Production in 1965.
In the hands of future Formula One constructor Guy Ligier, GT40- P1003 was the first GT40 to claim a victory in Europe. It ran under the Ford France banner for Ligier through the 1965 and 1966 seasons before passing on to Jean-Michel Giorgi, who continued to race it as a Ford France car.
In Ligier’s hands it debuted at the 1965 Nurburgring 1000 Km’s, co-driven by Maurice Trintignant. The overall painting was white for Ford France. Ligier then gave the GT40 that historic first European win at Magny-Cours and followed it up with another victory in the Trophee du Cognac at Albi. There were class wins on the Chamrousse and Mont-Dore hillclimbs. In the 1966 1000 k Nürburgring, Ligier-Schlesser finished fifth.
At the end of the season, the Ford was handed over to Jean-Michel Giorgi, who won in 1967 the notorious Targa Florio in his class ( #130, with H.Greder, and 5th overall). He also became the first in his class, again with Greder as team mate (7th overall) at the Nürburgring. The last race this GT40 ran was the 1000 km of Paris at Montlhery (JP Jabouille- Giorgi, DNF)
The car was sold to a British man, Robs Lamplough in 1968. He used it as a road car in a red and black painted version. After that it was sold to 2 other owners, painted in light green.
In 1973 it was painted again in the original Ford France white colours.It was then sold to Robert Horne, who kept the car in his collection for over 30 years ? making it one of the most original and important GT40s in the world. It was sold by Fisken in 2012.
Nationale Automuseum Germany 2024:
