Dec 2

Dec 2 VIN: the works / Holman Moody Ford GT40 Mk2 chassis P/1016

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History of chassis P/1016

Twelve seven-litre Mk2 GT40s were built up for the 1966 season, eleven of which were raced by Ford’s competition partners Shelby, Holman Moody and Alan Mann.

P/1016 was one of three cars used by Holman Moody.

Its first race was alongside four other Mk2s at the ‘66 season opener: the Daytona 24 Hours. For this event, the quintet of Mk2 GT40s were painted white with satin black upper front bodywork and blue side stripes.

Uniquely, P/1016 arrived at Daytona with an automatic gearbox. It was allocated to Richie Ginther and Ronnie Bucknum who qualified third quickest of the GT40s in sixth position.

Generally, the big Fords ran like clockwork. Unfortunately, Ginther / Bucknum were the exception and the only pairing not to make the finish. Yhey retired around mid-distance with gearbox trouble. Team-mates Miles / Ruby won in chassis P/1015.

For its next outing, the Sebring 12 Hours, P/1016 had a manual gearbox installed and wore a new gold colour scheme with black side stripes. This time, Bucknum was partnered by A.J. Foyt. They qualified slowest of the four Mk2s in tenth and P/1016 was soon in the pits with brake problems. Shortly before mid distance, P/1016 had the first of two complete disc and caliper changes. After a troubled race, Bucknum / Foyt came home twelfth overall while team-mates Miles / Ruby won their second event on the bounce.

After the Le Mans Test weekend and a single car outing at the Spa 1000km for the Alan Mann squad to get up to speed, the Mk2s next appeared at the Le Mans 24 Hours which Ford were desperate to win. Accordingly, a fleet of eight Mk2s arrived at la Sarthe to include P/1016 which now had handsome pink flashed added to its gold paintwork.

Ronnie Bucknum was once again behind the wheel, this time with Dick Hutcherson. They qualified ninth fastest overall and sixth quickest of the Mk2s. However, by the end of the first hour, P/1016 had moved into third position behind the sister cars of Gurney / Grant and Hill / Muir. Although the big Fords had to stop more frequently for brakes than had been anticipated, they still had the edge on the Ferraris.

By 2am, all the front-running Ferraris were out and Ford held first through fourth. Bucknum / Hutcherson ultimately brought P/1016 home in third position, twelve laps behind the sister cars of McLaren / Amon and Miles / Hulme which crossed the line together.

P/1016 was subsequently wheeled out for two events in 1967 although it was not updated to the latest B specification.

Now back in plain gold with black stripes, Mark Donohue and Peter Revson lined up slowest of the Mk2s at the season-opening ‘67 Daytona 24 Hours with twelfth fastest time overall.

At the one hour mark, P/1016 was fifth behind the other three Mk2s and the lead Chaparral.

Frustratingly, the Mk2 contingent was greatly reduced overnight when the Ford crews had to carry out no less than nine gearbox changes on their various cars. Donohue / Revson retired at around one third distance when a shock absorber failure stranded their car out on the circuit after 236 laps.

P/1016 was then wheeled out for the Le Mans Test weekend where it appeared alongside one of Ford’s Mk4 GT40s as debuted at Sebring two weeks prior. Neither car was pushed too hard; Mark Donohue and Bruce McLaren took P/1016 to fifth fastest time overall.

After a successful career, P/1016 returned to Holman Moody’s facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was subsequently restored and then gifted to the Harrah Collection in Reno, Nevada.

Following Bill Harrah’s death in 1978, many significant cars were sold off. P/1016 was eventually disposed of via Joel Finn to lawyer and collector, Leslie Barth, in New Haven, Connecticut. Barth retained it until 2005.

Notable History

Holman Moody

White & Black with Blue side stripes

Fitted with automatic transmission

06/02/1966 WSC Daytona 24 Hours (R. Ginther / R. Bucknum) DNF (#87)

Colour changed to Gold & Black

Fitted with manual transmission

26/03/1966 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (A.J. Foyt / R. Bucknum) 12th oa, 3rd P5.0+ class (#4)

Colour changed to Gold with Pink flashes

19/06/1966 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (R. Bucknum / D. Hutcherson) 3rd oa, 3rd P2.0+ class (#5)

Colour changed to Gold with Black side stripes

05/02/1967 WSC Daytona 24 Hours (M. Donohue / P. Revson) DNF (#4)
09/04/1967 IND Le Mans Test (M. Donohue / B. McLaren) 5th oa, 3rd P5.0+ class (#2)