Any FGT obscure trivia, rare facts, oddities?

[Fubar]

:cheers

Here's to the Brits!!

 

[SteveA]

:cheers

Here's to the Brits!!

+1 Best friends a country could have.:thumbsup

 

[usmcfred]

Honestly, the GT-40's with the ZF's shift much nicer than our Ford GT's with the Ricardo, so much for 35 years of development!

Well, I have to take some exception with that statement. It is my understanding that the ZF transaxle in the later GT-40's was almost identical to those used in the Detomaso Pantera. It is bullet proof but having owned a Pantera for 36 years and being able to compare it directly to my FGT's Ricardo, I can report that the Ricardo 6-speed shifts much better than the ZF does, or ever did for that matter. The shift gate used in the Pantera also tends to restrict smooth gear lever movement, though that might not have been an issue with the GT-40 layout ... and yes, the ZF tends to grind going into second gear from first. Sound familiar ... at least until the FGT box warms up.

usmcfred

 

[Kingman]

The Riccardo GT transmission is unique to the GT. Fred Goodnow choose the transmission that came from a Jaguar XJ220. However, the case needed to be shortened and with a reduced height to fit in the GT. So Ricardo redesigned it to fit the space requirements of the GT.

As a result of the GT case physical limitations, the Stillen 3.9 crown gear is as tall ("big") as that will fit inside the transaxle. Very few parts, if any, are inter-changeable with similar Riccardo units.

Maybe we are talking simple semantics, but the GT tranny is the same used on the Audi LeMans Racer (diesel) in 2007.

 

[DWR46]

Everybody is wecome to their opinions, but I made my statement based not upon driving Panteras, but having driven a number of original GT-40's over a couple of thousand miles. Also the GT-40 ZF has numerous different pieces than the one used in the Pantera. I know because I have tried to source parts for them and the Pantera ZF parts are not used in the GT-40 ZF. Also, I can state without question, the ZF's in the GT-40's I have driven had flawless 2nd gear synchros, even from dead cold.

 

[DWR46]

To FUBAR, I cannot comment on the shift feel for the Mark II or Mark IV with the Kar Kraft transaxle, as I have never driven one, but my earlier post refers to my time in the small block cars.

If anybody wants to learn more about the Gulf GT-40's and Ickx's Le Mans win, you should get Racing In The Rain, a great book by John Horsman, the Gulf team engineer. He is super nice guy and now lives in Arizona, and has been very helpful in sharing his experiences with our car.

 

[sr71]

Fubar.....Google "jackie Ickx GT40" then wikipedia....a good read

Kayvan....good list but you missed the SR71. I chose my screen name because I felt it was the fastest, most dangerous looking, most beautiful thing that ever flew...sort of like the GT.

Superfly....not me, but that looks a lot like the Grand Tetons...Been there!

And in another note of unrelated trivia, I read somewhere that Dan Gurney at the 67 LeMans winner's podium, was the first to do the shake and spray champagne shower which has now become tradition in any auto racing. Henry Ford the second in the wet zone. Anyone know Dan well enough to call and verify / get the rest of the story?

These cars have so much history.

 

[samthejeepman]

i looked at the cd that i mentioned above
there are over 500 never before seen pictures of the gt on it.
i will try to sort some of them out and post them if there is any interest !
some of the names mentioned are:
bill clarke
ken gulowski
pace car
grimmer
jamal
susan
laguna
100th anniv
5y400
sketches
shelby
novi press
mt 11/03
goodwood
press kit
clay models
final gurney tiff
bill and bob brown
hubert mees'
nick cage delivery
leno delivery
#1 gt completed(black)
etc, etc

sam

 

[Fubar]

If anybody wants to learn more about the Gulf GT-40's and Ickx's Le Mans win, you should get Racing In The Rain, a great book by John Horsman, the Gulf team engineer. He is super nice guy and now lives in Arizona, and has been very helpful in sharing his experiences with our car.

Sounds great... I will certainly look for the book. Thanks for sharing.

I chose my screen name because I felt it was the fastest, most dangerous looking, most beautiful thing that ever flew...sort of like the GT.

I forgot how beautiful that plane is. It has a wonderful history too. I love the fact that it leaks fuel all over the tarmac. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when I read that. Can you imagine pushing that spaceship down the runway with jet fuel leaking out of every pour... that's some cajones, muchacho

 

[Kayvan]

The Sr71 is on my Spaceship list!

 

[HHGT]

Pound for Pound, I think the Brits have manufactured more sexy cars than any other nation.

 

[RALPHIE]

...And in another note of unrelated trivia, I read somewhere that Dan Gurney atthe 67 LeMans winner's podium, was the first to do the shake and spray champagne shower which has now become tradition in any auto racing. Henry Ford the second in the wet zone. Anyone know Dan well enough to call and verify/get the rest of the story?
....

This is absolutely correct! :thumbsup

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Maybe we are talking simple semantics, but the GT tranny is the same used on the Audi LeMans Racer (diesel) in 2007.

Very well could be the same unit. Only Riccardo knows for Sure!

If so, Audi choose wisely!

 

[SteveA]

And in another note of unrelated trivia, I read somewhere that Dan Gurney at the 67 LeMans winner's podium, was the first to do the shake and spray champagne shower which has now become tradition in any auto racing. Henry Ford the second in the wet zone. Anyone know Dan well enough to call and verify / get the rest of the story?


What you wrote is true however (In my best Paul Harvey voice) here is the rest of the story (told by Dan to me).
After the race Dan took the very large bottle of Moet Champagne handed to him on the podium, took a drink then shook the bottle and sprayed his fellow driver AJ Foyt, crew members, guests and crowd. After the bottle emptied he set it down, celebrated awhile longer then left the podium.
30 years later a phone call was received at the office of Dan Gurneys All America Racers from a woman in france. Seems she is the daughter of a track worker that was employed to clean up after the race. He was present for the celebration and thus started cleaning that area, came across the bottle and took it home as a souvenir. The gentleman just before passing away asked his daughter to call AAR and see if Dan would like the bottle back. The bottle now sits proudly in a custom built case next to other memories of the day.
A few years back my company printed a commemorative litho of the event for AAR & Ford depicting the man, the car, the celebration, the bottle and the start of a tradition. I may have a few left, if your a huge Gurney fan as I am send me your address and I'll send you one.

 

[Mark McGowan]

Ok from my memory, the Work Horse prototypes got a Ricardo race gear box case with special internal gears. The case had casting bosses for the rear suspension to bolt to from some type of race car. This was tied to a Mustang Terminator engine of 4.6L displacement. The transaxle for the production GT was a GT specific case both inside and out. Attached photos are from the Work Horse build. Have tons of photos I found and will bring to Austin.

 

[Fubar]

Wow, what a difference. I don't know if I'd have been a player on those first two. Carmillo did a great job on the final version.

 

[Neilda]

Wow, what a difference. I don't know if I'd have been a player on those first two. Carmillo did a great job on the final version.

Neatly put - my thoughts too.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Wow, what a difference. I don't know if I'd have been a player on those first two. Carmillo did a great job on the final version.

Neatly put - my thoughts too.

+3

I don't really see where those two complied with the mandate to build the GT with the EXACT silhouette of the origional GT40.

They remind me more of a 'customized' Mustang.

 

[Fubar]

... heh, might need more cleanup. The last three posts don't make sense now.

 

[spddmnjay]

Does anyone different build/assembly pictures of the Ford GT other than what is already on this site in the Photo Gallery?