1991 Ford GT40 Replica

This Safir GT40 Mark V is one of 40 continuation examples built in Surrey, UK, by Safir Engineering Limited in partnership with J.W. Automotive Engineering and under agreement with Ford Motor Company between 1980 and 2000. Chassis GT40P1134 was originally delivered in March 1991 and was acquired out of California by the seller in 2006. A subsequent refurbishment included a repaint in yellow with black stripes and a rebuild of the 5.3-liter Ford V8 with the addition of Gurney Weslake cylinder heads, four Weber carburetors, and a custom “turkey pan” cold-air box. Additional equipment includes a ZF five-speed manual transaxle with a limited-slip differential, a Safir GT40 Spares twin-plate clutch, AP Racing ventilated disc brakes, adjustable coilover suspension, staggered-width 15” BRM-style magnesium wheels, “bundle of snakes” stainless-steel exhaust headers, dual custom fuel cells, a Halon fire-suppression system, a cable-operated shift mechanism, and black interior upholstery with ventilation grommets. This Safir GT40 is now offered with invoices and photos from the 2006-2007 refresh, invoices from 2019, and a clean Illinois title in the name of the seller’s business that lists the car as a 1965 Ford. Development of a continuation variant of Ford’s four-time Le Mans-winning GT40 began when Safir Engineering founder Peter Thorp broached the idea with John Willment of J.W. Automotive Engineering (JWAE), at the time the owner of the GT40’s production rights. An agreement between Safir, JWAE, and Ford allowed production of a limited run of the Mark V to commence in 1980 and was followed by Safir’s acquisition of the GT40 trademark in 1985. The Mark V’s design was based on Ford’s GT40 Mark I, with updates made to the steel semi-monocoque chassis design including modified rust-proofing and revised suspension geometry. This example’s carbon-fiber Kevlar composite body panels were repainted in the car’s original color scheme of yellow with black stripes during a refurbishment performed by That’s Auto Body in Richmond, Illinois, between 2006 and 2007. Bodywork during the project included repairs to stress cracks, areas of delamination, and scratches on the nose, rear section, and doors. Staggered-width 15” BRM-style magnesium wheels are secured by three-eared knock-offs and wear Dunlop G/T Qualifier tires. Stopping is handled by AP ventilated disc brakes at each corner, and a 2019 refresh included rebuilds of the four-piston calipers and replacement of the dual master cylinders. REM-finished wheel bearings were also installed at that time, and the front uprights were refurbished. Configured in right-hand drive, the cockpit houses fixed bucket seats upholstered in black with ventilation grommets and RJS four-point harnesses. Black carpeting covers the footwells, center tunnel, and sills. A Halon fire-suppression system was added under current ownership, and the right-hand shifter has been modified with a cable mechanism in lieu of the factory rod-operated setup. The removed shifter rod and linkage are included in the sale. The three-spoke Moto-Lita steering wheel frames Smiths instrumentation including a central tachometer and gauges monitoring coolant pressure and oil temperature. Additional instruments to the driver’s left include a 200-mph speedometer and gauges monitoring fuel level, voltage, and oil temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 5,500 miles, less than 500 of which have been added by the seller. The 5.3-liter V8 was rebuilt in 2007 by PHP Racengines in Wauconda, Illinois, with Gurney Weslake cylinder heads installed during the project along with quadruple Weber carburetors and a custom turkey pan. Custom fuel cells supplied by Eagle Fuel Cells in Eagle River, Wisconsin, were also installed during the refurbishment. Replacement Bendix fuel pumps are said to have been installed by PHP Racengines in 2007 Power is sent to the rear wheels by a ZF five-speed manual transaxle that is said to have been resealed by Stuart Moore Engineering of Mundelein, Illinois in 2019, at which time the clutch cylinders were replaced. A twin-plate clutch assembly sourced from Safir GT40 Spares was installed in 2019. The J.W. Automotive Engineering chassis tag is shown riveted to the chassis above. Photos from the 2006-2007 mechanical work by PHP Racengines are included in the photo gallery below, as are invoices from the project. Results of a dynamometer test following the 2007 rebuild are also shown.