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The original FORD GT40

Started by Tony, January 10, 2007, 21:50:06

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Tony

The FORD GT40 Story......

Lee Iacocca from Ford Motor Company once said that Ford cars were good solid cars but they lacked pizzazz. So in March 1963 Ford decided to go racing to earn a better image. To them the best way to do this was to win endurance races, especially the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race. Ford embarked on a "Total Performance" program which included the idea of buying Ferrari! Ironically Ferrari had made approaches to Ford earlier that year but due to the size of the company the word had not reached the appropriate department within Ford.  Enzo Ferrari therefore was quite receptive to an offer made by Fords Iacocca. However after being overwhelmed by Ford personnel taking inventory of Ferrari's assets, Enzo realized that he would not be able to work under such a large company umbrella and called off the negotiations.

Ford then decided to go it alone.
Knowing that the expertise to build their own car lay in England, Ford sent off a scouting party (via Le Mans to see what was needed), which included Roy Lunn, Ray Geddes and Carol Shelby. They made an approach to Eric Broadley as his Lola car was close to the design Ford was thinking of and it was using a Ford engine as well. A deal was struck and Broadley was placed on a one year contract and two of his cars where purchased for development work. John Wyer the team manager for Aston Martin in 1959, was also hired to repeat the success that he had had with the victorious Aston Martin DBR1 previously. John would also be responsible for production of racecars and the eventual road cars for Ford. A new purpose built facility was constructed in Slough, near Heathrow airport. This facility was named Ford Advance Vehicles and the first prototype was wheeled out at an official press launch on 1 April 1964.

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Although showing great promise the prototype cars (with 256ci engines) did not do well at Le Mans that year. Even after Carol Shelby took over management of racing them in 1965 they failed to win at Le Mans in spite of winning at Daytona and getting second place at Sebring amongst other races that year (all using the 289ci Cobra engine)

For 1966 Ford used the 427ci engine in a Mk2 car and were at last successful at Le Mans achieving 1st, 2nd and 3rd place after winning at Daytona again and winning at Sebring and other less famous races that year Ford had achieved their goal.

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The car was totally re-designed for 1967 using the same big block engine but with a new Mk4 body. Ford managed a 1st and 4th place at Le Mans together with many other race wins that year.

Ford then decided they had proved a point and bowed out of racing.

BUT ALL WAS NOT LOST!

In 1968, the Gulf Oil Company decided to sponsor the original GT40 design (Mk1) using the 302ci (5.0 L) engine and the new ZF transaxles.  John Wyer once again managed the racing team that produced wins and good results at races all over the world including the record breaking win at Le Mans for both 1968 and 1969 using the same car (Chassis 1075) in it's distinctive pale blue and orange Gulf colours. Oliver and Ickx were the drivers and Jackie Ickx still considers the 1969 Le Mans race his greatest race of all time.

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The Ford GT40 earned 19 first places in 1969 and 10 in 1970 by which time the car was becoming less competitive.
Ford certainly achieved their goals with that project!

The road car version of the Mark 1 is one of the first road cars ever to hit a top speed of over 200mph (320Kmh) and its popularity is shown by the many replica models found today in countries all around the world.

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the 24v xr4i auto-0 to 60 in 6.71 secs

Max Payne

I think I just ruined my keyboard by having an orgasm!

The GT-40 is one of my favorite cars. I would just love to have to opportunity just to see one in the "flesh".

fluff

I bought my wheels form a guy that works just around the corner - i seen the huge warehouse type place many times - when i got there OH WOW - it was ROUSH ooer there were lots of these GT's and even an orig Gt40 in there somewhere - great sounds coming from within


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