1966 GT40 Engine Manual

[John R Fitzpatrick, III]

I inherited the first Lotus 47GT 01 prototype that was modified by Tony Kitchiner with a 1966 Ford GT40 engine (Serial Number C5 AE 6015 E) and a ZF 5DS-25 gearbox (Serial Number 1031 000 002 195). I am trying to find an electronic copy of a 1966 era GT40 Engine Manual to place in the binder I am creating for the vehicle. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

I inherited the first Lotus 47GT 01 prototype that was modified by Tony Kitchiner with a 1966 Ford GT40 engine (Serial Number C5 AE 6015 E) and a ZF 5DS-25 gearbox (Serial Number 1031 000 002 195). I am trying to find an electronic copy of a 1966 era GT40 Engine Manual to place in the binder I am creating for the vehicle. Any help would be appreciated.

The "C5AE 6515 E' is not a serial number, it is a casting I.D. number and is cast into the block to indicate what core pattern was used. There will also be a "date code" casting on the block that looks like a Dymo label with two screw heads holding it to the core. Serial number are if used, stamped into the flat machined pad at the rear of the block behind the intake manifold. A ZF -2 transaxle would be a later six bolt to bellhousing attachment.

Sounds like a neat car, many are not aware that the type 47/Europa was designed to be the "Ford GT" as proposed by Chapman. Ford didn't bite due to concerns that Chapman would be too hard to work with after the Lotus Indy experience.

 

[DaveM]

I inherited the first Lotus 47GT 01 prototype that was modified by Tony Kitchiner with a 1966 Ford GT40 engine (Serial Number C5 AE 6015 E) and a ZF 5DS-25 gearbox (Serial Number 1031 000 002 195). I am trying to find an electronic copy of a 1966 era GT40 Engine Manual to place in the binder I am creating for the vehicle. Any help would be appreciated.

If you could post some photos of the car it would be greatly appreciated. I remember reading about it from a Motor Sport article in 1970.

 

[John R Fitzpatrick, III]

The "C5AE 6515 E' is not a serial number, it is a casting I.D. number and is cast into the block to indicate what core pattern was used. There will also be a "date code" casting on the block that looks like a Dymo label with two screw heads holding it to the core. Serial number are if used, stamped into the flat machined pad at the rear of the block behind the intake manifold. A ZF -2 transaxle would be a later six bolt to bellhousing attachment.

Sounds like a neat car, many are not aware that the type 47/Europa was designed to be the "Ford GT" as proposed by Chapman. Ford didn't bite due to concerns that Chapman would be too hard to work with after the Lotus Indy experience.

Thanks for the clarification Rick regarding the serial number versus the casting id. number. This is all new to me. I will have the shop foreman retrieve the actual serial number. My understanding was the the C stands for 1960 and the 5 represents the year within that decade and the AE represented the 289 block. I have attached the picture we took of the engine block and transmission. I have confirmed what you note about the car's origins from the Lotus historian John Bolding and a serious research effort. The car actually resembles several elements of Lola's

 

[John R Fitzpatrick, III]

If you could post some photos of the car it would be greatly appreciated. I remember reading about it from a Motor Sport article in 1970.