Like the 1966 Le Mans winning GT40 of Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, this 2005 Ford GT shows black paint, white stripes and, if you look carefully, the number 2.
Little introduction needs to be made for the Ford GT40s of the 60s or their spiritual cousin, the 2005-06 Ford GT. The former were world-dominating race cars and the later reestablished Ford’s reputation as dynamic, performance-oriented manufacturer. In both cases, the cars were built in limited numbers and sold to select customers. This car, in fact, was first sold to a member of Ford’s board of directors and is serial number 2. Serial number 1, it is believed, never the left the ownership of the Ford Motor Company.
As the second car produced and one destined for a Ford Family VIP, this GT possesses a few special features beyond its place in the production order. Like a 2004 build date, BBS wheels and black paint, the later of which was not available to regular customers until much later in the production run.
Once delivered to its first owner, Mr. Michael Dingman, this GT joined a large collection of carefully maintained collector vehicles and appears to retain as-new condition in nearly every regard. The paint, bodywork, interior surfaces and engine compartment, in fact, are perfect and ready for continued careful ownership. That, or 3.2 second runs to 60mph to the sound of a 550hp, supercharged 5.4 liter V8.
Though many “instant classics” lose interest and value quickly, the Ford GT’s low production numbers, high praise and pedigreed blood lines have resulted in a car more cherished today than in the years it was first produced. We love the idea of a usable, blue-oval supercar and wouldn’t hesitate to bid on this car when it crosses the block this weekend at RM’s Dingman Collection Auction just outside Boston, Massachusetts.
Is Jack Andrew Griffith going to be recognized for the anninversary of the Griffith 200 and 400 series? I hear his wife passed away and he is about eight-nine years old and lliving in Jacksonville, Florida. He was recognized at the 2010 Amelia Island Concourse D’ Elegance and is one of the promoters of the event.
He knew Carroll Shelby and raced one of Shelbys Cobras. However, today, those Griffith 400′s are the terrors of the racetracks in Europe. See the Silverstone, Gentlemen Drivers, race on u-tube, and you’ll see a TVR Griffith 400 beat Cobras, and some of the best and fastest cobras in the continent, Jaguars, Corvettes, Austin Martins, Ferraris, and 904 Porsches. And to think that TVR and Jack Grifith got together and eventually, the 400, proved its mettle against all comers. Just like Carroll Shelby and AC of England produced the AC Cobra.
Does any know why Jack didn’t campaign a Griffith 400 in the US?
In conclusion, at one time Jack told Carroll that he could build a faster car then his. And when one see reality in the Silverstone race in England Jack was correct.
There is only one HUGE problem with the above car. The color scheme of Bruce McLaren’s 1966 winning LeMans GT40 was Black and SILVER. Period. NOT Black and White. To go a bit further, the color scheme was Black and Silver with a tiny little Silver colored Fern on each side. It may look Black and White in poor photos, many of which were… B&W, but Black and Silver was the OFFICIAL car color of Team McLaren at the time (June 1966); and Ford painted the car that color as a HUGE political concession to McLaren, whom Ford was trying to keep with the team. Sometime later, Team McLaren’s color was changed to Orange when it was determined that Black was harder to see as they rushed up in an opposing driver’s mirrors. Bruce McLaren felt that Bright Orange had a way of burning itself into the consciousness of the grid… Had he felt that in 1966, we might have had an ORANGE winner, but of course, the ACO officials might have allowed the great Ken Miles the win, FOMOCO might have not insisted on a staged finish and slowed Miles down, etc., etc. Regardless, BLACK and SILVER was the color of that day. Let’s not start to revise history on this. Thanks.