One of the most significant racing cars in history has found a new home, with the Miller Family Automobile Foundation acquiring the Ford GT40 that claimed overall victory at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The purchase of chassis P/1046 reunites all three GT40s that completed Ford’s famous 1-2-3 finish at La Sarthe under a single custodian for the first time in the modern era. The announcement was made at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, where all three cars have been reunited.
The acquisition is particularly significant because the Foundation already owned chassis P/1015 and P/1016, the cars that finished second and third in the race that finally ended Ferrari’s six-year dominance at Le Mans.
Driven to victory by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, P/1046 crossed the finish line ahead of Ken Miles and Denny Hulme’s P/1015 after the controversial staged finish orchestrated by Ford. Although the famous photo finish initially appeared to hand Miles the victory, race organisers declared McLaren and Amon the winners because their car had started further back on the grid and therefore covered a slightly greater distance over the 24 hours. Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson completed the clean sweep in P/1016.
‘Few moments in motorsport history carry the significance of Ford’s victory at Le Mans in 1966,’ said Greg Miller of the Miller Family Automobile Foundation. ‘To be entrusted with the care of chassis P/1046 is both an honour and a responsibility. Reuniting the first-, second- and third-place GT40s from that historic race creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity to preserve and share an unparalleled chapter of automotive and racing history.’
Former owner Rob Kauffman welcomed the move, adding that the Miller Family Automobile Foundation represented the ideal long-term custodian for the car.
Appropriately, the reunited trio made their first public appearance together at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, and they are also due to appear at the Revival in September.
