Some cars instantly trigger childhood memories for enthusiasts, and few do it quite like a Gulf-liveried Ford GT40. The low roofline, the wide stance, the iconic light blue and orange paint scheme — it’s the kind of machine that stops people mid-scroll the moment it appears online. Now, a Roush-powered Superformance GT40 Mk I replica is headed to Bring a Trailer with no reserve, giving bidders a rare opportunity to own one of the most recognizable endurance-racing designs ever created.
This particular Superformance GT40 Mk I was acquired by its current owner from New England Cobra in Clinton, Connecticut, in 2022 before being completed by Airpark Motorsports in Scottsdale, Arizona. Power comes from a 427SR Roush V8 paired with a Quaife five-speed manual transaxle, creating the kind of analog, high-noise driving experience enthusiasts crave. Unlike many modern supercars dominated by touchscreens and electronic filters, this GT40 replica appears intentionally mechanical, raw, and deeply connected to the road.
Visually, it delivers exactly what enthusiasts hope for when they imagine a GT40. The fiberglass body is finished in a Gulf-style livery with light blue paint, an orange nose, matching center stripe, and white number roundels that immediately evoke the Le Mans legends of the late 1960s. Additional details include a driver-side Gurney bubble, plexiglass side windows with pop-out vents, side air intakes, covered headlights, and dual exposed fuel filler caps that complete the vintage race-car appearance.
The stance is equally dramatic thanks to 15-inch BRM-style wheels featuring orange centers, polished lips, and knock-off hubs secured with safety wire. Avon tires measure 225/50 up front and 295/50 in the rear, while adjustable coilovers and four-wheel disc brakes with four-piston calipers help deliver modernized handling beneath the retro bodywork.
Inside, the cockpit stays true to the race-inspired personality of the original GT40. Fixed-back racing seats trimmed in black leather feature classic ventilation grommets and are paired with Willans harnesses. A Moto-Lita steering wheel sits ahead of Smiths instrumentation, including an 8,000-rpm tachometer and a 200-mph speedometer. Dynamat sound deadening has been added to the floors, and the air-conditioning system reportedly received repairs in December 2023.
The centerpiece, however, remains the Roush-built 427SR V8 mounted behind the cabin. Fed by a Holley four-barrel carburetor atop a dual-plane intake manifold, the engine exhales through dramatic “bundle of snakes” headers flowing into dual rear mufflers. It’s the kind of engine setup that transforms every startup into an event, delivering the thunderous soundtrack enthusiasts expect from a GT40-inspired machine.
Mechanically, the Ford appears to have been carefully maintained. The brake fluid, engine oil, and transaxle fluid were reportedly serviced in December 2023, and the car has traveled approximately 350 miles since. The five-digit odometer currently shows 869 miles, all added under current ownership.
Superformance documentation lists a factory production date of July 8, 2021, while the Arizona title identifies the vehicle as a 1969 RCON GT40. Photos documenting various stages of the build are also included in the Bring a Trailer gallery, giving bidders additional insight into the car’s assembly and completion process.
Psychologically, cars like this hit enthusiasts differently because they tap into something larger than specifications. The GT40 represents one of the greatest eras in racing history — Ford battling Ferrari at Le Mans with machines that looked impossibly fast even standing still. Owning something that captures that visual and emotional experience is exactly why GT40 replicas remain so desirable.
And with no reserve attached, this one is guaranteed to find a new owner once the hammer falls. See it here.
Shawn Henry