The original MK3 prototype car, displayed at the New York Motor Show. Used by various Ford executives and tested by Road & Track magazine in 1967.

Whilst returning from a completion build in the UK, by the then JWA, during unloading operations, M3/1106, another blue MK3, was dropped on its roof. A major part of this restoration necessitated that the chrome window frames had to be hand formed from scratch, along with other associated upper panels.

Another challenge was the condition of the front and rear body panels. As prototype productions they were maybe not of the greatest quality to start, then, with the repair work following the accident it proved very difficult for the paint shop team to get the concours quality finish required, the resins persistently reacting with the new products.

A substantial amount of time was also spent purely on research and analysing any original imagery that could tracked down, not all of it great quality! There were so many oddities that separate the prototype from the later production cars it was viewed as high priority to get these individual features correct.

Many owners of subsequent road car restorations owe much to this particular project, as previously unobtainable parts were created from scratch. It was a real pleasure to once again be involved with a unique example of this rare species, especially as this is a prototype.

A fastidious restoration, overseen by a worldwide regarded head of team, resulted in a podium at what many consider the ultimate concours arena –namely Pebble Beach.