Ford GT40 - on the road

[chevronb37]

Now then all,

I recently interviewed a fascinating chap called Michael Hipperson about his experiences running a GT40 as a road car back in the 1970s. Around the same time he had a Miura, Bora, Daytona, 275 GTB/2, Carrera 2.7 RS...you get the picture!

Anyway, it's a crazy tale and hopefully one which will resonate with some of you guys.

http://racetechmag.com/features-1/item/795-living-...



Andy

[Fayaz LP640]

Brilliant read, thanks for posting.

[strummerville]

Another one for my 'Back to Future' time machine purchase list!! That and a couple or three Islington town houses...

[velocemitch]

Excellent article, thanks for sharing it.

[Edmundo2]

Wonderful stuff. Thanks for the read and the picture - that's how a GT40 should look!

[skeggysteve]

Another thanks from me!

How times have changed, even though he bought it as an investment he still used it, now it would be hidden away and not used.

[Hooli]

Great read, thanks.

[Simes110]

Bloody great! Thanks!

[RicksAlfas]

Great article thanks. Different times!

[XRS]

Enjoyed that. Reminds me of the time back in the 60s when a local engineer Jim Fielding (of Fielding & Platt in Gloucester) ran his GT40 with the registration plate G90. Always a thrill to see it.

[Voldemort]

Great read Andy.

I remember reading/seeing this some years ago when MH started posting on SELOC

http://www.jam.co.uk/hipperson/GT40-1.htm

[Chris71]

"Subject to inflation that equates to approximately £57,000 in today’s money."

Those were the days, eh?

I guess the closest you could realistically get today would be something like a Lola Coupe or a Porsche RS Spyder. Unlike the sixties, the only cars in with a chance of winning Le Mans outright today are usually squirreled away by their works teams after use.

That said, I think there is an Audi R8 (LMP) in private ownership in the States...

ETA And there's always this if you have deep pockets: http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1049...

Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 23 July 13:16

[LotusOmega375D]

Anyone know anything about either of these two spotted out and about at local meets during the past 12 months or so? The first one was very patinated and we followed it on a PH run in 2013 as the owner hustled it manfully through along the local lanes. The second one was at a local show in 2014. I bow to the greater authority of PH as to their authenticity.

KNB474 (owner's initials)



GYE4C

[Fastdruid]

I originally thought the first one was a replica but it's registered as a 1970 Ford so may be genuine or it may be slightly incorrectly registered...

No, it can't be genuine, wheels are wrong, clip latches are wrong. It's a replica. Probably a KVA based on a Cortina and taking its registration.

GYE 4C is I believe a genuine 1966 Mk1

Edited by Fastdruid on Wednesday 23 July 13:27

[Bobo W]

On a separate note I read today that only the original mk 1 and mk 3 cars were officially designated GT40 - can anyone corroborate this ?

[Fastdruid]

Depends. If you are referring to chassis numbers then the Mk1,2 and 3 were all GT40P/xxxx (with the exception of the prototypes and the Alan Mann cars).

The MkIV's while related were totally different and were chassis numbered J-xxxx. They're mostly referred to as a Ford MkIV

[mybrainhurts]

:slobber:

[Fastdruid]

chevronb37 said:

I do love how that could be mistaken for a kit car/replica with those panel gaps.
What's crazy is that so many of the builders spend hours over getting the gaps right yet on real cars they were all over the shop!

Maybe I shouldn't bother so hard getting them right with mine...

[Bobo W]

Fastdruid said:

Depends. If you are referring to chassis numbers then the Mk1,2 and 3 were all GT40P/xxxx (with the exception of the prototypes and the Alan Mann cars).

The MkIV's while related were totally different and were chassis numbered J-xxxx. They're mostly referred to as a Ford MkIV

On a FB page I follow someone posted a picture of a Ford GT40 Mk2 and was picked up on their description as apparently it should have just read a Ford Mk2 as the GT40 nomenclature only referred (in Ford naming system) to the 4.7l cars in Mk1 and Mk3 guise. Obviously it's not really that important to know and quite pedantry but nonetheless interesting to get to the bottom of in the same way we mistakenly refer to an AC Cobra.

[strummerville]

I've got the Ronnie Spain 'GT40 Individual History & Race Record' book - it may be worth a quick nose around for this particular car.