GT40 Mirage

Thursday, November 19, 2015

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 After Le Mans it was withdrawn from the program and put in storage.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

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 Model:

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 Daytona test early 1966

Sunday, October 18, 2015

GT40 Post Production Chassis # P1108 to 1114

FORD GT40 Mk1 Post Production Cassis P 1108 to P 1114

The production stopped with the chassis P 1086. The sequence 1087 to 1100 were reserved by John Willment (the owner of JWA) for future use and, to my knowledge, has never been used. Then came the number 1101 to 1107 reserved for the Mk3 (See previous chapter).
The post production chassis are:

1108 : Mk1 based on a LHD Mk3 left over chassis
1109 : Mk1 based on a RHD Mk3 left over chassis (was originally equipped with a Mk2 tail section)
1110 and 1111 : These 2 chassis have been used to rebuild the wrecked cars 1012 and 1078. After the repair the old number has been used instead of the new ones.
1112 to 1114 : Mk1s built from spare parts and chassis

The Models:

No models at this time

GT40 Mk3 P1101 to 1107

FORD GT40 Mk3 Chassis # P 1101 to 1107

The Mk3 were designed as a road car only. Some changes have been made from the Mk1:
the car had 4 round headlamps instead of 2 rectangular.
the rear part of the body was extended to provide luggage space
the interior was more luxurious
the stick shift was moved to the center
the car was available with the steering wheel on the left side
the engine was tuned down and the shock absorber were softened.
All these changes made the car looking significantly different from the road version of the Mk1 which explained why the Mk3 was never popular. Road car buyers preferred to have a GT40 which looked like the racing version and only seven were built during the production years.

The Models:

Ford GT40 Mk3 Chassis 1101 to 1107 (Kit TENARIV)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk3 Chassis 1101 to 1107 (Kit TENARIV)

The same

Ford GT40 Mk3

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

GT40 P1083 to P1086

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1083

Although built in 1969 as a race car 1083 was never raced and in 1971 was sold to the racer Wilson Fittipaldi from Brasil who used it as a road car. In 1983 1083 was sold to a private collector and the car can be seen from time to time in historical events.

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1084 (GULF)

1084 is the rebuilt in 1968 of the 1965 chassis 1004 by JWA/Gulf.
See the chapter about 1004/1084 for the history, models and pictures of this car.

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1085

1085 is the last production numbered chassis built but was sold unfinished to Malcom Guthrie as a rolling chassis. By the mid 1980s the car was still not completed.

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1086

This chassis was unnumbered when the production ceased. It has been bought by John Willment the co owner of JWA and gave it the next number in line: 1086. The car has been completed in the late 1970s as a look alike of 1075 the double winner of Le Mans. By 1984 the car was sold to a private owner.

The Models:

No models for these cars (except 1084: see 1004)

GT40 P1082

FORD GT40 Mk1 Chassis P 1082

Although owned by Michel Martin 1082 was entered by "Ford France" in the 1969 season. It won a couple of races at Monthlery and the GP of Casablanca. It also raced in the Tour de France Automobile in 1969 and 70. It was then sold to a private collector and appeared in historic events still with the same livery.

The Models: