<VV> Ford GT-No Corvair-except tailights...

[BBRT]

Well, it isn't quite all English. Hybrid American-British. Paid for by Ford. 
>From a ola chassis and improved by Ford. MK IVs were all American. As were 
427 Cobras built on tube fames in LA.  Use to walk over to the show room in 
LA when working near the airport. Saw one of the first ones; silver with 
overspray everywhere...

Chuck S

Ford GTs (History Of The Marques)
Prints unavailable at this time. Please make inquiry.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Though considered a fabulous race car when it first began racing and miles 
ahead of the competition in the '60s the Ford GT has only become more and 
more appreciated as time goes by and has attracted many younger enthusiasts. 
It is considered by many as an American race car but only the GT 40 MK IV is 
truly so. The GT 40 MK I and II are actually a result of effort and 
contributions by British and American engineers and designers

GT 40, MK I
In 1963 Roy Lunn, the program director for Ford's racing effort visited Eric 
Broadly in England and was impressed with his design of a Ford powered Lola. 
This car became the basis for the GT 40. It was given its designation due to 
its low height of only 40 inches and soon Ford was making improvements to 
it. First campaigned in 1964 the MK Is with the 289 engines were unable to 
win due to teething problems. These 2400 pound cars fitted with four 
downdraft Weber carburetors were able to reach over 200 MPH. With the small 
block, success was not to come until later. First built by Ford Advanced 
Vehicles (FAV) in England the racing works were taken over by J.W. 
Automotive Engineering and then sold to John Wyer, director of FAV, in 
1966/67. With sponsorship from Gulf Oil the cars were painted light blue and 
orange. The Gulf GT 40 (see paintings Racing Cars) with a 302 Cid replacing 
the 289 Cid produced 425 hp and was able to reach a top speed of 205 mph. 
The small block engine car gained glory when the FIA, the governing body for 
Le Mans, outlawed the 7 liter engines, some say to exclude the MK II s from 
racing there. In 1968 the Gulf GT 40s won the majority of international 
championship races as well as Le Mans that year with car no. 6 and again at 
Le Mans with the same car in 1969. In this last 24 hour endurance race two 
of the Fords faced off against 20 Ferraris and Porsches and achieved victory 
none the less. Quite a few road versions of the GT 40s were produced, and in 
the 80s and 90s other small manufacturers have produced replicas, many which 
are quite potent, but still expensive to acquire.




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shaun" <shaun_mcgarvey at shaw.ca>
To: "BBRT" <chsadek at adelphia.net>; "Alan and Clare Wesson" 
<alan.wesson at atlas.co.uk>; <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 10:00 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> America!!! (Corvair Lineage!)


> The Ford GT was an English car with an American engine....
>
>