SPEEDtv.com Reviewed: 1966 Ford GT 40 Mark II Die-cast
Written by: Gregg Leary Charlotte, NC – 8/1/2006

1966 Ford GT 40 Mark II (Chassis #1031)
1:18 Scale by Exoto
Drivers: Dan Gurney and Jerry Grant at 12 Hours of Sebring 1966
(Also raced at Le Mans in 1966, Sebring, Le Mans and Reims in 1967)

Stunning! It seems the only word that adequately describes this incredible die-cast sculpture. It’s as if Exoto took Dan Gurney out of the cockpit then placed the car into a miniaturizing time machine that reduced it by a factor of 18 and whisked it from the tarmac of Sebring, Fla. forty years ago to my desk in Charlotte, N.C today.

Strap in, close the driver’s door with the “Gurney bulge” and fly down the Mulsanne.
Although the car was prepped by Shelby American at Sebring in 1966, it was run at Le Mans for Holman & Moody later that year. Charlotte was the site of Holman & Moody headquarters, so it is right for the die-cast to make its home here. I talk about it as if it were a member of my family! These Exoto replicas are so good you may want to “adopt” a whole family of them … consider them you metallic foster kids.

This car is so realistic you’ll want to shrink yourself so you can strap into the cockpit. The Mark II. replica features lap and shoulder belts, the “air conditioned seat,” full instrumentation as well as the “Gurney Bulge” in the driver’s side door to accommodate the 6’ 3” driver’s helmet.

The 1966 Ford GT 40 Mark 2 ALMOST won the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Lift the rear bonnet and marvel at the fully wired and plumbed 427 V-8. What are those two aluminum boxes on each side of the trunk? They represent “luggage space” as required by the rules. Notice the “bundle of snakes” exhaust.

Open the front hood and notice the wiring for the headlights. The spare tire panel even has miniature wires and hood pins that you must remove to achieve access. The fuel filler on the right front fender confirms that this car was driven at Sebring. Daytona, which runs counter-clockwise would have had the left fender filler in use.

So how did the “real” Mark II. fare in the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1966? Dan Gurney qualified it fastest at 107.22 MPH. It was on pole at the start. However, the engine would not fire ... and the 63 other cars roared around the helpless Mark II. Gurney finally got the Ford running as the rest of the field was about to complete the first lap. Dan carved his way through the field and took the lead on Lap 24. Gurney and co-driver Jerry Grant led laps 24-227 … from the second hour through the eleventh. Gurney set the fastest race lap. With a half hour remaining, Gurney took over the driving duties, and continued to lead. Dan had a comfortable lead on the 228th and final lap until the engine suddenly seized. He coasted to a stop about 250 yards from the finish line.

Peek inside the hood, bonnet and doors. The attention to detail is incredible.

Gurney exits the car, and like Ralph DePalma at the 1912 Indianapolis 500, begins pushing the car towards the finish line. The Ken Miles/Lloyd Ruby Ford X-1 Roadster roared by to take the win. Gurney was disqualified for breaking the rules even though he was 12 laps ahead of the second place Ford Mark II. driven by Mark Donohue and Walt Hansgen. Now that you know some of the history behind this fantastic machine, why not add it to your die-cast collection? I give it five out of five lug nuts!