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

The 1967 season Part 2

12 HOURS OF SEBRING 1967

For the 12 hours of Sebring in April Ford sent J4, the first race for a Mk4, with 1031 prepared by H&M with all the modifications seen at Daytona. The car was now designed as Mk2B.
The opposition was composed of 2 Chaparrals but no works Ferrari. The pole position and the victory for the first race of the Mk4 decided Ford to send 4 similar cars for Le Mans (J5 and 3 new chassis). Meanwhile J3, now rebuilt to Mk4 specifications was sent to the Le Mans trials the following week.
The Mk2B 1031 got the 2nd place. The privateers too, with the Mk1, had good results : a 5th and 8th place with the win in the group 4 category. Gulf JWA entered 1049 in almost the same Daytona livery (and with the same racing number) but this time the car didn't finished.

The start of the 12 hours of Sebring 1967

The 1967 Sebring line up:

                                   #1 - Mk4 - Chassis J4 - Winner - Entered by FoMoCo
                                   #2 - Mk2B - Chassis 1031 - 2nd - Entered by FoMoCo
                                   #19 - Mk1 - Chassis 1042 - 5th - Entered by Brescia Corse
                                   #17 - Mk1 - Chassis 1038 - 8th - Entered by Autosport Int.
                                   #11 - Mk1 - Chassis 1049 - DNF - Entered by JWA (Gulf)
                                   #14 - Mk1 - Chassis GT 103 - DNF - Entered by W.Wonder


The models :

Ford GT40 Mk1 - Chassis 1038 - 8th Sebring 1967
(BOX Models modified)

The same

Ford GT40 - Chassis 1049 - DNF Sebring 1967
(BANG Models modified)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk1 - Chassis 1042 - Brescia Corse - 5th Sebring 1967
(BANG Models modified)

The same

                               

Ford Mk4 - Chassis J4 - Winner Sebring 1967 (IXO)

The same

The 1967 Season Part 1

THE 24 HOURS OF DAYTONA

In England on January 1st 1967 the FAV (Ford advanced Vehicles) plant became JWA engineering. JW are the initials of John Wyer and John Willment who with John Horsman bought the company from Ford. They were still in charge of the manufacturing of the GT40 road cars and competition and free from Ford they also created their own racing program.
In America the "J" project continued. The reason of the K.Miles fatal accident, with J2, during testing could not be solved. They dissected J3 already in construction when it happened but without finding any problems. J4 was built with a reinforced chassis just in case. They put the J program on hold to prepare the Mk2 for the 24 hours of Daytona. 3 cars each for Shelby and H&M. Each team developed their own cars and they differed in a few details. The most visible was the absence of brake air scoops on the rear hood on  Shelby's cars.
SAI had 1015 (The 1966 Daytona winner) 1047 and 1012 while H&M had 1046 (The 1966 Le Mans winner) with 1016 and 1031. 6 GT40 Mk1 came to help. One of them was entered by JWA who borrowed the personnal car of Grady Davis the vice president of the Gulf oil company (The Mirage M1 project was not yet ready). Originally a road car but with a competition engine and transmission. JWA converted it to race specification. It was painted dark blue with an orange stripe the color of Gulf Oil now the sponsor of the team. The more famous light blue and orange livery came later. It was in fact the color of the Wilshire Oil Company recently acquired by Gulf.
The 24 hours were a disaster for Ford seeing Ferrari with a 1st/2nd/3rd place with their new P4. The 2 new Chaparral 2F also didn't finished. The Gulf GT40 Mk1 had the best result with a 6th place. The only Mk2 to finish was only 7th.

The Daytona 1967 line up:

                                   #11 - Mk1 - Chassis #1049 - 6th - Entered by JWA (Gulf)
                                   #1   - Mk2 - Chassis #1012 - 7th - Entered by SAI
                                   #20 - Mk1 - Chassis # GT 103 - 8th - Entered by W.Wonder
                                   #3   - Mk2 - Chassis #1047 - DNF - Entered by SAI
                                   #5   - Mk2 - Chassis #1031 - DNF - Entered by H&M
                                   #6   - Mk2 - Chassis #1046 - DNF - Entered by H&M
                                   #4   - Mk2 - Chassis #1016 - DNF - Entered by H&M
                                   #2   - Mk2 - Chassis #1015 - DNF - Entered by SAI
                                   #9   - Mk1 - Chassis #1042 - DNF - Entered by Brescia Corse

The models :

Ford (Mercury) GT40 Mk2 - Chassis 1016 - DNF Daytona 1967
(BANG Models modified - decals INDYCALS)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk2 (SAI) - Chassis # 1012 - 7th Daytona 1967 -
(Kit TESTOR modified)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk2 (SAI) - Chassis # 1015 - DNF  Daytona 1967 -
(Kit TESTOR modified)

The same

Ford (Mercury) GT40 Mk2 (SAI) - Chassis # 1047 - DNF  Daytona 1967 -
(Kit TESTOR modified - Decals INDYCALS)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk1 (JWA) - Chassis # 1049 - 6th  Daytona 1967 -
(UNIVERSAL HOBBY)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk1 - Chassis 1049 - 6th Daytona 1967
(Kit MARSH MODELS)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk2 (H & M) - Chassis # 1046 - DNF  Daytona 1967 -
(BANG Models modified)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk2 (H & M) - Chassis # 1031 - DNF  Daytona 1967 -
(BANG Models modified)

The same