Question: Transporter by Ford?

Glen · 10-20-06, 06:36 AM

Hi,

Is there a specific transporter that was used to tranport GT40? Or Does anyone has photos of GT40 on a transporter? I would really appreciate anyone who can provdie me some informaiton. Thanks a lot !!

Glen

Grandpa · 10-20-06, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chou123

Hi,

Is there a specific transporter that was used to tranport GT40? Or Does anyone has photos of GT40 on a transporter? I would really appreciate anyone who can provdie me some informaiton. Thanks a lot !!

Glen

Yes and no, the old Cobra Bartolletti transporter was used by Alan Mann in 1965 to take a load of GT40s to Le Mans but most of the other photos show what appear to me to be local hire transports.

I have never seen what was used in 1967 for the MKIVs though and would love to find out too.

I will post some pictures tonight.

Gary

Ian Anderson · 10-20-06, 10:19 AM

I seem to remember in Ronnie Spai's book there is a picture of a car at Le Mans Reversed up a transporter ramp so that a mechanic can work on it.

I don't know if that helps

Ian

Ron Earp · 10-20-06, 12:41 PM

A race trailer?

Ian Anderson · 10-20-06, 02:17 PM

Transport pictures in Ronnie Spain's book

Page 16 On a 4 wheel trailer behind somehing like a Ford Transit
Page 43 On pack end of ransporter at Monza

The second one is the one I remembered but it shows no detail of the truck

Ian

Brian Magee · 10-20-06, 02:41 PM

I recollect seing a picture somewhere of two green transit vans towing trailers with GT40's on. They were parked outside a cafe in France on route to Le Mans. I believe these were very early cars from the works in Slough. I have looked through all my books but can't find it. It may have been on a website.

Brian.

Rick Muck- Mark IV · 10-20-06, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanAnderson

Page 16 On a 4 wheel trailer behind somehing like a Ford Transit

Ian

Actually a US "Econoline" van, first generation....a nasty little truck with a 170 CID six cylinder, solid front axle on leaf springs and a three speed "on-the-tree". God help you if you had a crosswind. And they have the '40 on a trailer with NO brakes, the Econolines would hardly stop themselves! Imagine driving and underpowered, underbraked, LHD truck around the UK with a GT on a single axle trailer! Not for the faint of heart!
Rick

Ron Earp · 10-20-06, 03:12 PM

Come on now Rick, a proper van, can't go wrong there.

Hell, Malcolm tows his GT40 with an Audi 100 - That is Audi 5000 for us US people. We US people are spolied or over-tow, not sure which yet! And I am forever getting hassled in the paddock about "A Lightning, you can't tow with that!"

Here are some pics of Malcolm and I heading to Donnington to wail around a bit, worked great!

Grandpa · 10-20-06, 07:27 PM

Here are the pictures I had in mind. At least for Le Mans, the cars prepared in the States by Shelby and Holman Moody were airfreighted to Paris and shipped by local hire transports to Le Mans.

As mentioned the FAV folks used the Ford Transit Vans and Alan Mann used the old Cobra Bartoletti transporter.

Grandpa

Glen · 10-25-06, 05:23 PM

Thanks so much everyone!!!

Paul Thompson 'Hooligan' · 10-25-06, 06:04 PM

Yikes! - I shudder to think what the insurance premium would be for truck & trailer loads as depicted, in todays terms.....

Glen · 10-27-06, 05:57 PM

Does anyone have more detail photo of Cobra Bartolletti transporter or knows any web site, book that may have more information? I did some research on it, but did not find much about it.

Grandpa · 10-28-06, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chou123

Does anyone have more detail photo of Cobra Bartolletti transporter or knows any web site, book that may have more information? I did some research on it, but did not find much about it.

Glen,

My research has led me to believer the following:

Scarab – Camoradi – Shelby/Mann – Mirage – JCB – Shoen Transporter

RAI, Lance Reventlow’s racing organization for his Scarabs, commissioned a racing car transporter from Bartoletti in Italy for his F1 team in 1959. (1) After the May 1960, Monaco F1 race, Phil Remington and Warren Olson, RAI employees went down to Modena and picked up the transporter and returned to the Lotus facilities in England. (1)

The F1 Scarabs used it that year until the decision was made to terminate the project due to poor performance. It is believed that the RAI team left the transporter at the Lotus facilities and that the Lotus team may have borrowed it on occasion.

