This is the ultimate Gulf-liveried Ford GT40 replica

The Ford GT40 is one of the most iconic road-racing cars of all time, but if you’re as obsessed as we are, it’s somewhat of a dagger to the heart to know that an original went to auction last year with a $12m estimate.

On the 50th anniversary of its final victory at the 24 hours of Le Mans though, Superformance will now sell you an exact replica for a fraction of the price – Gulf livery and all.

The word replica might conjure up images of shoddy, kit-car Lancia Stratos’, but this GT40 is so similar to the race-winning Mk1 from 1969 that 90 per cent of the parts are interchangeable with the original. 

In fact, each of the 50 cars that Superformance will produce will carry a chassis number that continues on from the prototypes made half a century ago.

In collaboration with the official GT40 trademark holder Safir GT40 Spares, Superformance also offers something called the “Tool Room Reconfiguration” package. This provides a huge amount of kit that will mechanically replicate how the cars were raced back in the day, and even means they can be homologated for historic racing in the present – something we would heartily encourage.

With that iconic Gulf livery and the Tool Room pack, the 50th Anniversary GT40 starts at $209,900. That price will only get you the rolling chassis though and you’ll have to source your own power unit, but even after getting hold of the recommended 1969-spec 302 Ford engine it’d still be cheaper than the £450,000 new Ford GT. 

Time to start checking down the back of the sofa.

Want to know more about how the GT40 achieved its legendary status? Click here to find out.