Ford GT40 LeMans Winner 1969 GMP 1:12 Scale

The close of 1967 saw yet another rules change for international sports car racing. Earlier in the season, Ford's GT40 Mk IV captured a victory at LeMans employing a highly tuned 7.0 litre displacement engine. The change demanded a maximum displacement of 3.0 litres for prototypes, with an allowance of up to 5.0 litres for cars homologated with 50 or more units produced. Ford's racing division, headed by John Wyer Automotive Engineering of Great Britain, bored out an existing Ford 4.7 litre engine to 4.9 litres, and adapted an earlier GT40 'Mirage' chassis to carry the powerplant. This new combination outlasted the more fragile 3.0 litre prototypes from Porsche in particular, to win the 1968 LeMans race. Wyer and Ford campaigned the same car (S/N GT40P/1075) in 1969, managing yet another victory, just seconds ahead of a Porsche 908. #1075 is only one of two cars to have ever won LeMans twice.

Our 1:12 scale model from GMP is another example of just how good a 'mass-produced' model can be, given thorough research and quality construction. The all-metal body is quite heavy, with all panels and clamshells opening. The amount of detail is amazing, featuring minute tire valve stems, opening fuel filler, photo etch radiator surfaces, head and fog lights with correct lenses and accurate perspex covers. The interior reveals chrome-bezeled instruments, and a lovely array of dash-mounted toggle switches. The pedals are drilled, and a fire extinguisher resides in the passenger footwell. The racing bucket seats are of particular interest in that individual metal rings are inserted into the leather-like seating surface, just like the full size original. They are perfectly applied and aligned, and make the interior very convincing indeed! The perspex side window vents are in a propped open position, and the iconic Gulf Oil powder blue and orange paintwork is impeccable. Opening the rear clamshell reveals a gorgeous rendition of the Gurney-Weslake 4.9 litre motor, equipped with four dual-throat carburators with minutely detailed venturi tubes. The 'bundle of snakes' exhaust headers are secured to the GT40's frame with tiny overarching springs, again, just like the real thing. Coilover shocks highlight the suspension, and removable wheels with soft rubber tires grace all four corners.

This incredible scale rendering of GT40P/1075 is new, with all factory packaging, inner and outer boxes and all accessories, manual and warranty card. Out of production for nearly a decade,this is a must have for the serious collector of GT40 or LeMans scale models.