by A. Wayne Ferens
Images Courtesy of Ford Motor Company and the Ferens Collection
Published 1.1.2024
The first Ford prototype designed for world endurance racing was completed April 1, 1964 , 11 months after Ford engineers and designers put pencil to paper in Dearborn, MI. (Ford Motor Company)
The year was 1962, and products rolling out of Detroit's big three automakers were advertised as new, exciting, stylish and sporty, with much emphasis on performance. With demand growing for sports type performance cars and new products from overseas filling the pages of Road & Track, Motor Trend, Sports Cars Illustrated and others, Henry Ford II had to respond.
For Ford to enter the Euro-arena of building cars and racing in International Motor Sports, Hank the Deuce had to move quickly, and by the end of June 1963, Ford sealed a deal with Lola's founder Eric Broadley in Slough, England. Ford's objective was to use Broadley's expertise in car building and resources for one year in order to build a Ford designed mid-engine V8 GT race car that was already on the drawing board in Dearborn. Over the next several years, Ford would make history by winning nine major international victories, 15 minor wins and three World Sports Car Manufacturers Championships. The GT40 and its derivatives were key to Ford's success.
Ford established Ford Advanced Vehicles (FAV), and an array of competition cars, bare chassis and some road cars were produced in limited numbers over the next several years. In January 1967, J.W. Automotive Engineering, Ltd. took over the now defunct FAV operation at Slough. They would be responsible for building the MKIII for Ford that was to be the definitive road-going version of the GT40 competition car. The plan was to build a limited number that included two prototypes for testing and show, as well as 20 completed production cars that were to be sold to and distributed by Ford Motor Company.
By early 1967, JWAE completed the first road car prototype GT40 (XP130-1) that was shipped to New York for a display at the New York Motor Show. Then, it was used as a promotional car until the summer of 1967. The car was painted Dark Metallic Blue with few basic differences between the race cars and the MKIII.
The first MKIII prototype shown here at the Dearborn Proving Grounds (Ford Motor Company)
In early 1968 before the car was returned to JWA for a complete update with the 'production' MKIII upgrades, the car was resprayed in Carnival red and renumbered M3/1101. While being returned to Ford in Dearborn, the car suffered some roof damage and was placed into storage until a decision was made to either scrap the car or repair the damage. Ford eventually sold the car, and it exchanged hands several times and even was raced for several years. Today, the car is back in the UK meticulously restored to its original XP130-1 MKIII prototype specifications.
Several MKIIIs were powered by the 4.7- litre, 289 cu. in. engine that was detuned to 306 bhp and was equipped with a ZF 5-speed transaxle. Others were powered by the 5.0L 302 cu.in. V8. The front and rear body sections were of high-quality fiberglass. The nose had been restyled to move the four headlamps up to legal height for street use and to allow the use of sealed beams set under plexiglass fairings. The rear part of the body was lengthened eight inches to provide a small six-cubic-foot 'luggage box' over the transaxle and muffler system.
The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive 2-passenger GT car M3-1102 showing the luggage "locker" mounted above the transaxle and exhaust system. This MKIII was powered by the 4.7L V8. (Ferens Collection)
In order to make the car more roadworthy additional modifications were as follows:
- Shock absorber stiffness reduced by 25%
- Hand brake added
- Softer brake lining used
- Horn and turn signals added
- Full instrumentation across dash
- Heater/defroster added
- Sound deadening and heat insulation added
- Adjustable ventilated seats
- Added trim (carpet) in interior
- Weather sealing
- Tuned 1.5 inch muffled exhaust system
- Borrani knock-off wire wheels on Goodyear racing wet weather tires
- Front hinged opening sections of 'perspex' in each door window
- Ford emblems front and sides, dual outside mirrors & lock set installed on doors and deck.
- Choice of 150 colors
The interior of the GT40 M3/1105 shows leather-ventilated seats, carpet and full instrumentation. The gearshift lever was relocated to the center near the hand brake. M3/1105 was built with left hand drive. Some of the available options were air-conditioning, choice of radio, television, stereo tape player, map pockets and lights. Technically and mechanically is where the MKIII shines as it should for being the most expensive Ford ever built. (Ferens Collection)
Although the MKIII had great performance, braking & handling, and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds, there were quality issues that needed attention. The MKIII also looked significantly different from the more aero-designed racing versions, so customers interested in buying a GT40 for road use chose to buy the MKI (31 made) that was available from Wyer Ltd. With a price tag of $18,500 and new government safety regulations, only seven MKIIIs were ever made. Four were left-hand-drive, and three were right-hand-drive. All have survived to this day!
M3/1105 in the original color of Metallichrome ice blue on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA. Note the hinged pop-open side window. (Ferens Collection)
The M3/1107 on display at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show was the last MKIII completed by JWA in June 1967. It is powered by a high-performance 302 ci with Holley carburetor. This car was originally painted silver, then Wimbledon white with blue sill stripes until 2014 when restored by Ford Motor Company, who has owned it since new.
Bibliography:
Allan, Bob. “Ford GT40.” 1963.
High Performance Cars Magazine, July 1967.
Ferens, A. Wayne. “A History of the Ford GT40 MKIII.” 2013.