03/10/2026
A real treat today - the famous â1966 Ford GT40 Mk III Prototypeâ Chassis XP130/1, a one-of-a-kind beast that almost rewrote supercar history!
In 1966, Ford were on a Le Mans rampage, to crush Ferrariâs dreams. But amid the racetrack glory, they dreamed bigger â a street-legal GT40 for the elite, blending raw power with grand touring finesse.
Enter the Mk III: just SEVEN ever built, and this LHD prototype. One of only FOUR road-going gems. Born from an unused Mk I monocoque at John Wyerâs Slough Factory, it was Fordâs bold stab at a 200+ mph daily driver for the jet set.
Debuting at the 1967 New York Auto Show in its sultry Dark Metallic Blue, it stole the spotlight. Car and Driver clocked 0-60 in under 5 seconds, top speed kissing 175 mph â all from a 289ci Windsor V8 pumping 306 hp through a slick 4-speed Toploader, 40-inch stance, aluminum bones⊠this wasnât just a car; it was a time machine on wheels. Revised aero for road poise, luxe cabin tweaks â air con optional, because why not chill at Mach speeds?
Fast-forward: A roof-crashing mishap sidelined it, then Gulf Oil heir Prosser Mellon stashed it away. Then a Yellow repaint in 1976 when New Jersey collector Ralph Bass turned it into a Mk I racer for track thrills in 2003.
The Car came back to the UK in 2010, where it was raced hard, then put into a 2-year, blueprint-true restoration back to its 1966 spec.
GT40 guru Ronnie Spain blessed it â finished back to its original blue, every rivet authentic. Then followed a Pebble Beach Concours place in 2016.
Today, valued at over ÂŁ10m, itâs a âwhat ifâ â the GT40 supercar that slipped away. Dry weight ~2,600 lbs, double-wishbone suspension, disc brakes gripping like fate.
Whatâs your dream ride from motorsport legend?