GT40 From Superformance

Inspired by the Ford GT40, the Superformance GT40 is licensed by SAFIR GT40 Spares LLC as a continuation GT40, and is eligible for official GT40 registry.

The Superformance GT40 chassis and steel roof spider was built from Ford Advanced Vehicles, LLC blueprints.  And like all Superformance component vehicles, the GT40 is sold as a complete roller sans engine and transaxle.

Engineering

Two-thirds of the Superformance GT40 parts are interchangeable with those of the original Ford GT40, including its single shell chassis.  It features a pressed steel roof, and offers the choice of left or right-hand drives.

This component car also features a ZF/RBT transaxle, Bilstein shocks and H&R springs.  It comes with original styles suspension, Wilwood brakes, rack and pinion steering, cross-flow radiator and the original style “bundle of snakes” exhaust with headers.

To increase driver comfort, the pedal box and steering are adjustable.  Like the original GT40, the Superformance GT40's steering wheel is removable for easier access.

THE MKI version of the Superformance GT40 is fitted with 15 inch BRM style wheels, while the MKII version has 15 inch Hallibrand style wheels.

The GT40 MKI is built to handle either a Ford 302 motor or 351 Windsor.  The GT40 MKII can accommodate either the big block 427FE motor or a Ford Windsor 351.

The Superformance GT40 also comes with air conditioning as standard equipment.

Impressions

When designing their version of the GT40, Superformance remained true to the body style of the original but also incorporated features to enhance driver comfort.  The seat has been modified to provide extra room; and to make cockpit access easier, a removable steering wheel has been added.  Additionally, as in the original GT40, the variety of pedal box mounting spots allows flexibility in the amount of driver leg room.

Jim Creel of Racing Legends Motorsports in Plano, the Texas dealer for Superformance, states the Superformance GT40 is so true to the original that he considers this car to be an original, not a replica.

What Will It Cost?

According to Jim Creel, pricing for the Superformance GT40 starts at $79,900.

In the early 1960’s, the owner of Ford Motor Company Henry Ford II became increasingly frustrated over his company’s flagging high-performance engineering reputation.  Discarding the Automobile Manufacturers Association ban on racing, Ford initiated a campaign to win both the Indianapolis 500 and the Grand Prix d’Endurance.

Ford’s team soon realized a mid-engine racecar capable of hitting speeds of 200+ miles per hour was needed to accomplish such a goal.  Henry Ford began negotiations with Enzo Ferrari, who had won the previous five Le Mans races, in an effort to purchase the Ferrari company and technology.  However, Fiat won the bidding war for Ferrari and Ford turned to Lola, a company with one of the most technologically advanced mid-engine racecars at the time.

A combined team of automotive engineers and racecar drivers formed a new Ford subsidiary called Ford Advanced Vehicles, Ltd., ultimately producing the GT40.  Ford beat Ferrari and the GT40 dominated racetracks throughout the remainder of the ‘60s.

In addition to the GT40, Superformance also manufactures the MKIII, inspired by the Shelby Cobra.  This replica car is licensed by the creator of the Shelby Cobra, Carroll Shelby.

Superformance also produces the SPF Coupe, also known as the Shelby Cobra Dayton Coupe.  This Superformance SPF Coupe is licensed by Carroll Shelby and is eligible for the elite SAAC registry.