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A Special GT40: Once Lost, Now Found Print E-mail
Tuesday, 21 March 2006 Written by Tim Beggs   

1966 GT40 1047 Datona.JPG

After 30 years, the missing 1966 Ford GT-40 chassis P1047 has been found in a Tokyo, Japan storage facility. Many famous drivers including Dan Gurney, A.J. Foyt, Jerry Grant, Roger McClusky and Frank Gardner have piloted P1047 over the years. Racing as number 3, with Gurney at the wheel, the P1047 won the pole position of the 1966 twenty-four hours of LeMans with the fastest lap time of 3 minutes, 30.6 seconds. After suffering mechanical problems in the race, the car was shined and readied for show.

Shortly after the LeMans and promotional touring, the P1047 was geared up for running in the 1967 Daytona by Shelby American, then went on to Holman-Moody to be fitted for the 1967 LeMans. Repainted gold and wearing #5, the P1047 ran the race, but did not finish due to a collision.

The dramatic damage the car suffered in the crash led to an ID switch with P1031. Subsequently, the two cars seemed to have interchangeable identities. After being restored as a street car by Holman-Moody in 1972, the GT40 was purchased and moved to Japan by an unknown party. History has unfolded now, with the car being discovered over 30 years later.

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