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 After Le Mans it was withdrawn from the program and put in storage.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