Crossing the Block at Mecum Kissimmee Saturday, January 18th/
P/1034, The First Road Car Delivered to a Private Customer, 1 of 31 Produced
VIN / Serial 1034
ENGINE 289/335 HP V-8
TRANSMISSION 5-Speed Manual
EXTERIOR COLOR Pine Green
INTERIOR COLOR Black
MAKE Ford/MODEL GT40
HIGHLIGHTS
1 of 31 MkI Road Cars produced
P/1034 was the first Road Car delivered to a private owner and the first Road Car delivered to the U.K.
Construction was completed in late 1965 with a delivery date of March, 17 1966
Restored to original specifications
Ford 289 CI HiPo V-8 engine built by Mathwall Engineering and dyno tested at 335 HP
Four Weber 48IDA carburetors
ZF 5DS-25 5-speed transaxle
P/1034 retains many original components including its original body panels which had traveled with the car as spares but were refitted in 2019, as well as its original tub and transmission, something very rare for a GT40, especially one that was raced per marque expert Ronnie Spain
Offered with an additional January 1966 dated engine that has accompanied the car throughout its life
Ordered without rocker stripes
Sold to James Fielding chairman of Heenan & Froude, the company that manufactured the dynamometers used by Shelby for testing GT40s
The car was delivered to him by then Ford Motor Company ambassador Jackie Stewart
In 1971 the car was acquired by Fielding's neighbor Paul Weldon in exchange for a Rolls-Royce
Weldon raced the car throughout the early 1970s and was one of the first members of the GT40 Owners Club
The car was brought to Australia in 1975 and was raced at the Amaroo Park in 1980
Repainted in the Gulf color scheme of the Le Mans winning GT40 P/1075 in 1985
The car was raced in the Adelaide Grand Prix Support Historic Race in 1985 and 1986
Completed the Copperstate 1000 drive by Rob Walton in 1993
Brought to Germany in 1995 and used in historic races by then-owner Peter Rössler including winning the Stuttgart Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring in 1999
Brought back to Australia in 1999 by David Bowden where it was road registered and used in historic races and took part in Ford Australia's 75th Anniversary celebration
The car was repainted the original color of Pine Green with added Silver stripes in 2001 and remained a prominent part of the Bowden collection being used in magazine and TV appearances for their car care company until 2012 when it was sold and brought to California
The car was subsequently brought back to Europe and was acquired by the current owner from D.K. Engineering in 2021
Shown at Brands Hatch Concours, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and won the Chairman's Award at Salon Privé Concours at Blenheim Palace
Issued FIA Historic Vehicle Identity Form papers in 1997 listing the year of manufacture as 1965 as production had begun in 1965 but the car was not delivered until 1966, making the car eligible for competition as a 1965 model
Eligible for historic race meetings including the Goodwood Revival and Le Mans Classic
History dossier by marque expert Ronnie Spain
THE STORY
One of just 31 produced, this 1966 GT40 MkI, P/1034, is the first of the so-called production road cars delivered to a private owner and the first delivered in the U.K. Finished in Pine Green (“with no lines on rocker panels,” according to the factory build sheet), 1034 was ordered with a Weber-equipped 289 HiPo engine and ZF 5-speed transaxle and optioned with a heated windscreen, reverse lights, clock, fender mirrors, dual fuel gauges and “road car” silencers. Its road trim included full carpeting, non-perforated leather seats and leather door pouches. Like most road GT40s, it also incorporated chromed Borrani knockoff wire wheels. Although not listed on the build sheet, the car also featured louvered grilles over the radiator outlets, screens over the body side intakes and unique placement of the “FORD” lettering on the nose.
Completed in 1965 and delivered on March 17, 1966, it was presented to its first owner, James Fielding of Gloucester, England, by Ford Motor Company’s then-ambassador, Jackie Stewart. Fielding, the chairman of Heenan & Froude, the company that manufactured the dynamometers used for testing GT40s, kept the car for more than five years. After persistent inquiries, Fielding finally sold 1034 to his neighbor Paul Weldon in exchange for a Rolls-Royce.
