Original GT40 on the street

[twobjshelbys]

So I'm planning when I win powerball.

I've always wondered if the originals are streetable? There were a small number of GT40s sold through Ford Dealers with real VIN numbers, but can the originals be driven? I want to drive my cars. It would be a shame to pick up 1075 and only be able to put it in a museum

 

[Fast Freddy]

half the originals were right hand drive and half of the originals were built for the street. alot of the few street cars that are left have been converted to vintage race cars now though. but that doesn't matter because the GT-40 is so badass that any cop would never write you up for that anyway :usa besides the GT-40 is faster than a speeding ticket :biggrin

 

[Empty Pockets]

...besides the GT-40 is faster than a speeding ticket :biggrin

...but not faster than a LEO's radio.

 

[twobjshelbys]

...but not faster than a LEO's radio.

One can never out run Mr. Motorola


I expect that for a short jaunt around the local are Steve Volk's J7 would probably get an escort rather than a ticket. Other jurisdictions might not be so forgiving.

 

[Empty Pockets]

One can never out run Mr. Motorola

...but, on occasion, he can be outsmarted given the right circumstances. :wink

 

[Fast Freddy]

One can never out run Mr. Motorola


I expect that for a short jaunt around the local are Steve Volk's J7 would probably get an escort rather than a ticket. Other jurisdictions might not be so forgiving.

a GT40 in the right hands is more than just a parade car....

 

[Kayvan]

In Octane magazine in 2007-2010 I saw like 6 that were original street cars for sale

One one navy one was listed as Edsel Fords and had A/C!

I've seen 3-4 close up that were street...some at pebble weekend and one at Limerock

 

[2112]

Some of the street cars had less than attractive bodywork.

Just sayin.

 

[SteveA]

My father and his Business partner from 1968 to 1974 put nearly 30,000 street miles on the GT40 pictured in my Avatar. The car was delivered from Shelby American with 4miles total all from rolling on and off trailers as it made appearances at Ford dealers. I recall getting a ride to school in it a few days after the '69 win.

 

[Sinovac]

I love your stories about that car.

 

[Sinovac]

This is my favorite street-driven GT40:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/28/automobiles/28CARS.html?_r=0

I love the Mark IV.

 

[SteveA]

Hard to find fault with Jim's collection.:thumbsup

 

[SteveA]

I love your stories about that car.

And I love reliving them. Someday I'll tell the one about while riding in the left side passenger seat on the newly opened 210 fwy (So Cal), a guy with his smoking hot lady friend pulled along side us in his brand new Plum Crazy Purple Hemi Challenger. He didn't much care for the "ogling" his lady friend was doing over the 40 and watched him first scoff then point and mouth with much disdain in our general direction "Fiber-Fab". My father didn't much care for his attitude and so it was on. LOL!

 

[Sinovac]

My friend Rick (GT35065 on this forum) tells a great story about an original 427 Cobra his father (a Ford dealer at the time) brought home from the dealership. It involves a ball, a dent in the Cobra and a butt-kicking. He swears he didn't do it but I'm not sure. Maybe after all these years he will publicly come clean. :lol

 

[GT35065]

That is how my love affair with the 427 Cobra's began, when my Dad was driving a 427 red street AC for a demo. The street version is so cool and seldom seen anymore. No hood scoop, no roll bar, no side pipes, it was really clean looking. I was eight when my Dad brought this monster home and gave my brother and me a ride in it. I was sitting in my 12 year old brothers lap, and my Dad red lined the car in 2nd which was nearly 100 MPH. I have to admit at eight years old it scared me so bad I started crying for him to slow down. My brother at 12 thought this was hilarious fun! I still can't believe how loud and frightening that ride was. So much so that I always wanted one.

Now the dent story is true, and it happened while the car was in our driveway next to a tennis court. No one to this day admits to knowing how the dent came to be on this car. I just remember my Dad was PO'd because the car was aluminum and was going to be something his body shop had not dealt with before. The dent was right on top of the right rear 1/4 so if any ofyou has a red street 427, better check it there for bondo.

 

[Sinovac]

No one to this day admits to knowing how the dent came to be on this car.

John 8:32
and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free

 

[Ed Sims]

We saw one of the original street GT40s at the Petersen Museum at Rally II. It was cool.

Ed

 

[djs]

"First on the tour was a vibrant yellow Ford GT40 Mk IV, a car that qualified on the pole for the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1967 and was driven to a fourth-place finish by Mark Donohue and Bruce McLaren.

Mr. Glickenhaus has driven the thundering treasure some 25,000 miles in the 15 years he has owned it, using it for local Sunday drives and weekend treks, including one to Vermont where he found himself caught in a snowstorm. "It got a little squirrelly," he said. "But it kept going." "

Can you imagine seeing a Mk IV on the highway? You have to give Glickenhaus credit. 25,000 miles in that beast is just plain awesome.

 

[THamonGT]

Here's what started my quest to own a Ford GT-40 back in 1967.

 

[SteveA]

That is also what got me into "hot chicks" in '67 at the ripe old age of 10.