Car buried under junk in a California garage for 37 years is the last Ford GT40 to carry Ford serial number
Published on Sep 07, 2025 at 10:48 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Sep 19, 2025 at 9:03 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
An old car that lay buried under junk in a garage in California turned out to be a super-rare Ford GT40 and the last to carry a Ford serial number.
Produced in December 1966, the Ford GT40 was the last of its kind to roll off the production line that year.
After being built, it spent some time as a racer, but following a crash in 1977, it ended up parked in California.
And that’s where it spent the next 37 years until it was spotted, snapped up, and given a full restoration.
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The 1966 Ford GT40 was an incredibly rare example
The Ford GT40 went into production in 1964 and was originally designed to compete in European endurance racing events as well as the World Sportscar Championship.
Between 1964 and 1969, 105 GT40s were produced, and these days, you’re best chance of seeing one is by heading to a museum.
However, a few years back, a 1966 Ford GT40 was unearthed in a garage in California.
At first glance, with the car buried under junk, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was an old kit car that was destined for the junkyard.
But it was actually the ultra-rare 1966 Mk I Ford GT40 chassis number P1067.
While P1096 doesn’t have the illustrious racing history that some examples do, it is one of the rarest.
It is one of only three GT40 Mk I cars to come with the Mk II’s rear clamshell, and is the last survivor of those three.
Not only that, but its also the last Ford GT40 to be built in 1966 and the last one to carry a Ford serial number – from 1967 onwards, the GT40 had a J.W Automotive Engineering serial instead.
The car was rescued by enthusiast Tom Shaughnessy, who revealed it had been a ‘very expensive’ purchase.
After rescuing the rare racer, Shaughnessy sent it off for full restoration and even had it repainted in its original color.
Don’t you love to see a happy ending?
It’s not the first GT40 to be given a restoration after years of neglect
The story of the P1067 GT40 is sure to bring a smile to the face of any classic car lover.
Fortunately, it’s not the first time we’ve seen a neglected old GT40 rescued and returned to its former glory.
American YouTuber Emelia Hartford traded her Dodge Daytona for a broken Ford GT40.
Hartford fixed up the old Ford and got it looking as good as new before returning to its original owner, who couldn’t quite believe his eyes.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
