Ford Gt40 manufacturers

Ford GT40 replica manufacturers

Gelscoe GT40 replica

Gelscoe Motorsport is strongly linked to classic racing. They are dedicated to preparing different models for competition. In their facilities, they prepare all kinds of classic cars for races. But his masterpiece is the GT40 replica.

This Ford GT40 is completely different from the replica made of fiberglass, its quality is exceptional. All panels are made and welded by hand, with their knocking blocks and press tools. Manufacturing the chassis requires more than two months of work.
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Even the smallest detail is taken care of, using current materials but keeping the original essence of the Ford GT40. For example, the exhausts are made from mild steel and sand, and hand-bent like the Ford GT 40, rather than using a modern stainless steel exhaust system. They try to maintain all the original race-specs of the car, and adapt it to the current FIA and safety regulations. It takes a minimum of eight months to get one of these GT40 replicas ready to race.

​Gelscoe owns the original blueprints for the Ford GT40, allowing him to recreate the elements according to the original specifications.
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Pathfinder GT40R

Pathfinder GT40R is an uncompromising GT40 replica built with racing in mind. 

This is a FIA licensed continuation car. So, it can be legally called "GT40". Chassis number includes letter P, which picks up where the original series left off. It's assembled in accordance with the original Ford guidelines for GT40s.

This high quality re-creation of the original GT40 can be fitted with FIA certified engines, just like the original. So, it can be configured to be no different from the GT40 made in the 1960s. In fact, more than 85% of the rolling chassis components can be interchanged with the original GT40, including the highly complex "monocoque" chassis. 

So, it's indistinguishable from the original one, with even small details, such as windshield wipers that operate at speeds exceeding 150 mph or the period-correct aerodynamics.  It's bolt-for-bolt identical to the original car.

Previous Superformance GT40s have been designed as road-legal cars. This version developed in cooperation with Pathfinder Motorsports is specially engineered for racing, with the handling and acceleration of a super sports car. And with all modern security measures approved by the FIA. In addition, Superformance vehicles are sold without engines and gearboxes. This version includes a Holman Moody engine and a ZF gearbox. 

Each car is made by skilled craftsmen. Despite being low-production cars, they are manufactured in modern factories that currently employ more than 500 professionals.

The Pathfinder GT40R is eligible to hold the FIA Historic Technical Passport (HTP), compete in National Auto Sport Association or HSR & Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) races, as well as be listed on the Shelby American Automobile Club registry (SAAC).

CAV GT40

CAV vehicles feature a Stainless Steel monocoque chassis and body panels moulded from the original GT40. The vehicle performance is substantially improved together with racing suspension design and optimised driver ergonomics. Furthermore, the CAV interior is said to be among the nicest of any GT40. The result is a user-friendly, high-performance classic experience through design improvements over the original GT40.  The body is individually handcrafted by skilled artisans. 

The CAV GT40 is powered by a V8 Ford racing small block that gathers 450 hp at 6.000rpm and 550 Nm at 4500rpm, which is good enough for a 0-100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h. It can also be fitted with a more modern Ford engine, modular performance of 410hp and 530 Nm of torque. Engines can be upgraded with Weber 48 IDF carburetors to boost low-end torque and acceleration.

CAV is a niche manufacturer which allows for complete customisation of your GT40 build. Their CAV GT40 is  produced in limited numbers and they continue to be among the more exclusive replicars built today. They cost about € 130,000.

Holman & Moody Mark II Roadster

Holman & Moody Mark II Roadster

Holman-Moody is a former racing team that continues to use traditional methods to manufacture their cars. As a racing team, they manufactured most of the racing Fords during the 1950s, 60s, and 1970s. They owned cars that ran in a multitude of categories such as Nascar, rallies or drag racing.

The team won the Nascar Championship in 1968 and 1969, and the Daytona 500i in 1967. Holman-Moody was also one of the first teams to sell a  stock car chassis specially designed for racing.

Today, they manufacture and repair collector's cars and engines.

Following the construction of the Ford GT40 Mark I, the brand hired Holman-Moody and Shelby America to build the next generation of the GT40, the Mark II. Both took care of one half of the car, and after finishing each race, the cars were exchanged to share the know-how and improve the vehicle's performance.

In the 1990s, Holman-Moody and Holman Automotive started manufacturing 1960's GT 40 MkII again. All these original cars already carried Holman-Moody serial numbers in his time to remove liability from Ford; as part of the agreement with Ford.

In this GT40, the proximity to the sixties is such that most of the company's employees are the same from that time. In addition, Holman-Moody has hired employees who helped Ford build and race the original LeMans GT, Mark IIs, and Mark IVs.

More than fifty years later, Holman-Moody still owns the original machinery, tooling, original Ford blueprints for these cars, race reports and extensive paperwork of the time to support the manufacture of new parts.

The GT40 by Holman & Moody is built just as they were raced, using original Mark II body molds, and the chassis is built from original tooling. It's fitted with a Ford 427 FE dry sump engine with riser heads. It's hand assembled at Holman-Moody's own shop just like they were in the 1960's.

All its parts are identical to the original GT40 factory parts according to the original specs, using their original blueprints. In this way, they can provide a real recreation of the original GT40 experience; so much so that their GT40s are eligible to be used in historic races.

Tornado GT40

Tornado Sports Cars is maybe the longest GT40 manufacturer still in business. They started their activity in 1984 and have manufactured more than 1000 units. In 1989 they began production of their Ford GT40 replica, the Tornado TSC GT40

The Tornado TSC GT40 is a very successful replica of the Ford GT40 MK1, which dominated Le Mans in the late 1960s. 

The TSC GT40 combines the classic Le Mans winning styling of the original car with modern mechanics and solutions. Tornado introduces small improvements in order to enhance the driving experience.​ 

The TSC GT40 is sold in kit form, but can also be purchased turnkey. In kit form, it takes 350 hours to assemble. The car body can be made of fiberglass or carbon fiber composite laminate. The monocoque is usually made of aluminum, or, for 10.000 extra pounds , you can order it of carbon fiber.

There are different packages and options to choose from and build the GT40 of your dreams. For example, its super pro package includes a 350 bhp Small block alloy headed V8 engine by Ford, 5 speed transmission and a cross over exhaust system. In kit form, it takes 350 hours to assemble. The most common engine is the 302 5.0 Coyote V8 engine used in the Ford Mustang. For the current generation of Coyote engines, Gen 3 of 2018, dishes out more than 460 hp and 570 Nm, without sacrificing anything in the way of reliability or efficiency. It's an aluminum engine block with a compression ratio of 11:1 and a total displacement of 302 cubic inches, hence the name. The piston bore and stroke measurements on this engine are almost the same​.

Tornado GT40 Price: £ 89,500, turnkey GT40