1964 FORD GT40 GT/103
FORD GT40 PROTOTYPE RACING COUPE
Details & History
Completed in June 1964, this Ford GT40 prototype is the earliest known GT40 chassis in existence. At the end of the 1964 season, after months of development and disappointing race results at Le Mans, Reims and later Nassau Speed Week, the third and fourth GT40 prototypes (GT/103 and GT/104) were sent to Carroll Shelby for further tuning and preparation. The cars were then entered in the opening race of the 1965 season, the Daytona 2000 km Continental, and it soon became clear that Shelby’s development work had made a big difference; GT/103, with Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby behind the wheel, raced into the history books as the first GT40 to score a victory. Later that year, GT/103 finished 2nd at Sebring and 3rd at Monza driven by Bruce McLaren and Ken Miles. It was then fitted with a 325 cubic-inch engine for a race at the Nurburgring driven by Phil Hill. After this race, GT/103 was officially retired from the factory team and was sold into private hands. It continued to be raced until 1970 by Bill Wonder.
On loan from the Miller Family Automobile Foundation.
Images by Boyd Jaynes, Dave Friedman and the Shelby American Collection.
Race History
Race History under Ford/f.A.V.
DATE: 6/20/64
TRACK: Le Mans
PLACE: DNF
DRIVER: Richie Ginther / Masten Gregory
DATE: 7/4/64
TRACK: Reims
PLACE: DNF
DRIVER: Richie Ginther / Masten Gregory
DATE: 11/29/64
TRACK: Nassau Tourist Trophy
PLACE: DNF
DRIVER: Phil Hill
DATE: 12/4/64
TRACK: Nassau Governor’s Cup
PLACE: DNF
DRIVER: Phil Hill
Race History under Shelby American
DATE: 2/28/65
TRACK: Daytona
PLACE: 1st Place
DRIVER: Ken Miles / Lloyd Ruby
DATE: 3/27/65
TRACK: Sebring
PLACE: 2nd Place
DRIVER: Ken Miles / Bruce McLaren
DATE: 4/25/65
TRACK: Monza
PLACE: 3rd Place
DRIVER: Ken Miles / Bruce McLaren
DATE: 5/23/65
TRACK: Nurburgring
PLACE: DNF
DRIVER: Phil Hill