How many 1964 Ford GT40 prototypes were built? The answer is 12. These first prototype vehicles carried serial numbers GT-101 through GT-112 and formed the foundation of Ford’s campaign against Ferrari in endurance racing.
Ford began the GT40 project after Ferrari dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the early 1960s. Ford Advanced Vehicles developed the car in England, drawing on the mid-engined Lola GT concept, while Roy Lunn, Eric Broadley, and John Wyer helped shape the design. The first chassis was delivered in March 1964, and the new Ford GT was unveiled in England the following month.
The initial prototypes were not yet the fully developed cars that would win Le Mans. They used early 4.2-liter or 289-cubic-inch Ford V8 applications and suffered reliability problems during the 1964 season. At the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, all three Ford entries retired.
The number 12 applies specifically to the first prototype series, not to every GT40 built during the decade. Later Mk I, Mk II, Mk III, Mk IV, road, and racing cars increased total GT40 production substantially.