550 bhp, 5.4-litre mid-mounted aluminium DOHC V-8 engine, sequential multi-port fuel injection with dual injectors per cylinder, Roots-type supercharger, six-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel independent suspension with double wishbones, and four-wheel ventilated hydraulic disc brakes. Wheelbase: 2,710 mm

• Offered from the Collection of a Swiss Gentleman

• One owner

• Preserved in a major private collection with just 9,700 miles from new

• One of only 101 European-delivery examples

• Ford’s modern interpretation of its four-time Le Mans winner of the 1960s

During the 1960s, the original GT40 epitomised Ford’s “Total Performance” program, created with just one purpose: to beat Ferrari in the elite arena of international endurance racing. That goal was realised in 1966 when the GT40 secured its first win at Le Mans, repeating the trick three more years in a row in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

At the 2002 introduction of the modern-day GT40 concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford Vice President of Design, J. Mays, declared the “GT40 is the ultimate living legend.” Further, he added, “It's a true supercar with appeal equal to that of the greatest sports cars in the world, but with the addition of a heritage no one can match.” Such was the roaring approval from both the press and public alike that CEO Bill Ford decided to give a limited production version the green light to celebrate his company’s 100th birthday.

Ford’s Director of the Special Vehicles Team, John Coletti, harnessed the purity of the GT40 concept and made it street legal. Perhaps the greatest challenge was that the production version had to live up to the legacy of the original GT40. However, in just three months and with a dream team of designers, engineers and state-of-the-art computer-aided design technology, the SVT team met the objectives set by Ford. When completed, the first three production cars were driven onto the Dearborn Centennial stage with three living legends of the Ford motorsports pantheon: triple Formula 1 World Champion Jackie Stewart, 1967 Le Mans winner Dan Gurney and the great Carroll Shelby.

This particular Ford GT is eloquently described by its discerning and sole owner as follows:

I immediately wanted to buy the car, ordering it three years prior to its planned production. The U.S. wanted to make 3,000 but the question of European distribution remained open and 101 European-delivery GTs were built. A technological tour de force, incorporating the most advanced innovations of the 21st Century in a somewhat outmoded body style, this is one of the 101.

Delivered to him in September 2005 finished in Centennial White with painted stripes and invoiced at CHF 276,599, the car has since covered just 9,700 miles and has been kept in a climate-controlled environment, never suffering damage and receiving meticulous care. It is Swiss registered and accompanied by a history file including sales invoice and comprehensive owners documentation. A modern classic, which Jeremy Clarkson famously summed up as “sensational—as good as anything I have ever driven!”