Chassis 1025

GT40P#1025 at Elkhart Lake 1997 GT40P#1025 (along with 3 other similar "race coupe" GT40MKI's) was originally dispatched and shipped in late 1965 from F.A.V. to Shelby American. Due to registration problems it was returned to the factory, and, along with the other cars, prepared and sold to Shell Oil (see #1036 on this site for additional information). After its stint with Shell Oil, #1025 was owned and club raced by numerous individuals in the UK for some 25 years. In the early 1990's, #1025 was purchased and brought to the US.It became apparent that the years of damp UK weather, club event mishaps and an amateur restoration had left #1025's tub in less than desirable structural condition for high speed events. As a result, in 1996 the owner decided that a total restoration was in order, and contracted with this author to restore the original tub to factory specifications. (The balance of the restoration was to be done in the owner's race shop.)

Some details of the tub restoration: Figure 1: The first step in #1025's tub restoration was to remove the floor pans and fuel sponson skins to expose the inner cavities for repair & re-finishing. The previous restoration had subjected #1025 to replacement floor pans that had been poorly attached with aluminum pop rivets. Foam insulation had been sprayed inside the fuel sponson braces...to strengthen them.

Figure 2: All of the old paint and rust was completely removed from the exterior and the inner cavities of the tub.

Figure 3: #1025's tub was mounted on a dedicated GT40 tub alignment fixture while all of the sheet metal repairs were made.

Figure 4: The inner cavities (rear floor cavity shown here) were repaired to factory specs and sprayed with epoxy primer before they were spot welded closed.

Figure 5: As with many GT40's, #1025 required some major panel replacements to bring its structural integrity back to factory standards. One of the most important panels is this exactly original, one-piece stamped steel main floor pan. This panel, as with all others, was precisely stamped using the original metal gage, bend radii, and contours.

Figure 6: It is not often that one has the opportunity to see the bottom surface of an original GT40 MKI tub, as seen here. After restoration, #1025's monocoque tub now has virtually every spot weld and sheet metal panel rejuvenated to 1965 factory specification. Once again structurally ready for many more years of racing, the finished tub was shipped back to the owner for the balance of the restoration.

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If you are a serious collector and require more information regarding these restorations of vintage race cars you may contact: info@racingicons.com Please understand that the fabrication work and parts shown on this website are done for specific individual race car restorations in our facility. Due to time and material constraints, we normally are not able to supply parts & services to other shops for restoration, or for replica construction. All materials presented, except as noted, are © RC International Software, Cincinnati, OH and may not be reproduced or reused for any purpose without the express, written consent of: RC International Software 2855 W North Bend Road Cincinnati, OH 45239 All rights under international copyright law are reserved. No affiliation with General Motors, Safir GT40 Spares, Ltd. or the Ford Motor Company is implied or assumed. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.