Four Time Le Mans Winner: 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight Highlights Monterey 2024 Sale

One highlight of Mecum Auctions’ Monterey 2024 automobile auction is a 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight. The Ford GT40 is one of the most important American racing cars, and it was built and designed to win the world’s most prestigious endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1966, with Henry Ford II attending Le Mans, the MkII GT40 provided Ford with the first overall Le Mans victory for an American manufacturer. The Ford GT40 won four consecutive times from 1966 to 1969, run by John Wyer in 1968 and 1969. In addition, Ford also won four FIA international titles with the GT40. This model utilized 4.7L (289 CI) Ford V-8 engines that were enlarged to 4.9 liters with special alloy Gurney-Weslake cylinder heads. A total of only ten lightweight competition GT40s were built, and the example offered in this sale is one of them. It comes with the original body, chassis, engine, and transaxle.

Also available is a 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Boattail Runabout. Powering this Speedster is the original 384/145 HP L-head inline eight-cylinder engine, equipped with a Detroit Lubricator dual-throat carburetor, high-compression cylinder head, and correct finned manifolds. Other mechanical features include the current and visually identical 1931-vintage four-speed manual transmission and correct Speedster-type finned drum brakes. Desirable accessories include a radiator stone shield, a “Daphne at the Well” radiator mascot, a Haartz canvas top, and a restored convertible top frame. With the release of the lightweight, more powerful Model 734 Speedster in 1930, a classic icon was born. This 1930 Packard Model 734 Speedster is one of only 19 known examples in existence. Visit Mecum Auctions to browse the full Monterey 2024 sale, and find other auction previews on Auction Daily.