A rare piece of American racing history is set to take center stage this week as a 1965 Ford GT40 MkI crosses the auction block at Mecum Kissimmee 2026. The car, chassis P/1018, is scheduled to be offered Friday, January 16, in Kissimmee, Florida, with estimates ranging between $5.5 million and $6 million.
This GT40 is far more than a well-preserved example of Ford’s legendary endurance racer. Delivered new to Shelby American in late 1965, it served as a factory show and demonstration car before becoming part of the broader GT40 legacy that reshaped international sports car racing. Auction records identify it as one of just 48 GT40 MkI race coupes built and one of only two known examples ever driven by Carroll Shelby himself.
The GT40 program emerged from Ford Motor Company’s determined effort to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a goal that ultimately resulted in four consecutive overall victories from 1966 through 1969. While later GT40 variants secured those wins, this MkI represents the formative period of the program, when Ford’s ambitions were still being proven on public roads, racetracks, and promotional stages.
Throughout 1966, the car made high-profile appearances across the United States as a rolling symbol of American performance. One of its most notable moments came during the opening of a new section of the Santa Monica Freeway, where Shelby drove the car with Miss Santa Monica riding along. It was also used by MGM during preparations for the racing film Grand Prix, helping engineers and filmmakers refine camera equipment for high-speed filming. Television and promotional appearances further elevated the GT40’s public profile during the height of its fame.
Mechanically, the car remains true to MkI specification, powered by a 289-cubic-inch V8 engine paired with a five-speed manual transaxle. Mecum lists the odometer at just over 10,300 miles, a remarkable figure considering its combined life as a demonstration vehicle, historic racer, and exhibition car.
Its history did not end with its early promotional years. The GT40 later competed in vintage racing events including the Goodwood Revival and the Le Mans Classic, adding competition credentials to an already exceptional résumé. That documented provenance helps explain the strong valuation expectations.
Recent sales underscore the strength of the GT40 market, including a 1966 MkI road car that surpassed $7 million at Mecum Kissimmee in 2025. Against that backdrop, the appearance of Carroll Shelby’s personal GT40 marks a significant moment for collectors, blending American ambition, racing heritage, and enduring historical relevance in a single chassis.
Shawn Henry