The transporter was returned to Italy and was prepared for the Camoradi Team to use but they ran out of funds before taking delivery. The transporter remained there until the 1964 Shelby American Cobra team, also including Phil Remington, bought it for transporting the FIA Cobras around Europe. John Ohlsen went to Italy and painted the transporter to match the Viking Blue of the FIA Cobras. Shelby hired Ermanno Cuoghi to drive the transporter and they took it back to England. From there it was used by Shelby in 1964 and by Alan Mann in 1965 who campaigned the Cobras for Shelby and Ford. The transporter was also used to transport Ford GTs to Le Mans in 1965. (2)

Sometime after the 1965 session, Harvey Cluxton of Grand Touring Cars (GTC) picked up the transporter to haul his Mirages, which were first Ford based and then Renault engined sport racing cars, winning Le Mans in 1975. His team used it for several years and then retired it in Europe.

The now well used transporter was purchased by the JCB (Sir Anthony Bamford) vintage racing team and used to transport their Ferrari GTOs, et al, to vintage racing events, thus the red color and the Ferrari markings. Though it resembles the period Ferrari transporters, being made by the same firm, Bartoletti; it was never used by the Ferrari factory.

Following the JCB ownership Michael Shoen of Paradise Valley Arizona purchased the transporter to add to his Cobra collection which then included Cobra Daytona CSX 2299, the first racing Cobra CSX2002, and several other racing Cobras.

From pictures it appears the transporter is still in Arizona but in very poor shape. Scale drawings of this transporter are available from Mike Sells. In Mike Shoen's book, Cobra-Ferrari Wars, which has been republished, there are some excellent photos.

1. Michael Shoen – Copy of blueprint
2. Phil Remington – Vintage Mortorsport, Sep-Oct 2005
3. Racing Mechanic – Ermanno Cuoghi, Jeremy Walton Osprey

Grandpa · 10-28-06, 10:32 AM

Glen,

Here is a web site with some pictures, the current state is kind of sad.
help

Also below is the website for Mike Shoen's book, Cobra Ferrari Wars.
Cobra Ferrari Wars, Shelby, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, AC Cobra.

Hope these help,

Gary

Bjørn Kjer · 03-17-07, 08:19 AM

Hi , I am new here and very much looking for tansporters of up to the 70s. The ones shown here are the rented Walon "Unic" from Paris France and of course the exex Scarab/exCobra/Mann Bartoletti Fiat.

I LOVE GT40- Paolo · 03-17-07, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEAR

Hi , I am new here and very much looking for tansporters of up to the 70s. The ones shown here are the rented Walon "Unic" from Paris France and of course the exex Scarab/exCobra/Mann Bartoletti Fiat.

Fiat ..fiat....have to know more

..

Portale VideoAzienda - BARTOLETTI RIMORCHI S.R.L.

Malcolm · 03-18-07, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Earp

Hell, Malcolm tows his GT40 with an Audi 100 - That is Audi 5000 for us US people. We US people are spolied or over-tow, not sure which yet! And I am forever getting hassled in the paddock about "A Lightning, you can't tow with that!"

Here are some pics of Malcolm and I heading to Donnington to wail around a bit, worked great!

I think I peaked at 85 mph with that trailer combo without snaking! Then I realised I was going a bit too fast so slowed the train up a bit! Trailer weighs 512 kg and was designed specifically for a GTD 40. It is up for sale......

Bjørn Kjer · 03-22-07, 06:46 AM

Paolo , have to know more ? How much ?

Ian Anderson · 03-22-07, 04:06 PM

I think I just beat you Malcom!

Tow car Ford Capri 1600 Hot road cam

Car on tow (A Framed behind) was a Formula V

I manged to top the ton on one long straight stretch of road between Harare and Bulawayo (Zimbabwe in 1986) just before rounding a sweeping bend and seeing the road blocked by Police - I stopped(Just) and was grilled for a half hour about the speed but they could not confirm it as they did not have the hairdryer working!

They all looked over the Formula V and didn't notice it did not even have a number plate!

The rest of the trip I kept the profile and speed a bit lower!

Ian