One to Buy: ex-Holman Moody 2nd at Sebring 1966 Ford GT40 Mk2
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Having run a pair of experimental Ford GT40 Prototypes with enormous seven-litre engines at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1965, Ford was convinced that, although neither car completed the distance, this was the way to go in order beat Ferrari at la Sarthe.
Eight months of intensive development then followed before Shelby and Holman Moody turned up with a quintet of seven-litre Mk2 GT40s at the 1966 Daytona 24 Hours where the big Fords bagged first, second, third and fifth positions. The Sebring 12 Hours subsequently yielded a one-two finish a few weeks later and, having run fastest at the annual Le Mans Test weekend in April, Ford was confident of a good result at the 24 Hour race in June.
No less than eight of the Mk2 GT40s started the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, five of whichretired. However, in one of motor sport’s most famous races, the trio of big Fords that did make the chequered flag finished first, second and third to end Ferrari’s dominance at Le Mans.
Set to go under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s sale in Miami on February 28th is a veteran of that famous ‘66 campaign: chassis P/1032.
Allocated to Holman Moody, P/1032 was first raced by Walt Hansgen and Mark Donohue at the 1966 Sebring 12 Hours where it came home second behind the Shelby-entered sister car of Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby. The white and black Mk2 was then switched to a stunning gold colour scheme with lime green flashes and white side stripes for its next outing at Le Mans.
Unfortunately, P/1032’s race was blighted by an early half-shaft failure, after which its engine cover blew off. The car was subsequently retired during the fifth hour with differential failure.
In March 1968 chassis P/1032 was donated to the Indianpolis Motor Speedway Museum for whom RM Sotheby’s are handling the disposal of several significant vehicles.
