Prepare to break your piggy bank as a very rare 1965 Ford GT Works Prototype Roadster will go under the gavel at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Cernobbio, Italy on May 21.
Only five prototypes of the open GT Roadsters were built by Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations in the United Kingdom in 1965. Of the units that were built, only four have survived.
This particular Ford GT Works Prototype Roadster with chassis number "GT/111" was first tested at the 1965 Le Mans trials by John Whitmore before it was fielded as a Works entrant in the Targa Florio. Painted in Linden Green and with Whitmore joined by Bob Bondurant as co-driver, the car ran as high as third place until it was forced to prematurely retire due to a racing-incident-induced damage.
The car disappeared from the public's eyes for the next 40 years. The chassis was recently rediscovered in 2006 with its authenticity confirmed by the world's leading authorities on GT40s. Following a restoration, chassis number "GT/111" reappeared on the race circuit in 2007 at the Goodwood Revival and has since gone on to race competitively at some of Europe's most prestigious events.
"The Ford GT represents one of the world's most iconic sports car designs," said Max Girardo, RM Europe's managing diretor. "Joining power with beauty, it is the perfect fit for our debut sale at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. As one of just four surviving examples and one of only three to have been raced by the Works, it presents an extraordinarily rare ownership opportunity for discerning collectors, deserving of close inspection."
The Ford GT will join the six Bertone-designed concept cars that will be auctioned off in Italy.
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