2002 DRB GT40 Replica Coupe

Description

Ford's GT40, one of the most iconic racing cars ever made, was the direct result of the Dearborn carmaker's failed attempt to buy out Enzo Ferrari in the early 1960s. Under the banner of the Total Performance programme, Ford set about beating the Italians at their own game. With victory in the the Le Mans 24-Hour race the ultimate prize, Ford began developing a sports-prototype - based on the Lola Mark VI - in time for the 1964 season. The mid-engined GT40 was based on a monocoque spaceframe and stood just forty inches high, hence the name, and was initially powered by Ford's 289-cid small block V8. The first win came at Daytona in 1965 but it was the Mark II - with a 7-litre engine jointly developed by Shelby American and Holman and Moody - that brought a maiden win at Le Mans in 1966, with Kiwis Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren sharing the laurels. In 1967 the J-Car derivative notched up another win at Le Mans, after which the official Ford GT programme was wound up, although Gulf-backed GT40s went on to score memorable back-to-back wins at Le Mans in 1968-1969. Beautiful, hugely successful, rare (less than 100 originals were made) and now ultra desirable, it is little wonder the GT40 has become a legend to legions of Ford and racing fans generally. With genuine cars worth seven figure sums, ownership is well beyond the means of most of us and many enthusiasts have turned to replicas to provide all the thrills of ownership at a realistic price. Australia is indeed fortunate to have some of the highest quality components and workmanship available to build a top-notch replica GT40 and the car on offer here is without doubt just that, utilising components manufactured by DRB Sportscars of Queensland, Australia.