GT40 Mirage : July 2015

Friday, July 24, 2015

GT40 P1037

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1037

1037 was first entered by the Canadian team Comstock at the 12 hours of Sebring. It was retired from the race after the fatal accident of its sister car P 1000.
The rest of the season as well of part of the 1967 one saw the car in several Canam series events.
In 1971 it was sold to a collector, changed hands a couple of times and was seen in the historic racing scene. The car still exists and has been restored in yellow with black trim.

The Models:

Ford GT40 Mk1 - Chassis # 1037 -Withdraw after acc. by sister car #18 -
Sebring 1966 (BOX Models modified)

The same

1037 at Sebring in 1966

1037 at Sebring in 1966 with sister car #18 (P 1000)
Both still with their original noses

1037 racing at Sebring in 1966

1037 in the Canam Series

1037 in the Canam Series at Mosport

GT40 P1034 - 1035 - 1036

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1034

1034 was first sold as a road car. It changed hands several times and is still in existence.

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1035

Built to race specifications this car along with 1030 1025 and 1036 was used by Shell Oil for its advertising campaign in 1967. Then sold to a collector it changed hands several times and was used mainly as a road car. It is still in existence.

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1036

Built to race specifications this car along with 1030 1025 and 1035 was used by Shell Oil for its advertising campaign in 1967. Then sold to a collector it changed hands several times and was used mainly as a road car. It is still in existence.

The Models:

No models for these GT40s

GT40 P1033

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1033

1033 was initially made as a road car for team owner G. Filipinetti. The Swiss coach builder Graber finished it with luxury features such as electric windows, A.C., radio, small bumpers, carpet and leather trims, but Filipinetti was not impressed and put it for sale. It was sold to billionaire Ortiz Patiro who remove all the luxury accessories and rebuilt it to the latest racing specifications.
1033 was raced under the team name ZITRO (Ortiz reversed)
In 1969 the car was raced at Monza (15th) at Le Mans ( DNS; engine broke during practice) at the 1000 Km of Paris (9th) and Hockenheim (9th)
In 1970 at the 1000 Km of Buenos Aires (12th), again in another race at Buenos Aires (12th) and at Monthlery (2nd).
The car was damaged in a fire in 1970 and the wreck has been sold to Franco Sbarro after a few years in storage. 1033 has been probably restored to this date although I never had it confirmed.

The Models:

Ford GT40 Mk1 - Chassis 1033 - DNS Le Mans 1969 (Kit ORIGINAL MINIATURES)

The same

1033 arriving at Le Mans in 1969

1033 in the paddock at Le Mans in 1969

1033 ready to race which unfortunately will not happen

1033 during practice at Le Mans in 1969

Thursday, July 23, 2015

GT40 P1032

FORD GT40 Mk2 Chassis P 1032

1032 was completed by Holmann & Moody to replace GT 107 in the Mk2 program. Painted in white with a black hood it was sent to Sebring in February 1966 for the 12 hours race where it finished 2nd. Then it went to France for the 24 hours of Le Mans in June this time painted in gold. It retired after 4 hours. Only 2 races for this Mk2, after Le Mans it was resprayed in black to look like the winner of that race and was used as a show car. In 1970 it was donated to the "Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum"where it stayed for a while then went to the "Early Wheels" exhibition in Terre Haute Indiana, still as the Le mans winner look alike livery but with white stripes instead of silver. 1032 has been recently (2013) restored to its 1966 Le mans livery.

The Models:

Ford GT40 Mk2 (H&M) - Chassis 1032 - 2nd Sebring 1966
(Kit MARSH MODELS)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk2 (H&M) - Chassis 1032 - Ret. 4th hour Le Mans 1966 (IXO)

1032 prepared for Sebring in 1966

1032 racing at Sebring in 1966

1032 ready for the start at Le Mans in 1966

1032 at Le Mans in 1966

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

GT40 P1031 / P1031-1047

FORD GT40 Mk2 Chassis P 1031 (and 1031/1047)

1031 was sent to SAI to replace GT 106 in the Mk2 program. Its first race was the 24 hours of Daytona in February 1966 in a white livery with a black hood. Entered by Holmann & Moody it finished 3rd. Next was the 12 hours in Sebring in March, this time entered by Shelby (SAI) resprayed dark metallic blue. 1031 was leading the race in the last lap when the car broke down in view of the finish line. It would have been credited with a 2nd place if Dan Gurney, its driver, had not pushed the car which lead to a disqualification. Back in the hands of H&M the car was prepared for the 24 hours of Le Mans the following June. Repainted dark blue with white stripes (and a yellow "moustache") it retired after 7 hours. After spending a few months as a show car it was sent to the 1967 Daytona 24 hours race where it retired wearing a bronze livery.
Prepared for the 1967 Le Mans 24 hours in full Mk2B specifications with a gold and white stripes livery it was wrecked during the race along with the Mk2B 1016 and the Mk4 J7.
This is at least the official version. It has been established decades later during restorations of 1031 and 1047 that the chassis number had been interchanged before the Le Mans race for a still unexplained reason. The gold car (#5) was in fact 1047 and the blue car (#57) was 1031. The real 1031 (#57) retired on engine failure at the 18th hour.
After Le Mans all Mk2 and Mk4 were retired from competition except for 1031 ( now called semi officially 1031/1047) which raced till the end of the season with some success: a win at the 12 hours of Reims, a 4th place at Mugello, a DNF at Monthlery and another 4th place at the 1000 km of Paris.
Although entered by Ford France it retained its Le Mans blue livery.

The Models: