The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans is etched in automotive history as a monumental victory for Ford, marking the culmination of their ambitious “Total Performance” program. Among the celebrated Ford GT40s that dominated the race, chassis P/1032 stands as a particularly fascinating example. Initially campaigned by the esteemed Holman-Moody racing team, this 1966 Ford GT40 boasts a captivating history that extends far beyond its racing days, encompassing a striking transformation, museum display, and meticulous restoration.
Following its participation in the grueling European tour, including the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, P/1032 underwent a cosmetic makeover. It was refinished in a sleek black with bold white stripes, mirroring the livery of the victorious #2 McLaren and Amon Ford GT40 (chassis P/1046) from the 1966 Le Mans race. While the exact reasons for this transformation remain unconfirmed, it’s widely speculated that this restyling was undertaken for promotional purposes, capitalizing on the immense publicity surrounding Ford’s Le Mans triumph. Interestingly, the replication of the #2 car’s livery wasn’t entirely accurate. The Le Mans-winning P/1046 actually sported silver stripes on its black body, not white, and the roundels on P/1032 were outlined in red, a detail absent from the purely white roundels of P/1046.
From Race Track to Museum Display: The Static Years of P/1032
In a remarkable turn of events, P/1032 found a new home at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum. Donated by Anton “Tony” Hulman Jr., the then-owner of the IMS, it joined the museum’s collection on March 29, 1968. At the time of its donation, the 1966 Ford GT40 still sported its black and white striped livery. However, its racing days were definitively over. The car was fitted with a non-functional, wet-sump NASCAR 427-cubic-inch V-8 engine paired with a T-44 transaxle. With disconnected oil lines, a non-running engine, no clutch, and its fuel bags removed, P/1032 was configured solely for static display, becoming a prized exhibit rather than a functioning race car.
Between 1976 and 1983, P/1032 was temporarily relocated to the Early Wheels Museum, an extension of the IMS Museum located in Terre Haute, Indiana—the hometown of Tony Hulman Jr. and the base of his family’s businesses. This smaller museum showcased a collection of cars not directly related to the Indianapolis 500, providing P/1032 with continued public exposure. During this period, P/1032’s historical significance was further recognized through features in publications like The Shelby American in 1982 and the Ford Racing: A Retrospect calendar by Paul Oxman publishing in 1985, cementing its place in Ford racing lore.
A Labor of Love: Restoring P/1032 to its Former Glory
The mid-2000s marked a turning point in P/1032’s journey. Discussions began to restore the car to its original 1966 Le Mans specification, adorned with the iconic #4 Holman-Moody livery. This ambitious restoration project commenced in October 2006 and was undertaken by an extraordinary team of four Ford Motor Company employees. Jim Dunham, a senior engineer, spearheaded the effort, joined by fellow engineers Paul Osborne and Adam Christian. Adding invaluable expertise was Mose Nowland, a veteran engineer with 57 years at Ford, who had been directly involved in the Le Mans program during the 1960s. These four individuals generously volunteered their time, requesting only reimbursement for the necessary restoration materials, highlighting their passion for automotive history and the Ford GT40 legacy.
Initially envisioned as an exterior refinish, the project evolved into a comprehensive, frame-off restoration. Completed in 2011, the restored 1966 Ford GT40 P/1032 was unveiled to the public at the 2011 Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth, Michigan, near the restoration workshop. The meticulous work brought P/1032 back to its original splendor, ready to be appreciated in its authentic Le Mans configuration.
P/1032 Today: A Vaulted Treasure and Track Demonstrator
Since its triumphant restoration, P/1032 has been a distinguished resident of the IMS Museum’s Vault, a curated space showcasing the museum’s most prized vehicles. It was featured in VIP tours, allowing enthusiasts to witness the depth of the collection, sharing space with legendary cars like the 1965 Le Mans-winning NART Ferrari 250 LM and the Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Streamliner driven by racing icons Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss. P/1032 has also been periodically displayed on the IMS Museum’s main floor, most recently as part of the 2020–2021 “From the Vault” exhibition, ensuring its continued accessibility to the public. In a thrilling demonstration of its restored functionality, INDYCAR driver Conor Daly piloted P/1032 in demonstration laps during the 2023 IMS and IMSA’s Battle on the Bricks weekend, showcasing its enduring performance capabilities.
Today, the 1966 Ford GT40, chassis P/1032, remains in its stunning 1966 #4 Le Mans livery, a testament to its 2011 restoration and its fully operational condition. Considered a “no-stories example” with a clear ownership history from its inception, P/1032 holds the distinction of having competed in two of the world’s most prestigious races: Sebring and Le Mans. Its limited racing history, participating in only two events, meant it escaped on-track damage and avoided the continuous upgrades that were applied to GT40s with more extensive racing careers. This pristine condition leads many to believe that P/1032 is one of the finest surviving examples of a Mark II GT40, perfectly embodying the car as it was at the dawn of Ford’s dominant era in endurance racing.
The enduring appeal of the Ford GT40, amplified by Ford’s heritage celebrations with the GT40-inspired Ford GT and their victorious return to Le Mans in 2016, coupled with the popular Ford v Ferrari movie, ensures that these legendary race cars continue to captivate new generations. The opportunity to own a genuine, race-proven GT40 is exceptionally rare, with most examples residing in museums or private collections, making P/1032 an especially significant piece of automotive history.
Ford’s “Total Performance” era defined their brand for decades, and the GT40 stands as the ultimate symbol of this commitment. P/1032 is not merely a part of this narrative; it was prepared by the legendary Holman-Moody team, competed on the grand stages of Le Mans and Sebring, was driven by notable drivers including Walt Hansgen, Mark Donohue, and Paul Hawkins, and even underwent testing with the legendary Ken Miles and “Dick” Hutcherson. Restored to its 1966 Le Mans configuration, chassis P/1032, one of only eight Mk IIs ever built, presents an unparalleled opportunity to acquire a tangible piece of Ford’s iconic GT40 program – a program that was, in the words of Holman-Moody, truly Competition Proven.
