1971 Ford GT40

1967/1971 Ford GT40

The legendary GT40 achieved total dominance of the sports car racing scene and four Le Mans victories in the sixties. It remains the object of desire for countless enthusiasts today.

Chassis P/1086
This rare 1967/1971 Ford GT40 has the distinction of being bestowed with the last serial number in the sequence of the GT40 production run of P/1000-1086.

Delivered new to John Willment in Surrey, England (Despatch date 1971) who with business partner, John Wyer formed J.W. Automotive Engineering Ltd., (JWAE), (GT40 Racing Division), thru Ford in the mid to late sixties. Mr. Willment kept the last production run chassis for himself and had it finished to the specifications of the Gulf GT40 (GT40P/1075), the most historical GT40 of all time, the two time Le Mans winner. Finished in Racing Gulf Livery Blue with Marigold (Orange) trim.

With the GT40's Racing Heritage, being blindingly fast, and with its very limited production run, GT40P/1086, and all the other GT40s are regarded as being highly collectible.

1086 is the last of the lightweight Gulf livery cars (1074, 1075, 1076, 1084 and 1086) as listed in the World GT40 Registry. In the registry, it is noted as being: J.W. Automotive, Light Powder Blue (code # P030-8013), with Marigold (code#P030-3393) orange trim. These cars sported lightweight carbon-fibre reinforced front and rear body panels and wider rear shell, along with deep-offset lightweight BRM magnesium wheels, appropriately finished in orange.

From new, 1086's complete ownership record is known; there are no gaps in its provenance.

Shows and Publications
This car has been featured in a number of books and magazines, eg: Vintage Racecar (5/05), and Matt DeLorenzo's new book 'Legendary Cars'. It has also been written about in GT40 author and historian John S. Allen's book, 'The Legend Lives On', which states, '1086 is the last Abbey Panels GT40 produced to the order of J.W.Automotive Engineering Ltd'. Ronnie Spain's book, 'GT40 - An Individual History and Race Record', is looked upon as the bible of GT40 history, and in it 1086 receives a full page to itself.

1086 has been invited to, and shown at, numerous prestigious car events throughout the years, most notably, in 1989, for the GT40 25th Anniversary Reunion at Watkins Glen, where it was featured with the other Gulf livery cars, amongst the original GT40s, for the now famous aerial photo. In 2005 it appeared in public once more, when it was invited to be displayed on the lawn of the prestigious Amelia Island Concours d' Elegance, where it was awarded the E.T. 'BOB' GREGORIE award, for its excellence in originality, and enduring design. In 2009 it formed the centre-piece of the GT40 display in Ford's marquee at Road America. At that event, it was driven on track by none other than David Hobbs, who had raced Gulf GT40s for JWAE in 1968 and 1969. In 2010 it was invited to be shown at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, one of the foremost automotive events in the world.

Mechanical Specification
This GT40 is powered by a 302 cubic-inch, 4-bolt-main race engine with oversized valves, a larger intake/exhaust port configuration, a racing carburetor, dry-sump oil lubrication, race-gearing, and 5-speed ZF transmission mounted to a transaxle. It rides on rare 10' & 14'x15' BRM magnesium wheels. It is the only original Ford GT40 to have been rust-inhibited at the time of construction and the only example to have remained in original/unrestored condition from the day of its construction.