How much horsepower does a 1964 GT40 have?
In 1964, the Ford GT40 Mk I's horsepower depended on which engine and tuning the car used. Race-focused configurations typically produced about 350–360 horsepower, while early development or street-oriented versions were closer to 270–300 horsepower.
Engine options and horsepower context
The GT40 program in 1964 relied on Ford's V8 family, with power output tied closely to the displacement and tuning chosen for each car. While the racing versions aimed for high endurance performance, the production and development-spec cars carried lower, more reliability-focused figures. The numbers below reflect the range historians and period sources commonly cite for the 1964 GT40 lineup and its development trajectory.
Mk I race-focused 4.7-liter V8
The core engine for many 1964 GT40 Mk I race cars was a 4.7-liter Ford V8 (the 289 cubic inch family). In race trim, this configuration delivered roughly 350–360 horsepower, depending on carburation, intake, exhaust, and tuning specifics. That level of output was pursued to meet endurance-racing demands at places like Le Mans, where reliability and sustained speed were essential as much as peak horsepower.
Baseline/mid-era development and street configurations
Early development and some street or non-race-focused GT40s used the same general V8 family but with less aggressive tuning. In these cases, horsepower typically ranged from about 270–300 horsepower, reflecting emphasis on durability and drivability rather than outright speed.
Evolution beyond 1964: Mk II context
While not part of the 1964 Mk I lineup, it’s useful for context that Ford’s GT40 program evolved to heavier, more powerful engines in later years. The Mk II, introduced in 1966, used a 7.0-liter (427 cu in) V8 producing roughly 485 horsepower in race trim, a leap that contributed to Ford’s Le Mans success in that era.
Historical context and performance impact
horsepower figures are only part of the equation. The GT40’s performance also depended on weight, aerodynamics, chassis tuning, and endurance reliability. The 1964 program laid the groundwork for later, higher-power iterations, culminating in the famed Mk II Le Mans domination a couple of years later.
Summary
The 1964 GT40’s horsepower varied by configuration. Race-oriented Mk I cars typically produced about 350–360 horsepower from the 4.7-liter V8, while development and street variants ran around 270–300 horsepower. The program would eventually transition to the more powerful 427-cubic-inch V8 in later years, delivering substantially higher horsepower and shaping the GT40’s legacy in endurance racing.
