At the start of last year, Ford Motor Company announced that it once again officially had the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its sights. During the 2027 World Endurance Championship season, in which the contest at France's Circuit de la Sarthe is arguably motorsport's most fabled competition, the marque will be campaigning a new Hypercar-class LMDh racer."We are entering a new era of performance and racing at Ford," noted the stateside automaker's executive chair Bill Ford in the news release at the time. He went on to add: "And there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans. It's where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s."More from Robb ReportAdvertisementAdvertisementLürssen's New 335-Foot Megayacht Has One of Its Largest Beach Clubs YetThese Luxe New Expeditions Take You on a Private Charter Through Iceland's FjordsInside the Tallest Residential Building on N.Y.C.'s 5th AvenueThis example of what to expect from Superformance's Championship Season Series wears the livery of the GT40 MK II raced by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.Hollywood told the story of that victory in the 2019 film Ford v Ferrari, but the entire 1966 calendar of endurance races could be the fodder for at least a couple more sequels starring the indomitable Ford GT40 MKII. That year, the winning trifecta also included first place finishes at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Fittingly, the oft-commemorated model is being given attention again in the form of a 60th anniversary, limited-edition tribute from Superformance dubbed the Championship Season Series."Though American drivers and race cars won a few competitions over the years, no American automaker had ever won a major sports-car endurance race overall or a world championship before the historic 1966 season," says Lance Stander, C.E.O. of Superformance. "The dominance by GT40s changed the perception of both American cars and racing teams . . . That watershed 1-2-3 finish by GT40 sports cars at Le Mans in France on June 19 was memorialized in photos that still resonate with enthusiasts worldwide. And that photo was the inspiration for this very special series of cars," he tells Robb Report.The limited-edition series, in collaboration with Safir Engineering, includes the option of the livery originally seen on the 1966 GT40 MK II piloted by Ken Miles and Denny Hulme.The Championship Season Series will comprise just 66 examples that are more than mere replicas. Built in collaboration with Safir Engineering, the Cincinnati-based rights holder to the GT40 trademark and a support service for owners of the original model, the rolling chassis will carry on from "the original chassis numbers" and "will be added to the GT40 Registry accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity," according to the Superformance press release.AdvertisementAdvertisementA testament to the faithful adherence to Ford's original design and construction is the Superformance claim that "over two-thirds of its rolling chassis parts are interchangeable with those of the 1960s built GT40 cars." The vehicles are intended to be fit with a Ford 427 FE engine, though there's also the choice of a Shelby iron- or aluminum-block mill—the latter inscribed with the vehicle's serial number.Construction includes a steel monocoque chassis, a pressed steel roof, and composite-resin body panels."Engraving the car's GT40 VIN into the engine block ensures that owners can validate the matching-numbers car in the future," explains Stander. The car's foundation is a steel monocoque frame topped by a pressed steel roof and dressed in composite-resin body panels.The drive experience benefits from such considerations as independent suspension—with an anti-roll-bar setup and Bilstein shocks—complemented by vented disc brakes acting on 15-inch Halibrand-style wheels. There are also dual 10-gallon gas tanks.A glimpse at the interior's analog artisanship.Along with the true-to-form construction, what also gives these GT40 tributes their time-capsule quality is the selection of liveries being offered for this exclusive run—eight different presentations based on how the race cars from the famed 1966 edition of Le Mans were festooned. The Shelby American team is represented by three distinct looks reflecting the vehicle that Ken Miles and Denny Hulme piloted, the car of Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, and the one driven by Dan Gurney and Jerry Grant.What also gives these cars their time-capsule quality is the selection of eight period-correct liveries being offered for this exclusive run.Then there are the liveries of the Holman Moody team from that race, comprising the distinct guise worn on the cars driven by Mario Andretti and Lucien Bianchi, Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson, and Mark Donohue and Paul Hawkins. The remaining two selections pay homage to Alan Mann Racing, and feature the liveries showcased on the cars teaming Sir John Whitmore and Frank Gardner as well as Graham Hill and Brian Muir. As to be expected, various team-specific logos and badging come with the respective selections. In addition, a letter from either the president of Shelby American or Alan Mann Racing is included with those team-livery selections, imparting to the owner an added sense of belonging.Delivered as rolling chassis, the cars are intended to be fit with Ford 427 FE engines, though there's also the choice of Shelby iron- or aluminum-block power plants.AdvertisementAdvertisement"This is the ultimate 'role play' car, giving collectors and enthusiasts the opportunity to suit up and channel their inner race driver, living their dream of sitting on the grid for their favorite team," mentions Stander to Robb Report. The investment in bringing that fantasy closer to reality with this GT40 Championship Season Series starts at $295,000.Click here for more photos of Superformance's GT40 Championship Season Series.Superformance and Safir Engineering have teamed to present the GT40 Championship Season Series.Best of Robb ReportThe 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine BeastThe World's Best Superyacht ShipyardsThe ABCs of Chartering a YachtSign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Click here to read the full article.
+16 others
