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Chassis:
Completed in the fall of 1965, this GT40 was acquired by ambitious Scottish privateer Nick Cuthbert. It joined a stable that already include an Elan and featured a second Elan for an expanded program in 1966. With Eric Liddell at the wheel, the GT40 scored a pair of wins during its debut weekend at Croft in March of 1966. Liddell also managed to score outright wins at Brands Hatch and again at Croft. Before the start of the next, the GT40 was returned to Ford Advanced Vehicles and completely rebuilt and modified to accept wider rear wheels. Liddell was back behind the wheel during 1967 but failed to score any more wins.
Early in 1968, Cuthbert announced he would suspend his racing activities for at least one year due to budget difficulties. He duly offered the GT40 for sale, and it was acquired by Portuguese racer Carlos Gaspar. Causing quite a stir in Portugual, GT40P/1022 was fastest at its Granja do Marquês debut. An overheating issue, however, ended Gaspar’s charge early. He did win at Jarama and finished an impressive fourth overall against international competition in the Vila Real Grand Prix. Gaspar then won at Montes Claros, the Montejunto hill climb and at Vila do Conto. This late season haul of points helped Gaspar win the Portuguese national championship.
After the successful season with the GT40, Gaspar sold the car on to another Portuguese racer. It was raced on the Iberian Peninsula through to the end of the 1970 season. It then returned to the United Kingdom where it was raced in hill climb events by Tony Bancroft. Its contemporary racing career finally came to a end late in 1972. Its next custodian was a John Cooper, who used the car in historic events during the next few years. In 1978, GT40P/1022 was bought by not collector Paul Vestey, who had Mathwall Engineering completely restore the car. Through Adrian Hamilton, it was then acquired by California-based Englishman Keith Harvey in May of 1983. He would cherish the car but used it sparingly during his 26-year ownership.
In 2009, GT40P/1022 returned to its second home when it joined the collection of a Portuguese enthusiast. He has a particular taste for cars with a racing history in Portugal and his stable also includes the Lola T292 used by Gaspar during the early 1970s. Keen to see the car returned to track, the GT40 was restored by Simon Blake’s Historic Automobiles and the engine rebuilt once again by Mathwall Engineering. From 2010, it has been raced extensively, predominantly by the owner’s son. One of its finest results was an outright victory in Plateau 4 of the Le Mans Classic. The car’s long and colourful history is also covered in a book commissioned by the owner from historian Adelino Dinis.
Chassis details |
Manufactured in |
November 24, 1965 |
First owner |
Nick Cuthbert |
Last known location |
Portuguese Historic Racer |
Appearances |
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