The Ford GT40 we would have wanted for Christmas ...

During this holiday season, our thoughts wandered to what car we would have liked to see under the Christmas tree in a perfect world. A superb candidate would certainly be this Ford GT40 'Gulf', which was one of the stars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this year. Built ahead of the 1968 season, this was one of a handful of Mark I GT40s built to the ultimate specification by John Wyer Automotive. Liveried in the legendary Gulf colours, it is fitted with a five-litre Ford V8 engine and boasts a wider track and body than the original, production GT40s introduced in 1965. The featured example was not only the most successful of all GT40 competition cars, it remains as one of the most successful racing cars in history. It was driven to victory in the 1969 Sebring 12 Hours and also became the second car in history to win Le Mans two years running. The second victory, in 1969, came after Jacky Ickx made his famous protest against the dangerous Le Mans starting procedure. It was also the closest victory to date as Ickx and Jackie Oliver beat the second placed Porsche 908 by just 120 metres. As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of this legendary win, GT40P/1075 made a rare appearance in Europe to start at Goodwood.

Enjoy the links:

[URL="https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/chassis/1078/Ford-GT40-Mk-I-Gulf-GT40P-1075.html"]1968 Ford GT40 Mk I Gulf (GT40P/1075)[/URL]