The Ford GT40Ford GT40United Kingdom, 1966 > present3 photos
1 video
is one of the most important racecars of the last half-century. It was built after Ford'sFordUnited States of America, 1903 > present92 models
2522 photos
11 videos
attempt to buy FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
5131 photos
37 videos
failed, and Ford decided that if it could not buy the company, it would beat them on the racetrack. 

Ford began by taking the already Ford-powered Lola Mk.6 and modified it into the GT40. Competition for the GT40 began in May 1964, and they won at Le Mans 4 years running from 1966 to 1969.

RM has another great car on its auction roster at Monterey on August 17 and 18 - a 1968 Ford GT40 that was driven by Jacky Ickx and Dr. Dick Thompson. It was also the first car to carry the Gulf livery. It was also the camera car for the film Le Mans. 

The car started life as a 1967 Mirage M1. Mirage was a small English racecar builder that started by modifying GT40s with more aerodynamic bodies and more advanced chassis. The three M1s built were perhaps the first racecars ever to use carbon fiber. On the M1, it was used on a few body panels. Ickx and Dr. Thompson drove the car in its inaugural race at Spa in May 1967 and won overall. It was raced at Le Mans that year as well but did not finish. 

For 1968, it was rebodied as a GT40 but kept the carbon fiber portions of the body, and it was repainted in the Gulf livery. It raced at Le Mans again in 1968 but did not finish.

In 1970, the car was leased to Steve McQueen to produce his film Le Mans. The roof was removed, and the doors were cut down to accept the front- and rear-facing cameras. After several months of filming, the car was sold and restored in 1972 with a new roof and doors. 

Since the 80s, the car has been raced extensively at vintage races all over the world from Goodwood to Watkins Glen. 

The car currently has a 289ci (4.7l) V8 with Gurney-Westlake cylinder heads producing 440hp. Only one other Mirage M1 still exists, and the car being auctioned comes with both the GT40 body and Mirage M1 body.