One of the rare classic racing car, Ford GT Competition Prototype
For the American automotive giant, Ford Motor Company, the figure of the 1965 Ford GT Competition Roadster is one of the historic cars for them. Because the Ford GT Roadster car with chassis number #109 is the only Ford GT Roadster to have competed in the Le Mans race in 1965. Furthermore, the GT (Grand Touring) labeled car is equipped with a Ford V8 engine, which has various specifications ranging from 4.2 liters, 4.7 liters, to 7.0 liters.
As quoted from Carscoops, the Ford GT Competition has a pretty fantastic record in the American automotive giant racing history, in which the car is also known as a part of the Ford Motor Company effort to beat Ferrari in a prestigious world's racing event such 24 Hours of Le Mans, after the Italian company refused to be bought by Ford in the 1960s.
This car is built on the same platform as the famous Ford GT40. At that time, Ford only made 12 units of the Ford GT prototype. Five of them are prototypes built in the roadster format. Currently, only three units of the Ford GT Roadster are existed, namely the roadster with chassis numbers #108, #109, and #111, and of all the roadsters, the GT/109 is the only one has the most prestigious track record and a unique historical journey as well.
And what is even more amazing is that it is the earliest Ford GTs ever produced. Yes, this car was built by Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough, England to compete with other competitors in the 24 Hours of Le Mans of 1965. But when competing at the Le Mans circuit with Maurice Trintignant and Guy Ligier behind the wheel, this Ford car is stopped due to experiencing the gearbox problem on the 11th-laps. After that, the GT/109 was sent to America for repair, and for the next three years, it served as a test vehicle for the racing and passenger car components.
In 1968, when the car has been retired and stored in a Ford warehouse in Detroit then it's purchased by a Californian auto builder and Hollywood's stuntman named Dean Jeffries who continued to maintain the car until he died in 2013. Soon Ford's racing car ownership had changed after being purchased by Dana Mecum from Dean Jeffries' son.
Then Dana Mecum commissioned a famous restoration house of Harley Cluxton III from GTC Mirage Racing to carry out the process of restoring the car so that it looks new again. Now the Ford GT Competition Prototype #109 is claimed to be one of the most desirable cars in the world.
So do not be surprised if Mecum Auction in July 2020 then estimates that this car can be sold at the starting prices of the US. $7.5 million to $10 million (or approximately Rp.112.5 billion and above). *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARSCOOPS | ]
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