GT40 prototype floor and center tunnel details

[Ryan L]

Just wondering if anyone has any details they would be willing to share with me regarding the floors on the prototype cars. Ideally I would like to see what GT103 looked like but would be happy with details from any of the early cars.

there is a difference that is visible at the front of the seats. and additional rib gets attached to the floor and the pressing seemed to be different.
GT101 or 102

https://flic.kr/p/2pnAEbA

GT103 - fuel breather holes in bottom of a pillar more inwards

https://flic.kr/p/2pnBtoc

https://flic.kr/p/2pnBZNM

GT104 (I think, please correct me if I am wrong, Mirror on vertical stalk is my reasoning)

https://flic.kr/p/2pnABhp

https://flic.kr/p/2pnAEbv

 

[Ryan L]

GT105

https://flic.kr/p/2pnBZP3

This is my attempt to draft up the files. It includes plan "GT40p-1-2061 Floor" as well as "X40-06 front floor reinforcement". As you can see the forward most rib of the standard floor and the reinforcement clash.

https://flic.kr/p/2pnzsE4

 

[Ryan L]

More details right under my nose. just takes time to find them sometimes

P1001

dash photos 103 when owned by Bill Wonder

www.gt40s.com

 

[Ryan L]

Another one. Have not worked out which chassis/car this is just yet and what floor pressing it is likely to have had.

P1001

Yves... thank you for sharing your photographs with us. Were you at Le Mans in 1966 I wonder? Note the lack of driver's door air scoop. This was added in late 1966 or 1967 to cool the cockpit down in the African sun during its time racing in the Springbok series... Andrew

www.gt40s.com

 

[Stephen Ducker]

That's not a picture I like to see, the fatal crash of GT40P/1000.
R.I.P Bob McLean

 

[Doc Watson]

Reproduction floor pressing, does this help?

 

[Doc Watson]

 

[Doc Watson]

 

[Doc Watson]

 

[Ryan L]

That's not a picture I like to see, the fatal crash of GT40P/1000.
R.I.P Bob McLean

Agree very sad.

RIP Bob McLean
26/03/66 Sebring 12 hours
Car number #18, Comstock Racing, Chassis P1000, White and Green, 289W

 

[Ryan L]

Doc, these look like photos of chassis GT110 project. It could be chassis GT110/X-1 as raced by Mclaren and Miles or GT110A which was sent to Kar Kraft. (Ronnie Spains book GT40 an Individual History and Race Record, page 196).

Note the Alloy Floor, Side sill covers and center dash super structure. You can see how these are attached to the rest of the structure with some form of rivet. The steel sections consist of the front side panels where the suspension mounts, the steel section that covers the radiator tubes and the door posts.

I suspect these are early photos of its construction in 65 as it does not have the crossover fuel link below the seat that was common to the other MK II cars. This would have been introduced later in 65/66 prior to its 66 Sebring win.

This first photo is of interest as it shows the ducting either side of the radiator that was then connected up to run underneath the upper diagonal RHS bar before being connected into the triangular sections either side of the spare wheel well. Drawing GT40P/1/2299-300 it the section of duct work that forms part of this connection. This drawing is in GT40 Uncovered.

Note the early door pillar duct to vent air through the doors. This also explains why the face of the dash and the door pillars are closed as well. they were trying to duct air either side of the nose all the way to the engine bay.

66 version of X-1, note no Fuel filler cap on port side.

VS early 65 version of X-1

https://flic.kr/p/KLY9QG

 

[Ryan L]

View attachment 134938

This looks like a standard floor pressing as per GT40P/1/2061 to me?
do we know which car that is?

PS, thanks very much for the excellent photos Doc.

 

[Ryan L]

View attachment 134935

Reproduction floor pressing, does this help?

Doc and everyone else following along. I have marked up the area with the red outline that needs to be different to match the early prototype floor of GT103

https://flic.kr/p/2pnYy3S

 

[Ryan L]

What would be really appreciated is if someone can drop into the Shelby American Collection in Boulder Colorado and grab a buch of detailed photos of GT103 for me.


That would make my day.

Cheers, Ryan, Melbourne Australia.

 

[David mono]

This looks like a standard floor pressing as per GT40P/1/2061 to me?
do we know which car that is?

PS, thanks very much for the excellent photos Doc.

That's car 1025. Would like to have a copy of X40-060.

 

[Ryan L]

David, X40-06 was published in the GT40 Uncovered book.

 

[Ryan L]

Looks like GT109 during tech inspection somewhere.

 

[Ryan L]

Edit, same registration plate form completeness

 

[Ryan L]

was just looking at the GT40 SAE papers again. Looks like there is some more photos of the early prototype floors in those papers.

Original GT40 SAE Papers

Go to the link below to find a complete set of the original GT40 SAE papers written by FoMoCo engineers that detail the development of the car. These have been in the public domain for years if you knew where to find them. Some guy sells them on eBay for $100. Now you can get them right here...

www.gt40s.com

https://www.gt40s.com/images/howto/LynnMiner/Reference/SAE_Papers.pdf

 

[David mono]

So the photo with the guys I'm sure is 101 and the other two are of 1040. Distinctly different floors .