1994 Ford GTD GT40

This deeply desirable GTD40 not only looks the part but it is accompanied by a charming and fascinating one owner provenance. The story begins in November 1990 when the owner acquired a GTD40 “starter kit” from GT Developments for a total outlay of £8,166.65. The kit comprised “chassis, body, cockpit assembly, cockpit fixing pack, rear flat finishing panel and body mounting bars.” From then on, and in the words of the 1994 DVLA inspection report the owner “built the car over a period of three and a half years. A mixture of new and used components have been used.” Many of the new components were ordered as needed from GT Developments and a Ford 5-litre (302 cu in) V8 motor was pressed into service to provide an authentic GT40 link to accompany the highly authentic looking aesthetics. 

With the fastidious build completed in the spring of 1994 the GTD40 passed its first MoT with just 4 miles registered on its odometer. This process predated the SVA/IVA regulated by a handful of years meaning the GTD40 was ready to be used and enjoyed at that stage. After a couple of years on Q-plates the GTD40 acquired its current SYN 8F registration number. Over the subsequent years the owner covered over 35,000 miles in this rolling, roaring labour of love car including no less than 19 annual pilgrimages to Le Mans. The GTD40 has now been off the road for four or five years and following the sad passing of the owner / builder, this remarkable car is now being offered for sale by his widow.

Please note: This vehicle is a kit car. Should you plan to export this car from the U.K please check you are able to register the vehicle in your country or province before placing your bid.

Given the clarity of Henry Ford II’s edict to the design team, the GT40 was conceived to a very tight brief. Analysis of racing competitors in 1963, underscored that top speeds in excess of 200 mph, average laps of more than 130 mph, and durability to sustain an average of more than 120 mph for 24 hours would be necessary to compete successfully at Le Mans in the ensuing years - and take the fight firmly to Ferrari. It was deemed that a form factor 156 inches in length with a 95 inch wheelbase would prove especially effective. The height was critical, too, with 40 inches deemed perfect – hence the “GT40.”

GT Developments were renowned for the originality of their GT40 interpretation and that incredibly low profile seems especially notable here (it could be the flat rear tyres). This example is finished in a sublime deep blue metallic colour, possible somewhere between Deep Impact blue and Midnight blue. It retains an impressive level of metallic flake content which displays especially well on the curvaceous haunches of the GT40’s race focussed design. The full complement of NACA ducts, helmet bulges, Perspex cowls, white stripes and kamm tails are all present and thrillingly compelling. This is a car that was used and enjoyed, and its condition is emblematic of this with plenty of paint chips, scrapes and scars only serving to add to this car’s endearing character, provenance and stature.

The GTD40 sits on a staggered set of BRM style split rim alloy wheels. The six spoked centres are finished in a mat black which contrasts impressively with the polished alloy rims. The front pair are 8J x 17” items and the rears are 11J x 17” items. A set of Toyo Proxes are fitted in a 235 and 265 configuration respectively. As can be seen in the photographs the rear pair seem to have been done few favours by the four or five years off the road. 

Opening one of those distinctive doors, which are part door and part roof in reality, reveal the notoriously wide and challenging to traverse sills of a GT40. The originality quotient in here immediately impresses with the signature ventilated “grommet” seats initially grabbing the attention. These are finished in a deep blue vinyl with 12 horizontal rows of 6 brass coloured grommets set into it – originally intended to provide some ventilation to a sweaty, race suited driver. These slim and fixed back race inspired seats are fitted with Kent five point competition harnesses. The remainder of the cabin is trimmed in complementary coloured carpets and vinyl.

Other race orientated accoutrements include a couple of competition specification fire extinguishers and an 8000rpm tachometer mounted directly ahead of the driver. The latter is accompanied by five ancillary gauges, a big speedometer at far left and a slew of coloured warning lights and functional toggle switches. A small and chunky Mountney four spoke steering wheel is fitted. Another key GT40 attribute is the short, stubby gear lever mounted to the right of the driver. The overall condition remains impressive with just some diligent detailing needed to make this focussed cabin really shine.

As is entirely appropriate to such an impressive GT40 replica, this GTD40 is fitted with a 5-litre, or 302 cubic inch Ford V8 powerplant. This is a stage 2 unit purchased in 1992 complete with four 44 IDF Weber carburettors, accompanying inlet manifold and electronic ignition distributor. This set up weighed in a substantial £4,722.25 in 1992. A crossover exhaust system was purchased from GT Developments to go with it at an additional cost of nearly £900. The rear transaxle was sourced from a Renault 21 turbo.

With the GTD40 having remained unused for last five years or so, a full recommissioning and will be required before subsequent road use. The GTD40 was last MoT’d in 2016 at 35,250 miles at which point it was awarded an advisory free pass. The good news is how ever, that the car takes power and the engine turns over freely. 

Beneath the rear clamshell dwells the aforementioned mechanicals and they make for an impressive sight indeed. Those four big Webers sit in the “V” of the 302 V8, each one sprouting a pair of shiny, mesh topped trumpets. These sit between two ribbed, Ford Motorsport inscribed headers and the impressive “bundle of snakes” manifold curls around each flank of the engine to meet the two rear mounted silencers. These, in turn, sit atop the Renault sourced transaxle. It’s a thrilling looking set up and entirely appropriate to this most distinguished of GT40 recreations.

The bulk of the GT Developments space frame is covered up but everything under here looks to be in fine order. Given the regular use this car enjoyed there are a number of superficial, paint deep battle scars noted but a good clean and detailing here would go a long way to revealing its underlying condition and integrity.

There is rather a lot to take in on the history front. A full 180 images grace our documentation section so there is plenty to browse through. The V5 registration document is present together with numerous earlier MoT hard copies. Of the most recent 10 MoTs covering 2006 to 2016 just one advisory was noted in 2006 with the remainder being advisory free.

Pretty much the remainder of this generous archive consists of invoices for parts procured to create this superb GTD40. A good proportion of these are from GT Developments themselves including for the original kit, cabin fixtures and fittings, fuel tank, exhausts and the like. Somewhere in the region of £30,000 - £40,000 worth of spend (mostly in the early 1990s) can quickly be accounted for.

The GT40 was always shoe-in as the inspiration of a myriad of evocations or tributes. Imitation, of course, is the sincerest form of flattery. Inevitably enough, much like ABBA tribute acts, some are better than others. Torturing that metaphor somewhat, the GTD40 could certainly be considered as the Bjorn Again of the cohort.

This superb example was clearly a labour of love for its owner / builder with him expending over three years and close to £40,000 on creating this bespoke and entirely individual conveyance. No expense or time was spared in bringing to life a thrilling car with which he would subsequently share over 35,000 miles of motoring memories with. An exceptional car with a unique back story. Bid today to make it yours.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £25,000 - £30,000.

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