JUPITER, Fla. – July 26, 2023 – Six-time Rolex 24 Daytona champion Wayne Taylor is such a fan of Shelby American founder Carroll Shelby and its history at the Florida race that he purchased a Superformance MK II GT40 clad in the 1966 race livery. Taylor recently picked up his heritage sports car, P/2480, to enjoy at his home in Florida.
The sports car is a tribute to the 1966 Ford MKII fielded by Southern California sports car maker and Le Mans champion Carroll Shelby. Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby drove the racecar for the Shelby American team.
“Many consider the 1960s to be the pinnacle of sports car racing, with the 1965-1966 battle between Ford and Ferrari as the highlight of the period,” said Lance Stander, CEO of Superformance. “The first gem in the 1966 ‘triple crown’ of endurance racing was the grueling 24-hour race at Daytona. When Ford and Shelby American won that competition with Ken Miles behind the wheel, it signaled their intent to crush Ferrari that year. Wayne, who has an amazing record at Daytona both as a driver and a team owner, chose to celebrate the Carroll Shelby Centennial with a car that also honors his personal history at this storied race. His stunning GT40 is a tribute to a fellow Daytona 24-hour winner, who continues to inspire motorsports fans worldwide.”
Ken Miles qualified the new #98 Mk II on pole for the 1966 Daytona race. For the first time, the season opener in Florida became a 24-hour event, raising some very serious concerns about the durability of the new Ford racer. Miles was confident before the race because the Shelby American team and Ford had thoroughly prepared their cars.
That faith was rewarded as he and veteran USAC driver Lloyd Ruby did their job superbly while the car ran flawlessly. When the checkered flag fell, Gurney/Grant in the #97 car came across the line in second, with Hansgen/Donohue in #95 trailing in third.
Completed by Bob Olthoff Racing, P/2480 is powered by a Ford Racing 460 CID Windsor V8 with an 8-stack fuel injection system mated to a five-speed manual transaxle. The MKII GT40 features right hand drive with a sill mounted shifter, Alcantara interior and 15″ Halibrand-style gold MKII wheels with three-eared knockoffs and shod with period-style Avon tires (215/60 in front and 295/50 in back).
The cockpit features fixed-back racing seats upholstered in Alcantara with ventilation grommets and harnesses. It was painted in the Ken Miles 1966 Daytona livery, as seen in the international hit film “Ford v. Ferrari.”
“Three-time sports car champion Wayne Taylor has won the most prestigious motorsports events around the world as a driver and team owner, including the Rolex 24 at Daytona a record six times,” said Stander. “His record behind the wheel is amazing. As a driver, Taylor won the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Petit Le Mans twice, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the 12 Hours of Sebring.”
That success continued when Taylor retired from the cockpit. In 2007, Taylor joined forces with former teammate Max Angelelli to create Wayne Taylor Racing. He has won two IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championships, back-to-back Michelin Endurance Cup Championships and 49 races. Notable endurance victories include four additional Rolex 24 at Daytona, three Petit Le Mans and one 12 Hours of Sebring. Taylor has been inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame (2014) as well as the prestigious South Africa Hall of Fame (2019), joining fellow South African ambassadors such as Gary Player and Nelson Mandela.
This authentic continuation GT40 racecar was manufactured under the scrutiny of Safir GT40 Spares, Ltd., the undisputed legal holder of the GT40 trademark. It is a quality re-creation of the original that beat Ferrari at Le Mans. While developing the exhilarating GT40 continuation, engineers went to great lengths to ensure authenticity. The car is so authentic that it can legally wear the name “GT40” and carries a GT40/P chassis number that is eligible for the official GT40 registry.
The Superformance GT40 boasts a pressed steel roof and beautifully finished body and is also available in wide body (1968) and extra wide body (1969) configurations, as well as both right- and left-hand drive. The GT40 continuation is built to exacting standards; over two-thirds of the rolling chassis parts are interchangeable with that of an original car, including the “monocoque” style chassis.
Superformance offers a full line of high-performance cars. Sold as a rolling chassis, each Superformance car can be configured for heritage or modern drivetrains. The Superformance MKII GT40 roller starts at $170,900; a limited number are built per year. The cars are offered complete but without engines and transmissions. The drivetrain’s selection, purchase and installation are the purchaser’s responsibility. Orders are now being accepted. For more information, visit http://www.superformance.com.
About Superformance
Superformance LLC has been a distributor of complete rolling chassis racecar replicas and continuation Shelby Cobras since 1994. Superformance products are aesthetically and dimensionally correct and are engineered in the image of some of the most iconic classic sports cars. All vehicles are built under license from trademark holders including Ford, Shelby, GM and SAFIR GT40, adding authenticity and value.
Superformance has a longstanding relationship with Hi-Tech Automotive, the world’s largest specialty car production facility. Together, they have produced and distributed more than 5,000 rolling chassis through 20 independent dealerships worldwide. The Superformance rolling chassis is completely assembled and ready for the buyer to install any drivetrain of their choice.
Superformance has an owner’s forum and a car registry. Additional information is available at superformance.com, info@Superformance.comor by calling a dealer at (800) 297-6253.
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