Shelby Museum GT 40

[Chuck]

A visit to the Caroll Shelby Museum in Boulder, Colorado provided a wealth of information and inspiration. Seeing original GT 40s, including a Mark I, Mark II, Mark III and Mark IV, provided some useful information. Following are a few observations.

1. The air intake vents on the Mark I for the engine air had screens on the inside edge. On one care it was fine mesh, on the other is was a coarse mesh. Rather than attempting to put air filters on top of each of those Weber carbs, why not put filter material on the inside of the air intake vent? One would need a good seal between the cold box and the clip, but perhaps this would avoid the problems with the air – fuel mixture that air filters on the Weber’s cause.



2. The GT 40s all had windshield washer nozzles. The ‘washer’ switch was plainly visible among the row of toggles. It would seem that a windshield washer is indeed an authentic detail.


3. We seem to obsess with installing the headlights and driving lights without any screws showing from the outside. In fact on one car the headlights had two screw plainly visible on the upper left and right side of the lamps and on another four screws were visible in each corner of the light. The driving lights also have screws visible on either side.



4. On several cars the headlight and driving lamp covers were held in place with rivets. Others used small silver colored phillips type screws. There did not appear to any real consistency in the number of screws or rivets from once car to another. Same for the fasteners used to hold the side windows in place.

5. Two of the GT 40s have “Simpson” style harnesses.



6. Here is an interesting detail. We have all seen the fender mounted rear view mirrors. I was not aware, however, that rear view mirrors were mounted inside on the forward portion of the door.