GT 101

FORD GT Chassis GT 101

The first 12 prototypes built by Ford were named Ford GT. The number 40 came later with the production series.
The 1st one - GT 101 - was presented at the press on April 1st 1964 at Heathrow near London. Soon after it was sent to New York for a car show. A week later it was used for some testing at the M.I.R.A (Motor Industry Research Association) then sent to the preliminary test at Le Mans.
Joe Schessler was complaining about instability at high speed and soon after he lost control of the car in the Hunaudières. The driver was OK but the car was too damaged to be fixed for Le Mans and some parts went to finish GT 103. It is rumored that the chassis was rebuilt and renumbered as a later car.
GT 101 had only run for 465 miles when it crashed.

The models :

For GT - Chassis GT 101 - Presentation 01/01/1964 - (BIZARRE)

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Ford GT - Chassis # GT101 - Le Mans trials April 1964 (BIZARRE)

The same

GT101 presentation

GT101 presentation

GT101 presentation

GT 101 at the April test days at Le Mans

GT 101 after the crash at Le Mans 1964

GT 101 after the crash at Le Mans 1964

The 1964 season

NURBURGRING and LE MANS

A week after the presentation of GT 101, the car was sent to the MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) for a few days of testing. Then in April it was sent along with GT102 - freshly completed - to the Le Mans trials. Some aerodynamic problems quickly showed up. With Frenchman Joe Schlesser at the wheel GT101 took off in the Hunaudières ( In English : the Mulsanne straight) and crashed very close to the trees. Joe Schlesser was only shaken but the car was a wreck. After more testing at the MIRA the surviving car ( GT102) was sent to the Nurburgring for the 1st race of the season. The main modifications were a new nose and a spoiler at the tail which took care of the instability at high speed. At the Nurburgring more problems became apparent and the car didn't  finish due to broken suspensions.

Two more cars were completed (GT103 and 104). They were sent with GT102 to Le Mans for the 24 hours race in June:
  No 12 - GT104 caught fire after 4 hours
  No 11 - GT103 transmission failure after 5 hours
  No 10 - GT102 transmission failure after 13 hours

With no major changes GT102 and 103 went to Reims for the 12 hours along with a new car (GT105),
none finished.
After this disastrous season they needed to find a new approach.

The models:

Ford GT - Chassis # GT101 - Le Mans trials April 1964 (BIZARRE)

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Ford GT - Chassis # GT102 - Le Mans trials April 1964 (BIZARRE)

The same

Ford GT - Chassis # GT104 - DNF Le Mans 1964 - (BIZARRE)

The same

Ford GT - Chassis GT 102 - DNF Nurburgring 1964 (BIZARRE)

The same

Ford GT - Chassis # GT103 - DNF Le Mans1964 (kit MARSH MODELS)

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Ford GT - Chassis # GT102 - Quit 14th H. Le Mans1964 (kit MARSH MODELS)

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The start at Le Mans in 1964

Birth of the GT40

After the refusal by Enzo Ferrari to sell his company, Henry Ford decided to build his own racing car. The main goal was to win the most famous endurance race : the 24 hours of Le Mans.
Due to the lack of a proper development facility in America H. Ford sent the experienced engineer Roy Lunn along with Ray Geddes and Carol Shelby to England to scout for a place to develop their project. After trying a partnership with Colin Chapman's Lotus they finally sign with Eric Broadley's Lola Company. John Wyer, winner as team manager of the 1959 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Aston Martin and Carol Shelby, joined the team.
The base of the GT40 was the Lola GT which raced in the 1963 season. The parenthood between the first Ford GT ( Chassis 101) and the Lola is obvious when looking at the pictures of the two cars. The appellation GT40 appears only with the "Production" series. The first 12 "prototypes" ( Chassis # 101 to 112) were officially named Ford GT.
The number 40 refer to the height of the car : 40 Inches. The last 5 prototypes ( GT108 to 112) were open bodied roadsters.

The models:

Lola GT - Le Mans 1963 - (Kit PROVENCE MOULAGE)

The same

Ford GT - Chassis GT101 -  Presentation April 1st 1964 - (BIZARRE)

The same

The Lola GT at Le Mans in 1963

The Lola GT at Le Mans in 1963

The Lola GT racing at Le Mans in 1963

The Lola GT racing at Le Mans in 1963