Shelby American Factory Team
Daytona 1967 N° 1
Ford GT40 MkII P/1012 — The Solitary Factory Finisher and Endurance Survivor
February 1967
Back on the Florida circuit, the Ford GT40 MKII P/1012 – extensively modified to the B specification – benefits from numerous engine upgrades that have made it significantly more powerful. Featuring a new striking yellow livery with two black stripes, it is ready to tackle this particularly gruelling endurance race.
Drivers: Bruce McLaren & Lucien Bianchi | Configuration: MkIIB 7.0L FE V8
The 1967 Continental 24 Hours
To bridge the competitive gap before the introduction of the next-generation MkIV platform by deploying the highly refined, uprated 7-litre MkII chassis to defend the factory title on high-speed banking.
The main aim of this race was to demonstrate the reliability of this new version against a field of new, optimised and high-performance prototypes. As the new models were still in the development phase, the team once again drew on its tried-and-tested cutting-edge technology. The P/1012, bearing race number 1, was fitted with new, redesigned steel cylinder heads and a twin-carburettor set-up ready to withstand twenty-four hours of full throttle operation.
The Survival Mandate
The front bodywork configuration of chassis P/1012 carrying race number 1 on the speedway grid.
A very well-thought-out and cautious endurance strategy, aimed at protecting the mechanical components in the face of repeated gearbox failures affecting all MKIIs. Whilst transmission failures quickly forced six identical works cars to retire prematurely, the P/1012’s engine overheating forced the drivers to slow their pace, thereby taking the strain off the gearbox and preventing it from failing. It was the only MKII to finish, leaving victory to a Ferrari one-two-three!
Defending the Factory Line
A grueling day-and-night marathon charting the vehicle's steady progression as the last line of defense for the factory banner.
Bruce McLaren’s masterful stints at the wheel of the McLaren GT40 kept the car close to the front of the field. During the particularly gruelling night-time stints, Lucien Bianchi’s stints at the wheel of the GT40 helped to preserve the car and see it cross the finish line in 7th place.
The 1967 specification featured thicker Kelsey-Hayes ventilated brake discs, reinforced calipers, a repositioned oil pan at the rear, and structural anti-roll reinforcements at the rear to stabilise the monocoque against the high and sustained G-forces generated by the banked corners.
The Endurance Verdict
By crossing the finish line to secure a hard-fought seventh place overall, the car became the only one entered by the works team to have survived the weekend, thus bringing its official racing career to a fitting conclusion and cementing its unique place in Ford’s history.
PERIOD PHOTOGRAPHS
"Surviving a brutal race that claimed every other factory sister chassis proved that this vehicle was more than a fast machine; it was an incredibly resilient endurance tool built to endure the ultimate test." — Florida Speedway Archival Records
Archival Racing Log
“The exceptional track record, the technical improvements made and the validated race results achieved with car No. 1 at Daytona in 1967 highlight the remarkable longevity of this chassis, which has left an indelible mark on the team’s history. ”
— Historical Registry Audit & Documentation Profile
The GT40 MKII P/1012 successfully demonstrated the reliability of its chassis over thousands of miles of competition, thereby providing essential data that validated the works team’s mechanical developments for 1967.
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