The REAL DEAL : This FORD GT40 Wrote US RACING HISTORY in Le Mans !

Raced in Gulf’s iconic blue-and-orange colours, this Ford GT40, known by its chassis number ‘1075’, won the Le Mans 24 Hours not just once but twice, in 1968 and 1969, and the second victory came after the closest fight ever seen at the finish of this great endurance race. Four other championship wins – at Brands Hatch, Spa, Watkins Glen and Sebring – add to this Ford GT40’s distinction as the very best of its breed, driven by ‘greats’ such as Jacky Ickx, Pedro Rodríguez and Brian Redman.

The racing career of this Ford GT40 started in February 1968 at the 24 Hours in Daytona (USA), although the speedster had to abandon the race because of a defective gearbox. A few months later, Pedro Rodríguez and Lucien Bianchi enjoyed a lot more success when they actually won Le Mans, achieving an impressive victory with a lead of five laps. In the following winter, the car was given the unforgettable design of sponsor Gulf Oil Company, before lining up on the starting grid in Le Mans for a second time on 14th June 1969. Initially, spectators were astounded because Jacky Ickx declined to sprint to the car at the start and strolled up to his Ford GT40 in a leisurely fashion. However, he alternated in the cockpit with Jackie Oliver, kept his nerve and maintained a narrow lead in a dramatic duel with a Porsche 908 – once again first place! This meant it was the only racing car ever to cross the finishing line and achieve two overall victories at Le Mans. After six victories in eleven races, this Ford GT40 brought its successful racing career to a close and since then has enriched private collections. The current owner, Rob Walton from the US, took up stewardship back in 1993.

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