Ford J9

FORD J  G7A  Chassis J9

After the 1967 the Le Mans regulations changed without warning. That made the MkIVs obsolete. Four new chassis were already built. Ford decided to used two of them (J9 and J10) to be developed for the Can Am series.
J9 was sent to Kar Kraft and a car with an open cockpit and a complicated adjustable dual rear wing was assembled . The car was never raced but was tested all along the 1968 season. It was slow and unreliable and the project was put to an end.
The complete J9 car and the J10 chassis plus a some parts were sold to the former Shelby mechanic Charlie Agapiou for 1$.
J9 remain unraced and was kept as a spare car for the following Can Am seasons. The car has been years later restored as a MkIV coupe.

The Models:

Ford J  G7A  Chassis J9 Test Can Am 1968
(Kit MARSH MODELS)

The same

J9 during testing

J9 during testing

J9 during testing

J9 during testing

J9 during testing

Ford J8

FORD J  MkIV  Chassis J8

J8 was the last one of the MkIV prepared for Le Mans. It was entered by Holmann & Moody. Soon after completion it was sent to Le Mans where it retired after 7 hours of race. Then it was stored for a while at Kar Kraft and later donated to the Harrah collection in Reno Nevada. In 1985 when the Harrah museum was dispersed J8 was sold at auction to a private collector.

The models:

Ford J MkIV - Chassis J8 - Retired Le Mans 1967 (SOLIDO)

The same

J8 prepared for Le Mans

J8 at Le Mans

J8 with its 4 sister cars at Le Mans

Ford J7

FORD J MkIV Chassis J7

After completion and a quick shakedown J7 was sent to Le Mans entered By Holman & Moody. It was unfortunately eliminated in an accident due to brake problems after the first half of the race. The wreck was sent back to Kar Kraft who did a temporary repair so the car could be used as a show car repainted in red like J6 the winner of Le Mans. In 1970 it was sold in its unrepaired condition, changed hands a few times and was finally restored to its Le Mans color before being donated to the Carol Shelby museum.

The Models:

Ford J MkIV - Chassis J7 - Retired Le Mans 1967 (SOLIDO)

The same

J7 racing at Le Mans

J7 at Le Mans

J7 at Le Mans

Ford J5

FORD J  MkIV Chassis J5

J5 is the first of the J chassis built for Le Mans to the MkIV specifications. It won the 24 hours race its only race  It was entered by SAI.
After Le Mans it was used as a show car before becoming a permanent exhibit at the Ford museum at Dearborn.
It can be seen from time to time at some historic event. J5 is still in its Le Mans livery and has never been restored or repainted.

The Models:

Ford J MkIV - Chassis J5 - Winner Le Mans 1967 (SOLIDO)

The same

J5 before passing the finish line

J5 with Carol Shelby

J5 in the shop

Ford J6

FORD J  MkIV  Chassis J6

J6 was the second J chassis to be built as a MkIV. It's one of the four specially built for Le Mans.
It finished 4th at Le Mans, entered by SAI. Then its whereabout until 1972 are unknown. It was given by Ford to A.J. Foyt and was repainted in red as a look  alike of the Le Mans winner. Sold in 1976 to a private collector, it can be seen in historic events in its Le Mans livery.

The Models:

Ford J MkIV Chassis J6 - 4th Le Mans 1967 (SOLIDO)

The same

J6 racing at Le Mans

J6 racing at Le Mans

J6 racing at Le Mans

J6 during practice at Le Mans

Ford J4

FORD J  (MkIV)  Chassis J4

J4 was the last prototype to be built to the original specifications. It was sent after completion (Jan. '67) to Daytona for some testing. Sent back to KarKraft it was rebuilt to MkIV specidications, painted in yellow with black stripes and tested at Kingman Arizona with good results. It was decided to send it to the 12 hours of Sebring. It proved to be a good idea as it won the race. Then it went for more testing at Daytona in preparation of Le Mans. J4 was not used again and was put in storage. In 1970 it was sold to a private collector, changed hands several times and can be seen from time to time in historic events.

The Models:

Ford J MkIV Chassis J4 - Winner Sebring 1967 (IXO)

The same

J4 racing at Sebring

J4 racing at Sebring

J4 in the pit at Sebring

J4 racing at Sebring

J4 at Sebring

J4 at Sebring with drivers B. Mc Laren & M. Andretti

Ford J3

Ford J (Mk4) Chassis J3

J3 was under construction when the J2 accident occurred and its completion was put on hold during the investigation. It was finally finished in October 1966 and went to testing at Riverside then at Daytona. During that time a new body style was designed around J4 and when J3 was returned to SAI the old body style was stripped to be replaced by the new one. This new body would  have become known as the "MkIV". J3 was finished in yellow as a look alike of J4 which by then had won the 12 hours of Sebring. In April J3 was sent to the Le Mans trials. Two fins were added on top of the tail for stability on the long straight of the "Hunaudières" ( also called "Mulsanne Staight" by the Brits). After Le Mans it was withdrawn from the program and put in storage. In 1970 it was sold to a private collector, changed hands several times and is still in existence.

The Models:

Ford Mk4 - Chassis J3 - FoMoCo / SAI -

 (SOLIDO modified)

The same

The same

J4 during testing at Le Mans- April 1967

J4 during testing at Le Mans- April 1967

J4 at Le Mans- April 1967

J4 during testing at Le Mans- April 1967

J4 at Le Mans- April 1967

Ford J2

FORD J Chassis J2

In August 1966 J2 was completed and after a shakedown at Kingman Arizona it was sent for testing at Riverside where it was totally destroyed in the fatal accident of its driver Ken Miles.

The Models:

To my knowledge there has never been a model of J2 made

J2 at Riverside in Aug. 1966

Ford J1

FORD J  Chassis J1

Thinking of the future, it had been decided to design a replacement for the Mk2s. The new car, called "J", for the new "Appendix J" of the FIA regulations,  had a new lightweight chassis made in aluminium honeycomb sandwich which was 150 lbs lighter than the Mk2.
J1, the first of the 12 chassis of the J series built, was completed in March 1966. After some testing at Dearborn and Riverside it was sent to the April Le Mans trials weekend where it set the fastest lap. Back to the States it went back to a series of testing but due to poor handling the project was put on hold for Le Mans. In August when it took off again J1 was replaced by J2 for testing and the car went in storage for some years until a private enthusiast bought it . In 1982 Rick Nagel tracked it down and acquired it for the Shelby American museum.

The Models:

Ford "J" - Chassis J1 - SAI - Le Mans trials 1966

(Kit CEVEN KIT CARS)

The same

J1 at the 1966 Le Mans trials

J1 at the 1966 Le Mans trials

J1 at the Daytona test early 1966

J1 at the Daytona test early 1966

J1 at the Daytona test early 1966