1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight Sold For $7,865,000
It wasn’t an auction record, but it was an eye-popping price.
A 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight racing car was sold at the Mecum Auctions Monterey event for $7,865,000, making it one of the most valuable cars ever from an American brand.
The competition coupe is one of just 10 like it that were built and is the same model that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.
This white example never competed in that or another major race, but was used competitively for several years.
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It still has its original rebuilt 289 cubic-inch V8-based Gurney Weslake engine and five-speed transmission and wears its factory bodywork, which is refinished and repainted, but managed to stay undamaged over the years.
The price paid was right about where Hagerty values this model and beat the $6,930,000 that was paid for a 1966 GT40 earlier this year, but came up short of the all-time record for a GT40.
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That stands at $11 million, which is what was paid for a GT40 in Monterey way back in 2012. That was a particularly special car, however, as it was used as a camera car during the making of the Steve McQueen movie “Le Mans” that was shot in 1970.
Another car with a connection to McQueen was up for auction at the Mecum event this year. The A 1963 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster was used, but not owned by McQueen, from 1965 to 1967 and received high bid of $1.1 million, but that was not enough to meet its undisclosed reserve.
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