Car built and owned by Shelby in 1965. It was the first of four roadster cars painted in white. The roadster was briefly used for exhibition and promotional purposes by Shelby’s Cobra team. Various engines and transmissions were tested along with an automatic transmission in this vehicle in the UK and the USA. Ken Miles would actually perform demonstrations with Ford’s board members on the tarmac at Los Angeles’ International Airport. It was further used as a development car.
It was kept in store until it was sold to a Kar Kraft employee, George Sawyer. He installed a rebuilt 289-cubic-inch engine fitted a ZF gearbox. Sawyer soon sold the car to Harley Cluxton III in Arizona who in turn sold it on to John Roberson of Big Fork, Montana. Robertson kept the highly original car until the early 1980s. After passing through Cluxton’s possession again in 1983, the Ford was purchased by Tom Congleton of Mission Hills, Kansas, and he commissioned a full mechanical restoration, notably retaining the original specifications as much as possible. Due to his refusal to upgrade the GT40 in any way, the car managed only average finishes at various vintage events, but the owner wisely deemed originality to be more important. During this period the car was featured on the cover of The Shelby American #51 and enjoyed coverage in an April 1984 issue of Autoweek. It was also displayed at the SAAC meet at Dearborn in July 1984 and the 25th Anniversary GT40 Reunion at Watkins Glen in September 1989.
In 1992 this exquisite GT roadster came into long-term ownership when it was acquired by a respected collector based in the Pacific Northwest. Under his care, the GT/108 received a substantial mechanical freshening in 2003 by the esteemed Phil Reilly and Company in Corte Madera, California. The car was also occasionally presented at niche events, including the 1994 SAAC meet at Road America, the 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (where it won a class award), the 2010 Quail Motorsports Gathering, and the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Roadster GT40, Chassis #109, was delivered from Abbey Panels of Coventry in October 1964 to Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough. The body was finished by Eric Broadly and the group at F.A.V. and arrived in March 1965 back at the Shelby American plant in Los Angeles, where testing and modifying the GT40was completed. The GT/109 was the first GT40 to use side-mounted engine oil radiators. It also included the addition of rear-body exit vents to relieve pressure that tended to build up under the rear-wheel arches, a higher rear-end spoiler to balance out the front splitters, center-section electric fuel pumps, a water radiator expansion tank, and a center-section rollover cover that granted easy access to ancillary engine systems.
Shipped to France, the GT40 raced at LeMans in June 1965, entered by Ford France with drivers Maurice Trintignant and Guy Ligier. The car number was changed from 9 to 15 before the race. GT 109 appeared in the Ford France colours of white with blue and red stripes and lined up 13th on the grid, slowest of the six Fords entered. The race got off to a poor start and Trintignant was in the pits after just two laps with a misfire. Having run well outside the top ten, GT 109 then became the first Ford retirement. With just eleven laps completed, it was pushed away with a broken gearbox.
Chassis #109 was sent back to Shelby American. When Ford decided to develop only the coupe, Dean Jeffries acquired #109 from Shelby. An article in Autoweek described how Jefferies and A J Foyt flew to Detroit one day to meet with Ford’s Jacques Passino. Jeffries saw the GT40 sitting in the warehouse and asked if he could buy it. Passino said: “no problem, you can have it. We’re done with the Roadster’s”. The car stayed in Jeffries possession until his death in 2013.
The next owner was auctioneer Dana Mecum, who had this rare GT Roadster in original body restored in time for the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, entered by Dana & Patti Mecum where the 50th anniversary of Ford's Le Mans win was celebrated. Was again for sale in 2019 in Monterey where it reached a high bid of US$7.5 million and failed to sell.
Owened by Shelby American. This Ford X1 was a roadster with light alloy chassis to gain weight was built to contest the 1965 North American Pro Series, a forerunner of the CanAm. It was entered by Bruce McLaren Motor Racing and driven by Chris Amon. The car had an aluminum chassis build at Abbey Panels and was originally powered by a 4.5 L (289ci) engine. The real purpose of this car was to test several improvements originating from either Kar Kraft, Shelby or McLaren. Several gearboxes were used, a Hewland LG500 and at least one but more probably several automatic gearboxes. The car, painted in white and black, entered the race at Mosport in September 1965 (DNF,overheating). The next race, 200 mile race at the Riverside, Amon ended the race fifth. For the Bahama Speed week in december, the car raced in the Governors Trophy and the Nassau Trophy, again a DNF in both races.
Shipped back to California, 110 was later upgraded specification to the Mk II with a 7.0 L (427ci) engine and a standard four ratio Kar Kraft gearbox; the car kept specific features like its open roof and lightweight chassis.
With Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby at the wheel of a red painted car (#1) it won the 1966 Sebring 12 hours. The X-1 was lucky to win the Sebring given the unforseen breakdown of Gurneys MKII in the last lap.
There were initially plans to have GT 110 X1 rebodied as a Coupe but, within weeks of its victory at Sebring, the car was being cannibalised for parts. This continued for the next few years and GT 110 X never appeared in public again.
Back in late 1965, Shelby had imported the car on a temporary import bond. By 1970, this had long since expired. Shelby was faced with two choices: pay the import tax and late fees or scrap the car. The latter, cheaper option was chosen. GT 110 X was destroyed in the presence of a customs inspector.
