VIN: the Essex Wire Corp. / Paddy NcNally / John Jordan Ford GT40 Mk1 chassis P/1038

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS P/1038

Chassis P/1038 was one of four Mk1 GT40s sold to the Essex Wire Corporation. It joined P/1001 and P/1010 (which the firm had received in 1965) and P/1026 which was another new car for the ‘66 campaign.

Founded in 1930, by 1965 the Essex Wire Corporation operated 44 wire manufacturing plants and had annual sales of $355m. It supplied magnet wire to industrial, energy and automotive customers around the world.

In 1959 Walter Probst became the President of Essex (assuming control from founder Addison Holton).

During 1965, Probst took the company public on the New York Stock Exchange. He also elected to embark on a marketing partnership with Ford that would see the Essex Wire name go racing with the GT40, Shelby Cobra and Shelby Mustang.

Painted Essex Wire’s trademark white and red colour scheme, chassis P/1038 contested four events for the team in 1966 with its debut coming at the Le Mans Test held over the weekend of April 2nd and 3rd. Skip Scott took the new car round in eighth fastest overall and third fastest of the over two-litre Sports cars.

Six weeks later Scott won his class in the 35 lap British Sportscar Championship race at Silverstone (the International Trophy on May 14th). This event was very much a warm-up for P/1038’s next outing at the Spa 1000km World Sportscar Championship race where Peter Revson joined the team.

Revson and Scott had a sensational run to third overall and first in class in Belgium (May 22nd), after which P/1038 headed for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Having demonstrated itself as the best prepared Mk1 GT40 around, it was no surprise to see P/1038’s stellar drivers holding tenth overall and heading the Sports car class after four hours racing at la Sarthe. By mid-distance (4am on Sunday morning) it had risen to fifth overall. However, when the engine blew at around 8am, the gallant effort came to an end.

At some point during the next few months Essex Wire sold P/1038 to British Autosport journalist and driver manager, Paddy McNally. McNally ran the GT40 at one event, the 1967 Sebring 12 Hours on April 1st, where under the Autosport International banner the now white and black-striped car finished an impressive eighth overall in the hands of Bob Grossman and William McNamara (good enough for second in the five-litre Sports car class).

Via Mike Spence, Paddy McNally sold P/1038 to British club driver and cereal magnate John Jordan who went on to race the GT40 extensively in Special GT and club level events from mid 1967 to late 1969 (taking in nearly 100 contests!).

Jordan retained the car until 1970, at which point it was sold to John Bailey. It has remained hidden from view ever since.

Notable History

White with Red stripes

Essex Wire Corporation, Fort Wayne, Indiana

03/04/1966 IND Le Mans Test (S. Scott) 8th oa, 3rd S2.0+ class (#11)
14/05/1966 BSC Silverstone International (S. Scott) 6th oa, 1st S class (#25)
22/05/1966 WSC Spa 1000km (P. Revson / S. Scott) 3rd oa, 1st S2.0+ class (#42)
19/06/1966 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (S. Scott / P. Revson) DNF (#59)

Paddy McNally (Autosport International), London

White with Black stripes

01/04/1967 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (B. Grossman / W. McNamara) 8th oa, 2nd S5.0 class (#17)

1967 sold to John Jordan, Bedfordshire

Raced in club events throughout the UK between 1967 and 1969 (mostly Silverstone, Snetterton and Thruxton)

1970 sold to John Bailey, UK

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed