How much horsepower does a 1966 Ford GT have?
The 1966 Ford GT was a legendary sports car that packed a serious punch under the hood. With its powerful V8 engine, the GT delivered an impressive amount of horsepower, making it a true performance powerhouse of its era.
Horsepower Specifications of the 1966 Ford GT
The 1966 Ford GT was equipped with a 4.7-liter V8 engine that produced 425 horsepower. This was an exceptionally high output for a production car at the time, as most sports cars of the era typically ranged from 300 to 375 horsepower.
The GT's powerful engine was a result of Ford's commitment to developing high-performance vehicles that could compete with the best sports cars in the world. The company had recently won the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, and the GT was designed to be a road-going version of their successful race cars.
Factors Contributing to the GT's Impressive Horsepower
Several key factors contributed to the 1966 Ford GT's impressive horsepower output:
- Displacement: The 4.7-liter V8 engine had a large displacement, allowing it to produce a significant amount of power.
- Advanced Engineering: Ford's engineers used advanced design techniques and materials to optimize the engine's performance, including high-performance camshafts, fuel injection, and lightweight components.
- Racing Pedigree: The GT's engine was derived from the same powerplant used in Ford's successful Le Mans race cars, which had been extensively developed and tuned for maximum power and reliability.
The combination of these factors resulted in a sports car that was not only visually stunning but also possessed incredible performance capabilities, making the 1966 Ford GT a true icon of its era.
How much is a 1966 Ford GT40 worth?
The price for a 1966 Ford GT40 varies significantly based on its specific model (Mk I vs. Mk II), condition, and racing history, ranging from a few million dollars for a road car to over $13 million for a historic race car. For example, a 1966 Mk I road car recently sold for $7 million, while a rare 1966 Mk II with a significant racing resume sold for $13.2 million.
Price examples for a 1966 Ford GT40
- 1966 Ford GT40 Mk I Road Car: A rare road car from this year, one of only 31 produced, sold for $7.04 million in January 2025. Another 1966 Mk I road car sold for $6.93 million in January 2024.
- 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II Race Car: A 1966 Mk II with a notable Le Mans and Sebring racing history sold for $13.2 million in March 2025, the highest auction price ever for a GT40 at that time.
- General Valuation: Hagerty estimates a typical 1966 Ford GT40 Mk I in good condition with average specs to be around $5.05 million. For a 1966 Mk II, Hagerty estimates a value of about $6.875 million for one in good condition with average specs.
Factors that influence price
- Model: The specific model, like the competitive Mk II or the road-going Mk I, greatly affects the price.
- History: A car's racing history, especially if it competed in major events like Le Mans or Sebring, can increase its value significantly.
- Condition: The car's physical condition, including mileage, original parts, and maintenance history, plays a major role in its value.
How much horsepower does a 427 Ford GT40 have?
around 485 horsepower
In 1966, Ford unleashed the 7.0-liter (427-cubic-inch) big-block V8, a NASCAR-bred powerhouse, in the GT40 Mark II. Delivering around 485 horsepower and massive torque, this engine clinched a historic 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans that year.
What made the 1966 Ford GT so special?
1966 Ford GT40 is an iconic race car that made history by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times consecutively from 1966 to 1969. Developed by Ford to beat Ferrari at Le Mans, the GT40 featured a low- profile, aerodynamic design and was powered by a potent 7.0-liter V8 engine.
What engine did Ken Miles GT40 have?
Ken Miles' Ford GT40, specifically the GT40 Mark II he drove to a famous 1-2-3 finish at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, was powered by a 427 cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Ford FE V8 engine. This powerful V8 was developed for NASCAR and was modified with a lightweight aluminum block, cylinder heads, and intake manifold to fit the mid-engine chassis and reduce weight.
You can watch this video to learn more about the 427 engine that powered the GT40: 58sBullnoseGarageYouTube · Oct 13, 2025
- Engine size: The engine was a 427 cubic-inch (6,997 cc) V8.
- Engine family: It was a version of the Ford FE "side-oiler" engine that originated from the company's NASCAR program.
- Key modifications: To make it lighter and more suitable for the GT40's chassis, the engine featured a lightweight aluminum block, cylinder heads, and intake manifold.
- Power output: This engine produced approximately 485 horsepower.
- Transmission: The engine was paired with a Ford T-44 four-speed manual transmission.
