There are few cars out there that can inspire the reaction and feeling you get when you see a GT40 MKII. Few models exist that so many different kinds of gearheads will all agree on like this one. There’s practically nothing else like it, not on the streets at least, and you’d be crazy not to want to get behind the wheel of one. When the Ford GT40 MKII replica by Superformance spent the day with the crew at The Smoking Tire, we had to check it out.
Even on a bad day, a real Ford GT40 is going to bring in millions of dollars from collectors at auctions. If you’re not one of the super rich who can spend that on a car, the next best option is looking for a replica. These high quality replicas make it possible to own cars like the GT40, without having to win the lottery first. The price tag still wanders up into supercar territory, hovering around $170,000, but it’s a fraction of what you’d pay for an original vintage GT40.
The one that Matt Farah gets to pilot in this episode of One Take is built by Superformance in California. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because this is the same company that has replicated the Shelby Cobra, as well as the Daytona Coupe. The car is built to almost exact spec as the original Le Mans MKII, and has the same steel monocoque and fiberglass body. This replica is actually 95% interchangeable with an authentic classic Ford GT40 — making it nearly identical in every way.
There are some differences about this particular car though. The 550 horsepower engine is a Roush 351, bored out to 427 cu.-in., and backed by a ZF 5 transmission. Some of the lightweight magnesium parts have been changed out for aluminum as well. If you’re looking for a replica with bite to make you feel like a ‘60s Le Mans driver, this might just be your dream car.
Elizabeth is hardcore horsepower enthusiast with unmatched intensity for making things faster and louder. She wakes up for power and performance and only sleeps to charge up for the next project that’s heading to the track. From autocross to drag racing, Elizabeth is there with you, so stay tuned for her unique perspective on horsepower news, builds, tech info, and installs — with her, it’ll never be boring!
