By now, you’ve probably already seen the movie, now some lucky bidder is taking it home!
2019 was a year full of surprises - we covered crazy valuations, some of the best auction events yet (and some of the worst!), tearful comeback stories, and gut-wrenching news about con artists or fires robbing people of their cars. Through all of it, what you wanted to read about the most is this amazing Ken Miles GT40 MKII that was built to replicate the hero car for the movie Ford v Ferrari.
The 2019 hit movie, Ford v Ferrari, relives the glory days when Ford was on a mission to take down Ferrari, and designed the GT40 as the missile it needed to get that done. One of the vehicles built for the movie was meant to replicate the car driven by Ken Miles at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. On January 11, 2020, this Ford headed to the auction block at the Mecum Kissimmee event - and this piece of automotive and cinematic history GT40 MKII sold for a hammer price of $440,000.00
This GT40 took on one of the starring roles alongside Christian Bale and Matt Damon as the car built by Carroll Shelby to be driven by Ken Miles in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The real life car went on to claim second place, and beat Enzo Ferrari and the rest of the prancing horse crew.
This Ford replica was one of the two GT40 MKII cars built by Rich MacDonald’s team at Superformance for the movie. Rich has personal ties to to the project as his father, Dave MacDonald, was the first driver to claim a victory in a Shelby Cobra.
Finished in the iconic Gulf Blue livery, this GT40 is complete with dual white stripes on the top and side, and has red patch around the car’s headlights. It was made to be meticulously accurate to the original car down to the smallest details, even though it has mechanical and structural differences.
The replica unibody is made electrogalvanized steel and has a pressed steel roof. The Superformance version is powered by a fuel-injected Roush V8 that’s been bored to 511 cubic-inches - this engine has an output of 600-horsepower. Power from the engine feeds into a five-speed transaxle that sends power to the rear wheels. While the original was powered by a 7.0-liter and four-speed manual transmission.
On the inside, you’ll find black Alcantara seats with silver rivets, right-hand drive, Smiths instruments, and a Motolita steering wheel. The car has been signed by Ken Miles's crew chief for the 1966 race, Charlie Agapiou, and Miles's son, Peter Miles. The other replica, not up for auction is based on Bruce McLaren’s black GT40 that first crossed the finish line.
Ad Highlights:
-Ken Miles Hero Car from the 2019 film 'Ford v Ferrari' released on November 15
-One of two finished in this livery for use in the James Mangold film
-Built to replicate the car driven by Ken Miles at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans
-Driven at times by Christian Bale during filming
-Featured at all of the Red Carpet events as well as on ESPN and CBS Sunday Morning
-Built at Superformance in Irvine, California
-Signed by Charlie Agapiou, Ken Miles' crew chief in 1966, and Peter Miles, Ken's son
-Legendary Gulf Blue livery
-Unibody structure constructed of electro-galvanized steel
-Pressed steel roof
-Specially prepared Roush 427IR V-8 engine stroked to 511 CI
-K&N Inglese-style injection
-Rear exit 'bundle of snakes' exhaust system
-Quaife RBT/ZF-style 5-speed transaxle
-Independent front suspension with unequal-length A-arms, Bilstein shocks with H&R springs and anti-roll bar
-Independent rear suspension with trailing arms, unequal length lateral arms, Bilstein shocks with -H&R springs and anti-roll bar
-Rack and pinion steering
-Vented disc brakes with Wilwood calipers
-Right hand drive
-Original style seats covered in Alcantara with Silver rivets
-Smiths instruments
-Motolita steering wheel
-Shelby American Halibrand-style wheels with knock-off hubs
