1966 Ford GT40 MKII Lightweight Sold For Near-Record $12,375,000

By Gary Gastelu |

Jan 17, 2026

A rare Ford racing car has been sold for the second-highest amount ever paid for a car from the blue oval brand.

The 1966 Ford GT40 MKII Lightweight is one of just three cars like it and the one that remains in the most original condition. It crossed the block at the Mecum Auctions event in Kissimmee, Fla., on Saturday night where it was sold for $12,375,000.

Ford built 11 GT40 MKIIs in the year it first won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and three were constructed with a special thin-gauge steel chassis and aluminum roof. The lightweights were also the only MKIIs equipped with an adjustable suspension.

This particular car is known as XGT-3 and was never actually raced by Ford, but was used as a promotional vehicle and backup car.

It is powered by the same type of 427-cubic-inch V8 as the Le Mans-winning car and retains its entire original body and chassis.

“There are other Mark IIs which have been fabulously restored to original configuration, but only XGT-3 is in that original configuration still,” according to renowned Ford GT40 historian Ronnie Spain.

The historic Le Mans-winner was privately sold for an undisclosed amount in 2015, but another car that was entered in the race that only made it 12 laps before it suffered a differential failure, was auctioned in February 2025 for $13,205,000 to set an record auction price for Fords.

The final bid for the lightweight was $11,250,000, but the buyer paid $12,375,000 after auction fees were added.

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