One to Buy: 1st of 7 ex FoMoCo 1966 Ford GT40 Mk3
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Famously, Ford’s attempt to create a softer, more commercially appealing iteration of the GT40 proved a commercial flop; having hoped to shift a run of at least 20 units, just seven copies of the resultant Mk3 were ultimately completed and only three three were sold to actual customers.
As the prototype, 1967’s New York Motor Show star and the Ford Motor Company’s original press car, chassis M3/1101, which is currently on offer at the Fiskens showroom in London, was perhaps the most famous Mk3.
Chassis M3/1101 actually started life numbered XP 130/01 and arrived at Ford’s Dearborn headquarters in time for a photoshoot in early October 1966. The handsome blue car was then sent on a tour of Neiman Marcus stores in Texas, after which it was loaned to Gotham Ford in New York. While out on loan, XP 130/01 was road tested by Car and Driver, American Rodding, Motor and Hi-Performance Cars.
XP 130/01 was subsequently freshened up for an appearance at the New York Motor Show in April 1967. Now in a handsome dark green colour scheme with white coachlines, the car continued to be used for promotional work until early 1968 when it was shipped back to England for a rebuild to production Mk3 trim.
Unfortunately, while en route to the US following its rebuild, the newly re-numbered M3/1101 was damaged when sister car chassis M3/1106 (which was being shipped above it) shifted in transit and dropped onto the prototype. Both cars were taken to Ford’s special project partner organisation, Kar Kraft, for damage assessment. While M3/1106 only needed minor repairs, M3/1101 required installation of a new roof structure.
Although the appropriate parts were ordered and delivered, the repair was not immediately undertaken and M3/1101 was temporarily stored at Kar Kraft. On July 1st 1970, the still unrepaired M3/1101 was sold to Kar Kraft.
By 1973, a buyer had finally emerged and the much delayed rebuild finally got underway. However, the purchaser subsequently defaulted and the now British Racing Green M3/1101 remained with Kar Kraft until April 1974 when it was sold to Algar Enterprises in Paoli, Pennsylvania. From here, M3/1101 found its first private owner, Seward Prosser Mellon, who hailed from one of the United States’ most influential family of industrialists.
Having subsequently passed through the hands of a couple more collectors, during the mid 2000s chassis M3/1101 was converted to Mk1 trim by Lanzante in England. Fortunately, all the Mk3 components were carefully set aside and, while in the care of the current custodian, M3/1101 was returned to its original form.
Upon completion of the restoration in 2016, M3/1101 was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The car has since appeared at Retromobile and Salon Prive and remains in superb condition throughout.
