibly doing a few laps in historic racing
Since I don't drive it, I have considered putting my remaining Indy Fiero in the old barn up front and leaving it there forever (or "my forever" anyway).
I do know where there is still a Delorean, collecting dust in a long defunct flea market. I have tried and cannot find out who owns either the property or the vehicle.
I still want one. Not because I am a fan of "Back To The Future" (I am not), or because it is a great car (it is not), but because of it's history. It's history is interesting to me much in the same way the Edsel or Corvair is.
If I ever found one for a reasonable (to me) price, I would figure a way to make it happen.
[This message has been edited by Boondawg (edited 06-16-2014).]
I still want one. Not because I am a fan of "Back To The Future" (I am not), or because it is a great car (it is not), but because of it's history. It's history is interesting to me much in the same way the Edsel or Corvair is.
If I ever found one for a reasonable (to me) price, I would figure a way to make it happen.
It wouldn't even have to be a reasonable price for me if I had the spare money. I love Gull Wing doors and a DeLorean is likely my only way to get some. LOL
People pay outragous prices for used Deloreans when they can buy a 'brand new' built one from a company in Texas for less than $25K. They build them from all new old stock parts and reproductions.
I still want one. Not because I am a fan of "Back To The Future" (I am not), or because it is a great car (it is not), but because of it's history. It's history is interesting to me much in the same way the Edsel or Corvair is.
If I ever found one for a reasonable (to me) price, I would figure a way to make it happen.
Theyre race cars, so they want bulletproof parts. Take a lot to break those joints. You can break newer cars shafts with just one stomp on the gas. I know I had no problem breaking 2 or 3 Fiero ones...one backing out of the garage, and one pulling up on an awards stage. If I remember, none of the original GT40s were built as street cars...they were all race cars. Some obviously were converted along their life.
Theyre race cars, so they want bulletproof parts. Take a lot to break those joints. You can break newer cars shafts with just one stomp on the gas. I know I had no problem breaking 2 or 3 Fiero ones...one backing out of the garage, and one pulling up on an awards stage. If I remember, none of the original GT40s were built as street cars...they were all race cars. Some obviously were converted along their life.
Good point. When new they are stout and I figure they changed them pretty much every race. I've seen a fair number that were brittle with age on street cars.
If I remember, none of the original GT40s were built as street cars...they were all race cars. Some obviously were converted along their life.
Depends upon your definition of "original GT40s".
From Supercars.net
"New rules taking effect for the 1966 season dictated that at least 50 examples had to be made to run the GT competition class. By the end of the 1965, specification was finalized, and production versions of the GT40s began with chassis GT40P/1000.
This was a major step for a program which had produced 12 cars of varying specification in 1964 and 1965 with limited results. Mid-1965 production began on series of race and road GT40s from Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough, England from a finalized tub-chassis design.
Ford changed little for their road-going orders, handing over keys to Le Mans-ready cars for diminutive street use.
Under the large clamshell hood, the production GT40 used the Ford Fairlane V8 which was first installed by Shelby American. For the road, Ford supplied 335 bhp, in competition trim, with a lighter flywheel and no mufflers, this engine produced 380 bhp.
The interior is where Ford Advanced vehicles changed the road cars the most. As one would guess more interior trim, pockets and sound deadening where added in the mix. Further amenities included a heater, a radio and glass windscreens.
Like I said, I wasnt sure. In the article, it says 50 had to be produced...didnt specify for street or race. This line defines it to me unless I misunderstand it
"Ford changed little for their road-going orders, handing over keys to Le Mans-ready cars for diminutive street use."
I read that as for 'street' cars, they handed over the keys to ready to race cars with another seat bolted in.
I call original GT40s ones that were factory assembled and sold to customers (or kept for their own use). I never seen one that had carpet or side glass. Some did have screwed in plexiglass side windows with a 'toll window' on the drivers side that could slide open (like 8" square). Further (could be wrong too) I dont think any originals had left hand drive. Im thinking maybe Dan Gurney had one assembled for the street with left hand drive.
I could find out a lot Saturday since they have their annual Cobra/GT40 convention about 30 miles from me in London Ohio.
