Jul 20

Jul 20 VIN: the works Shelby / Holman Moody Ford GT40 Mk2 chassis P/1046

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History of chassis P/1046

For the 1966 season, Ford’s satellite teams (Shelby, Holman Moody and Alan Mann Racing) campaigned a batch of specially prepared Mk2 GT40s equipped with mammoth seven-litre engines.

Whereas the customer-spec. Mk1 GT40 ran a 4.7-litre powerplant, these big banger Mk2 derivatives were designed specifically to succeed on ultra high speed tracks like Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans.

The year started with back-to-back victories at Daytona and Sebring, after which Ford’s focus switched to the main prize: June’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

Chassis P/1046 was one of four brand new Mk2 GT40s that raced at la Sarthe in 1966. Another four previously used Mk2s also ran to form an eight-strong attack.

Painted black with silver stripes, P/1046 was entered by Shelby American and allocated to Chris Amon / Bruce McLaren. They qualified fourth, behind a trio of Mk2 sister cars.

At the end of the first hour, Amon and McLaren held eighth position. By 10:30pm (six and a half hours in), they were up to fifth.

Rain began to fall in earnest around midnight. By 2am, all the Ferrari prototypes were out of the race.

At the half-way point (4am), McLaren / Amon had moved up to third behind the Mk2s of Ken Miles / Denny Hulme and Dan Gurney / Jerry Grant. However, during the 18th hour, the Gurney / Grant entry retired with smoke pouring from its engine which promoted P/1046 into second.

During the last driver change, Ford racing director, Leo Beebe, informed race leader Miles that he was to cross the line alongside McLaren, who was holding station on the same lap. Miles was told to ease off and allow McLaren to catch up so the cars could cross the line at exactly the same time.

It was rumoured that Miles, unhappy with the team orders, lifted off to allow McLaren to finish a length ahead.

P/1046 won the race; Ford’s first success at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Surprisingly for such a historic machine, P/1046 was subsequently transferred to Holman Moody and used to test forthcoming Mk2B components.

The car then appeared in a new silver and black-striped livery at the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours. One of three Holman Moody entries, driving duties this time fell to Denny Hulme and Lloyd Ruby who qualified ninth.

Hulme was second after the first hour (behind the lead Chaparral), but the Ford challenge had disintegrated by mid-distance; four of the six Mk2’s went out with broken gearboxes, including P/1046.

Afterwards, the car was retired from active duty and the rolling chassis was stored at Holman Moody.

It then passed through the hands of several American owners (David Brown, Ed Zambrelli, Steve Juda and Bob Richmond) during which time it was first rebuilt as a road car and then converted back to racing trim.

George Stauffer acquired P/1046 in 1980 and retained it until 2010. Since then it has been restored to its 1966 Le Mans winning configuration.

Notable History

Shelby American

Black with silver stripes

19/06/1966 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (B. McLaren / C. Amon) 1st oa, 1st P2.0+ class (#2)

Holman Moody

Repainted Silver with black stripes

05/02/1967 WSC Daytona 24 Hours (L. Ruby / D. Hulme) DNF (#6)

Rolling chassis

Sold to David Brown

Sold to Ed Zambrelli

Sold to Steve Juda