In life, really special cars don't often come up for sale, and that's why collectors opt to pay tens of millions of dollars to get their hands on the right one. The spectacular vehicle I'm about to show you below is unique in the world today, and is a genuine road-going racing car with a genuine pedigree. Welcome to the world's only Ford GT40 Roadster:
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This particular car, which will soon go on the auction block, happens to be the rarest example of a Ford GT40 in existence today.
This GT40 Roadster, bearing chassis number GT/108, was the very first open-topped example of the model ever to be built. In other words, this is the prototype GT40 Roadster.
What’s more is that it’s the only GT40 Roadster that remains in existence.
All of the other five that were built (there were six in total) have long since been destroyed, adapted to be closed-cockpit, or otherwise modified.
Another highly unusual feature on this car is its original 1965-spec nose, which is thought to be unique among extant GT40s in the world today.
In addition to its rarity, this GT40 has a remarkably detailed history.
The late Formula 1 World Champion, Jim Clark, once drove this car, as did Carroll Shelby.
It spent the first few years of its life being used as a demonstration car before it was bought by a Kar Kraft (an experimental vehicle facility that worked exclusively for Ford) employee and converted for road use.
It changed hands numerous times before re-emerging on the American vintage racing circuit in 1983.
For much of the time since then, it has been preserved in a climate-controlled facility in a private collection.
In addition to racing in vintage car events, this GT40 Roadster is also popular on the global Concours d’Elegance circuit, winning 2nd in the Ford GT40 class at Pebble Beach.
When it last changed hands back in 2014, this car sold for just under $7 million.
What is it expected to go for now? The new owner can expect to pay an eight-figure sum for this piece of period-correct history. Phew!
