SAFIR GT 40 GULF STREAM

[raw muscle cars]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...296457&rd=1

ANY ONE KNOW ABOUT THESE CARS LITTLE INFO FOUND

[camarojoe]

All I know is it's very cool

[Jeff Murphy]

Probably more than you wanted to know:

[ QUOTE ]
The Ford GT40 was one of the most distinctive sports cars of all time. It was built to win long-distance sports car races, notably the Le Mans 24 Hour Race against Ferrari (who had won four in a row 1958-62). Henry Ford II wanted a Ford at Le Mans since the early 1960s, initially there was an attempt to buy Ferrari, but after they backed away in 1963 Ford started a lone project. The resulting car was the GT40 (so named because its overall height was 40 inches) first produced in April 1964 and at Le Mans GT40s won four times straight from 1966 to 1969.

The original GT40 first raced at Le Mans in 1964 and was not very successful with all three cars retiring, but the experience gained then and in 1965 allowed the Mark II to dominate the race in 1966 with a 1-2-3 finish. The Mark IV won the following year (when four Mark IVs three Mark IIs and three Mark I raced) and after a rules change re-engined Mark Is won the race in 1968 and 1969. Rule changes again in 1970 rendered the car obsolete.

The Mark III was a road-car only, of which 7 were built.

Just as with many classic sportscars, several companies made replicas of the GT40 - of varying quality. One of the best such companies was Safir Engineering, which bought the rights to the name "GT40" in 1985, and built cars until 1999 with chassis numbers continuing the sequence where the original Ford cars stopped.

At the 2002 Detroit Auto Show, a new GT40 Concept was unveiled by Ford. This is to be put on sale in 2003 as part of Ford's centenary. Curiously, Ford had never claimed "GT40" as a trademark. Demands of $40 million from Safir for the name were rejected, and the car will be known officially as the "Ford GT".


[/ QUOTE ]

There has been a booming GT40 replica market in Europe (esp. the UK) for some years. Quality ranges from excellent to diabolical. A couple of manufacturers, including Safir (and one South African company, I believe), were allowed to produce the cars with continuation serial numbers.

As for the car in the link, at best it's a continuation, at worst it's a clone. Still, the ones done right aren't cheap. There are companies out there now doing GT40s with Roush 427 crate engines mated to a ZF 6-speed transaxle.

Here's another:



[ QUOTE ]
FORD GT40 Mk V , 1989 , 6,000 miles, Pillar box red with black trim. Built under licence by Safir Engineering, this car was one of a small number constructed with the sanction of the Ford Motor Company on the original gigs and moulds. 5.4 litre Mathwall engine, ZF gear box, BRM wheels etc. etc. Two owners from new and suplied with spare doors - to increase cabin height. Recent major service and overhaul. Stunning and totally correct. Very rare opportunity. TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES ONLY PLEASE. £150,000

[/ QUOTE ] That's about $300k at the moment.

[Jeff Murphy]

I think you guys might be interested in what goes into one of these cars (the real ones, anyway). The level of work required for restoration of a GT40 is a bit different than a mass produced car for which lots of NOS parts are around. Pretty interesting reading (lots of pics, too!)

Ford GT 40 Restoration

[Jeff Murphy]

Here's a pic of few real ones I took at the premier vintage racing event in Europe:

[Belair62]

I love it...bad to the bone..... Bundle of Snakes

[raw muscle cars]

YOU GUYS ARE ON THE MONEY THATS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS A CONTINUATION GT 40 MK 5 WITH A FORD VIN AND SERIAL # 40 CARS AFTER THE LAST REAL GT 40 1090 WAS BUILT HE WANTS 200,000K FOR THE CAR. I AM LEAVING MONDAY TO GO LOOK AT IT IN PERSON HE HAS NEVER DRIVEN YHE CAR ON THE STREET. DO YOU GUYS THINK THERE IS A VALUE TO THIS CAR?
THANKS AGAIN.

[Belair62]

I would think so.....this one looks so cool...I would love to drive it...even with a 302..there must be some more info out in inter-land.

[Charley Lillard]

I have lots of info from the Shelby registry but I sliced my finger pretty good so typing is kinda tough.

[Canucklehead]

The Auto Collection out of vegas had one of the lemans cars for sale last year at 3 mill