1968 Nürburgring 1000 km Race 0001-4468

This official archive photograph captures the number 65 Ford GT40 in Gulf colours at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 1968, entered by J.W. Automotive Engineering for the ADAC 1000 km race on 19 May 1968. The powder blue and orange Gulf livery on the GT40 is among the most recognisable schemes in motorsport, and J.W. Automotive took the GT40 to outright Le Mans victories in both 1968 and 1969.

What Does This Photograph Show?

The GT40 is shown in colour on the entry to a right-hand corner, front wheels turned in, the low nose and twin front intakes clearly defined against the grey Eifel asphalt. Race number 65 appears on both the nose roundel and the door, with Gulf's powder blue bodywork and orange nose treatment.

Behind the car a dense crowd fills a temporary grandstand above a yellow barrier wall carrying VEITH-PIRELLI REIFEN lettering and a Coca-Cola board — period German trackside advertising that confirms the location.

Why Is the Gulf J.W. Automotive GT40 So Celebrated?

By 1968 Ford's works programme had ended, and the GT40's competition life was carried on by John Wyer's J.W. Automotive Engineering with Gulf Oil backing. The team turned an ageing car into a championship contender.

J.W. Automotive won the 1968 BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch, Spa, Watkins Glen and the Monza 1000 km, then took outright Le Mans wins in 1968 and 1969 — the second by a margin of a few seconds, with the same chassis winning twice.

What Was the Nürburgring 1000 km?

Context for the race in this photograph:

• Run on the 22.8 km Nordschleife, then the most demanding circuit in world championship racing
• A round of the 1968 International Championship for Makes
• Held on 19 May 1968 as the ADAC 1000 km Rennen
• Contested by Ford GT40s, Porsche 907s and 908s and Alfa Romeo T33s
• The GT40 was by then a four-year-old design still winning against newer prototypes

Who Is This Print For?

This Gulf GT40 print is ideal for GT40 collectors, Gulf livery enthusiasts, endurance racing followers, restoration shops, offices, garages and dealership showrooms. As vintage Ford racing wall art the colour record of the Gulf scheme makes it a natural focal point. Choose framed, canvas, metal or Giclée formats for a home office, study, museum display or Ford wall decor programme.

Photograph Details

• Event: ADAC 1000 km race
• Date: 19 May 1968
• Location: Nurburgring Nordschleife, Germany
• Car: Ford GT40
• Entrant: J.W. Automotive Engineering, Gulf Oil livery
• Car number: 65
• Archive reference: 0001-4468

This archival photograph is made available through Fordimages.com, the official Ford archive imagery licensee operated by Richard Weedn LLC. Each image is digitally restored before printing and handcrafted to order.

Available as:

• Framed Print — museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, hanging hardware included
• Stretched Canvas — hand-stretched over 1.25-inch pine bars, heavy cotton poly matte finish
• ChromaLuxe Metal Print — image infused directly onto sheets of alloy metal for maximum vibrancy and durability
• Giclée Art Print — 260gsm satin finish paper, finest archival inks, white border

Made in the USA or Europe depending on your location.

About the Artwork

Artwork in this collection comes from the Ford Motor Company Archives, The Henry Ford Museum, the Carroll Shelby Archives, and the collections of acclaimed photographers and painters from around the world. Reproduction rights are reserved by the respective copyright owners.

Our framed prints feature a black, hand-stained solid wood frame with a white mat, museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, and hanging hardware. The frame features a slim 0.8-inch face and projects 1.3 inches from the wall, creating a clean, contemporary shadow-box effect. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our stretched canvas prints are produced on acid-free, pH-neutral, and fade-resistant canvas. Each canvas is hand-glued to solid wood stretcher bars and stretched over 1.25-inch-thick pine bars. Mounting brackets are included. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our Giclée prints are produced using premium 200gsm semi-gloss paper and high-quality archival inks. Each print includes a white border around the perimeter.

For the 40 x 60 size, we use 250gsm museum-quality archival paper with an off-white, uncoated finish.

The listed size refers to the overall paper dimensions. The image is printed proportionally within the selected paper size. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

ChromaLuxe prints use a state-of-the-art coating process that infuses the image directly onto sheets of alloy metal. The result is photography with an exceptional combination of vibrancy, clarity, and durability.

Each print arrives ready to hang. An alloy subframe on the back allows the artwork to float away from the wall for a sleek, modern appearance. This is the finest-quality print we offer. Made in the USA.

All images are digitally restored before printing. Production location varies by product and destination. Shipping is calculated at checkout.