Tom Talks: 1966 Ford GT40 Mk1 | Tom Hartley Jnr

In March 1963 the Ford Motor Company decided to delve further into the world of racing, specifically that of long-distance sports car racing. The target was the most prestigious race of this series, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. On the 1st April that same year, the very first Ford GT prototype was presented to the world. It wasn’t until 1966 that the FAV (Ford Advanced Vehicles) factory in Slough had been developing the production Mk1 GT40 under the steer of John Wyer. This example is one of just 30 road specification Mk1 GT40’s to ever come out of the factory and is unique in it’s original colour of Warwick Green. Chassis P/1057 was despatched to the US market on 23rd December, 1966; not before being photographed in an iconic image with 7 other Mk1 road cars also destined for America.