The
is one of the most iconic cars in motorsport history, and among its family tree, the roadster variants are easily the rarest. Honestly, talking about the roadsters in that way makes them seem like a version that Ford merely didn’t make as many of as the coupe. While that’s technically true, it’s just not quite right. Chassis GT/109, the only GT40 Roadster ever to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is heading to auction via Mecum. How’s that for rare?
The Rarest Ford GT40
Unlike the familiar GT40 coupe that helped Ford dominate Le Mans in the late 1960s, the roadster version had a very limited run. Only five open-top GT40s were ever built, each designed to be lighter and more agile, and all aimed squarely at endurance racing. While other roadster chassis, like GT/108, have fetched hefty sums—$7.65 million in 2019, despite never racing—GT/109 stands out for actually lining up at Le Mans in 1965.
The GT40 Roadster Didn’t Finish The Race
This particular car was delivered to Shelby American in Los Angeles for race prep. Ford had entered three cars the previous year in its first serious stab at Le Mans, but by 1965, the company doubled down and brought six cars to France. Among them, GT/109 was the lightest at just 2,350 pounds. French drivers Maurice Trintignant and Guy Ligier were tapped to pilot the roadster. Trintignant was already a seasoned endurance racer, and Ligier would go on to race in Formula 1 before founding his own race team.
Despite the excitement and expanded effort, 1965 was another tough year for Ford at Le Mans. None of its GT entries finished the race, and GT/109, like the others, failed to go the distance. After its short-lived racing career, the car was returned to Shelby American and later stored by Ford in Detroit. While it never raced again, GT/109 carved its place in motorsport lore simply by being the only GT40 Roadster to ever compete in the world’s most famous endurance race.
This Is One Hell Of A Collectible
Over the years, the car has had just three owners. After Ford and Carroll Shelby, it passed into the hands of Hollywood stuntman and car customizer Dean Jeffries. Following Jeffries’ death in 2013, Mecum Auctions founder Dana Mecum acquired the roadster and commissioned a full restoration to its original Le Mans specs. Now, it’s headed to auction as part of Mecum’s Indianapolis sale, listed as Lot R643 and one of the main attractions.
Why The Ford GT40 Matters
To understand why GT/109 is such a big deal, it helps to look back at the GT40 legacy. Born out of a grudge match between Henry Ford II and Enzo Ferrari—after a failed buyout of Ferrari by Ford in the early 1960s—the GT40 was a no-expense-spared effort to conquer Ferrari at Le Mans. That ambition paid off. From 1966 to 1969, the GT40 won Le Mans four times in a row, cementing itself as an American legend on European soil.
The GT40’s low-slung shape, mid-engine layout, and V8 power weren’t just engineering feats—they became visual and cultural shorthand for speed, dominance, and revenge. It’s a car that transcends its era, and any surviving example, especially one that actually turned a wheel at Le Mans, is an extraordinary piece of racing history. GT/109 may have only raced once and lost, but its role in Ford’s historic push for endurance racing glory makes it a true one-of-one.
Source: Mecum
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