Last month we highlighted one of the rare variants of the successful Ford GT40 family; the GT Roadster, and for today we take a closer look at an even rarer specimen; the GT40 'AM Lightweight'. This car was the second of five bare tubs picked up by legendary privateer outfit Alan Mann directly from Abbey Panels late in 1965. Three were built up as 'regular' big-block Mk IIs by Mann's mechanics and completed by Carroll Shelby in the United States. The other two received the familiar 4.7 litre Ford small-block V8 but also many modifications to the chassis and body. Steel and fibreglass bits were replaced by aluminium to create two of the lightest GT40s ever built. In this guise they were only rarely raced as Ford urged Mann to campaign his big-block cars instead. Our feature car is the sole survivor and was raced with great success by Paul Hawkins, converted back to standard trim for homologation purposes, in 1967 and 1968, racking up more victories than any other GT40. The car has remained in this trim until this year when it was completely restored to its original guise by Lanzante Motorsport. Chassis AM GT-2 was completed just in time for the Goodwood Revival where it was spectacularly raced in the Whitsun Trophy for the owner by Ray Bellm.

Enjoy the links:

1966 Ford GT40 'AM Lightweight' - Images, Specifications and Information