VIN: Herbert von Karajan's Ford GT40 Mk3 chassis M3/1105
History of chassis M3/1105
The Mk3 GT40 was put into production as Ford wanted to capitalise on the continued Le Mans success of its expensively developed model.
Compared to the Mk1 GT40 road car, the Mk3 was modified to meet the latest US legislation on minimum height for headlights and ground clearance. It also came with more luggage space, improved crash protection, a properly trimmed interior and a central gear lever which enabled production of both left and right-hand drive examples.
However, the Mk3 was extremely expensive and still pretty unrefined. As a result, only seven were built, of which just three were purchased by private customers. The other four were retained by Ford for promotional use in the USA and UK.
Chassis M3/1105 was among the trio of Mk3s sold to customers. It was ordered by Austrian conductor, Herbert von Karajan, who specified Metallic Ice Blue paint, a black interior and left-hand drive steering.
Von Karajan began his career as conductor for the Ulm Stadttheater in Germany in 1929. By 1935, he was Germany’s youngest General Music Director and performed regularly around Europe.
In 1937, von Karajan made his debut performance with the Berlin Philharmonic, for whom he would remain principal conductor over the next 35 years. By this time, von Karajan was hailed as the greatest conductor in Germany. He signed his first recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon in 1938 and went on to sell an estimated 200 million records during his career.
Over the years, von Karajan purchased a fleet of expensive cars plus racing yachts and private aeroplanes.
Prior to the GT40’s arrival, his high performance automotive acquisitions had included a BMW 328, Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, Porsche 356 A Speedster, Porsche 550, Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso and Ferrari 275 GTB.
In June 1968, von Karajan collected M3/1105 from John Wyer Automotive Engineering (previously Ford Advanced Vehicles) in Slough. The handover was overseen by John Wyer himself and Chief Engineer, John Horsman.
Once back in Austria, M3/1105 was registered S 112.
Over the next five years, von Karajan racked up 5000 miles in the car, but never drove it in the rain.
M3/1105 was sold in 1973. It was purchased by Tony Brown. In 1975 it was purchased by fellow UK resident, Robert Cooper.
In 1976, the car made its way across the Atlantic. Mike Novik kept it until 1978, at which point M3/1105 was sold to Charles Kalko who retained it for the next 24 years.
In 2002, the car was sold via Barrett-Jackson to the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles where it currently resides today.
Notable History
Left-hand drive
Metallic Ice Blue / Black
06/68 sold to Herbert von Karajan, Austria
Registered S 112
1973 sold to Tony Brown, UK
1975 sold to Robert Cooper, UK
1976 sold to Mike Novik, USA
1978 sold to Charles Kalko, USA
2002 sold to the Peterson Automotive Museum, USA
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Ford - https://www.ford.com & Petersen Automotive Museum - https://www.petersen.org/
