Ford vs Ferrari - Ken Miles Car Trivia
Jan 22, 2022 17:11:09 #
There's a Shelby American Collection small museum in Gun Barrel, CO (just north of Boulder). They have an excellent collection that's well worth a visit should anyone be in the area interested in Shelby treasures. Included is the actual car that Ken Miles drove to victory in the 1966 Ford 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans 24 Hour. If you've seen the movie, Ford vs Ferrari, there's a scene where Miles can't get the door closed on his car and a quick pit stop was his only salvation. I never knew the explanation on why that sequence occurred, but found out today. The doors on the car were understandably light and also flexible. When Miles reached to pull the door shut, he pull up slightly and flexed the door causing it to hit a strip on the car roof. The strip distorted, so each slam made the situation worse. In the pits, one of the crew bent the strip up, which allowed the door to seat properly. And there you are! And Bob's your uncle! We learn something everyday.
Jan 22, 2022 17:42:46 #
Jan 22, 2022 18:18:53 #
Absolutely gorgeous cars... The GT40 has been my favorite racing sports car since I was a child.
Jan 22, 2022 19:03:29 #
Ford!!! LOL! the car is a British Mk6 Lola; the licence for it was bought with Ford money...
it was then modified for endurance racing by Carol Shelby et al.
Of course the USA media would never
let reality get in the way of a bit of
good ol' stars and stripes propaganda.
Ford!!! Perrrleeeeze!
it was then modified for endurance racing by Carol Shelby et al.
Of course the USA media would never
let reality get in the way of a bit of
good ol' stars and stripes propaganda.
Ford!!! Perrrleeeeze!
Jan 22, 2022 21:07:55 #
Abo wrote:
Ford!!! LOL! the car is a British Mk6 Lola; the licence for it was bought with Ford money...
it was then modified for endurance racing by Carol Shelby et al.
Of course the USA media would never
let reality get in the way of a bit of
good ol' stars and stripes propaganda.
Ford!!! Perrrleeeeze!
it was then modified for endurance racing by Carol Shelby et al.
Of course the USA media would never
let reality get in the way of a bit of
good ol' stars and stripes propaganda.
Ford!!! Perrrleeeeze!
I believe Ford actually built the vehicle based on the Lola MK6, and originally bought Mk6 chassis from Lola in England, but later assembled in the US, and of course it had various Ford V8s. Similar to the 289 Shelby Cobra, which was a British Ace Acea, modified and constructed by Ace for the 289 V8 and shipped to Shelby in California for the engine and transmission. There were some great specials built during that period such as the Lister Jaguar and Lister Corvette and Lance Reventloe’s Scarab, all of which I had the pleasure of watching race.
Jan 22, 2022 21:09:28 #
Abo wrote:
Ford!!! LOL! the car is a British Mk6 Lola; the licence for it was bought with Ford money...
it was then modified for endurance racing by Carol Shelby et al.
Of course the USA media would never
let reality get in the way of a bit of
good ol' stars and stripes propaganda.
Ford!!! Perrrleeeeze!
it was then modified for endurance racing by Carol Shelby et al.
Of course the USA media would never
let reality get in the way of a bit of
good ol' stars and stripes propaganda.
Ford!!! Perrrleeeeze!
Of course the USA media would never
let reality get in the way of a bit of
good ol' stars and stripes propaganda.
Ford!!! Perrrleeeeze![/quote]
Actually you are pretty close to right. Lola built exactly 3 Mk6s. The Mk6 was built as an endurance racer for Le Mans. The Mk6 competed at Le Mans in 1963 but did not finish due to gearbox problems. Ford didn't license but contracted with Lola to build the new cars that would become the GT 40. The Lola's of course were not built exclusively from Lola manufactured parts. The rack and pinion steering came from SAAB and Colotti Trasmissioni designed and built the Tipo 37 gearbox. The engine was a Ford 260 cid V8 Small Block.
You are also right that Carol Shelby and crew had everything to do with the success of both the GT 40 and the Mk 2.
Jan 22, 2022 21:14:48 #
Abo wrote:
Ford!!! LOL! the car is a British Mk6 Lola; the licence for it was bought with Ford money...
it was then modified for endurance racing by Carol Shelby et al.
Of course the USA media would never
let reality get in the way of a bit of
good ol' stars and stripes propaganda.
Ford!!! Perrrleeeeze!
it was then modified for endurance racing by Carol Shelby et al.
Of course the USA media would never
let reality get in the way of a bit of
good ol' stars and stripes propaganda.
Ford!!! Perrrleeeeze!
Given the lack of success from a car of which only three were made, I think your comment is a “stretch.”
Jan 22, 2022 21:48:36 #
Wiki has a good and detailed history of all the GT40 models including the failure of the Ford-Ferrari negotiations, which was the reason Henry Ford II pursued the GT40 project (I didn’t remember that bit of history): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GT40
Jan 23, 2022 10:44:17 #
Jan 23, 2022 18:35:54 #
47greyfox wrote:
Given the lack of success from a car of which only three were made, I think your comment is a “stretch.”
Rubbish
Jan 23, 2022 20:28:00 #
I have a son who lives close to Boulder. While visiting him this summer, I tried to go to this museum and learned it’s only open Saturdays 10:00-4:00, a time we couldn’t handle.
Bill
Bill
Jan 23, 2022 21:21:53 #
Curmudgeon wrote:
Actually you are pretty close to right. Lola built... (show quote)
I don't know which is worse... being "pretty close to right" or being "pretty close to wrong".
Anyway... this video of a Jay Lenno interviewing Allen Grant
offers first hand providence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUBmDu3HXaU
Jan 24, 2022 10:14:39 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.