How many

[Coralsnake]

Different GT40s were at Lemans in 1966 and 1967?

[Royce Peterson]

Best reference I know of:
http://gt40.net/

In 1966 there were 13 GT-40 cars that actually started the race. 14 cars were present.

Different GT40s were at Lemans in 1966 and 1967?

[Royce Peterson]

1967 there were ten GT40's entered. Two finished the race.

http://gt40.net/gt40-history/1967-24h-le-mans-gt40-race-results/#comment-223699

[Coralsnake]

Thank you Sir

[6R07mi]

Not to argue, but the 1967 MK-IV cars are NOT GT40's, they are part of the Ford GT family of vehicles.
why? they were not built in the UK, not by FAV, not built on the steel tub.

1966:
MK-II - P1046, P1015, P1016, P1047, P1032, P1031, XGT2, XGT1 = 8
MK-I - P1017, P1040, P1007, P1038, P1001 & P1029 = 6

1967:
MK-IV - J5, J6, J7, J8 = 4
MK-IIB - P1031, P1015, P1047 = 3
MK-I  - P1020, P1042, P1026 = 3
GT350R - 5R539  = 1

regards

jim p

[mark p]

^^^ good details there - thanks for the links and list

[Richstang]

Jim,

Would you happen to know if XGT-3 was intended to be a third car entered for Alan Mann, as race #10?
I also wonder if MKII 1012, the back up car was entered as #9 for any of the teams, should they have needed it.

[6R07mi]

Jim,
Would you happen to know if XGT-3 was intended to be a third car entered for Alan Mann, as race #10?
I also wonder if MKII 1012, the back up car was entered as #9 for any of the teams, should they have needed it.

Richstang,

I am certainly no expert, there are surely others in this community that have more detailed knowledge.
XGT-3 was not completed prior to LM "66", and remained at SAI until completed and used for the "victory caravan tour".
P1012 had been beached by Ken Miles in a sand bank during the April trials, sent to Alan Mann for repairs and raced at Spa as #4, "to familiarize AM's drivers with the MK-II".
remember AM brought AMGT-1 & AMGT-2 to the trials as a last pitch to FoMoCo to continue running the MK-I (lightweight) 289 cars.
P1012 is noted as present at LM as a spare but not used.

I had the unique opportunity to see & photograph XTG-3 as purchased from Ford by Don Eichstaedt ( of Kar Kraft fame, wearing a red jacket below ) prior to any restoration back in 1977 at a SAAC MCR event at the Packard Proving Grounds banked test track. Jeff Burgy was a judge for the car show and shared some of his knowledge.
I just recall when started and sitting still, it was evident the cam profile and tune didn't like anything under 2,000 RPM, but when they blipt'd the throttle that 7 liters roared !
Don took a rather leisurely lap around the oval, never really stood on it,  I was disappointed!
The car that really ran the banks that day was Larry Anderson in CSX2550, ( shown below )he had side pipes with cutouts, un-capped and letting that small block loose, the exhaust song going around the track at a very brisk pace was just a glimpse of what tracks around the country sounded like in 63,64,& 65!!!
I'm holding the MCR placard.

regards,
jim p

[Richstang]

Jim,
Thanks for filling in some of the details. I didn't realize AM was still pushing the lightweights even though I knew they were both at the trails and faired better than the MKII at the testing. Now it makes sense why P/1012 appeared at Spa as a lone MKII, at least Whitmore and Gardner got some seat time.

That's a nice detailed story to go with those fantastic pictures of XGT-3. I can't imagine being disappointed getting a ride in it but I'm sure the engine at those low RPMs was struggling to stay running. Thanks for sharing.

[Side-Oilers]

Great pix and personal insight.   Really nice to see color photos.   It was not a polished and pampered car, which is cool to see.
It has actual authentic "patina".

Hey, there's that word I hate!!

[6R07mi]

Just to note, the placard in XGT-3 at the event mistakenly identified the car as P1047, the Gurney LM car, because XGT-3 had been liveried to copy P1047.
The placard related the race history of P1047 as I believe Don E. thought that was the car he had.

Notice the white label in the open door jam with the blue patch surrounding?
Isn't this where they attached the tach calibration chart? and would the blue be the original tub paint from the build at SAI?
The photos/video of the restoration of P1047 I seem to recall showed many of the hidden tub surfaces also painted in the same "corporate"? blue?

an observation, not sure it's a fact, I would like to hear other's thoughts!!

This was also the car used in the Motorcraft logo for many years!

regards,
jim p

[propayne]

I guess this would be the original, Autolite version.

Love this logo.

- Phillip

[Royce Peterson]

The link I shared identifies each of the entered or present cars by chassis number. I for one think they all identify as GT-40's but the MKIV cars have J serial numbers to show what they were.

GT40 Mk II
GT40 Mk IV

Not to argue, but the 1967 MK-IV cars are NOT GT40's, they are part of the Ford GT family of vehicles.
why? they were not built in the UK, not by FAV, not built on the steel tub.

1966:
MK-II - P1046, P1015, P1016, P1047, P1032, P1031, XGT2, XGT1 = 8
MK-I - P1017, P1040, P1007, P1038, P1001 & P1029 = 6

1967:
MK-IV - J5, J6, J7, J8 = 4
MK-IIB - P1031, P1015, P1047 = 3
MK-I  - P1020, P1042, P1026 = 3
GT350R - 5R539  = 1

regards

jim p