It was the summer of 1996 and I was finishing my 8th year in Formula 2000 racing with the SCCA. I had purchased an ERA Cobra in 1995 and really wanted a GT40. As the year at the track was coming to an end I was seriously considering an ERA GT40 when I came across a parts project that caught my attention. The ad in Hemmings said "XJR5 parts"(IMSA-GTP car)- no chassis. I had been an avid Group 44 fan and had a chance to tour the race shop in Winchester when we were racing in Virginia. The Group 44 team was a team that was extremely fan friendly and very familiar with winning. The cars that they would prepare and bring to the track were a work of art and very beutiful. So as I wrestled with which project to go with first there was no doubt that I really would like to end up doing both cars. The projected time frame for an XJR5 was to be 5-7 years to complete. A GT40 was probably a long term project for me as well, not sure exactly how long but long nonetheless. I looked at the parts that the gentleman in Ohio had for sale for the Jaguar and then proceeded to the Group 44 shops in Winchester to pitch them on the idea of building one more chassis. By this time (October 1996) Group 44 was doing restorations of exotic cars, racing cars and some airplane work as Bob Tullius (Group 44 Team Principle) was becoming more interested in his P51 and not so much into racing cars anymore. There had been 10 cars (Jaguar XJR5's) built while they raced the IMSA GTP series in the early to late 80's. An 11th car was assembled from the spare parts in 1990 for Mr Walter Hill, a Jaguar collector in Florida. So this would be the 12th car if we could get Group 44 to do it. I worked for several weeks over the phone with Lanky Foushee, the Team Manager and General Manager of Group 44. In the end he called me and said "OK we'll do it for you". I wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad as I knew I could not do a GT40 until after the XJR5. However I did not wait long to say to Lanky "Allright lets do it"! I then went back to Winchester to pay Group 44 the downpayment to get started. Lanky agreed to chassis tag the car in order. Hence Jaguar XJR5 # 012 was born. As I moved forward from that day I would work on obtaining items like shocks, fuel cell, calipers, on board air-jacks and all kinds of other things that would be needed while Group 44 was building the chassis. The time as I mentioned earlier was supposed to be 5-7 years for a complete car. This was effectively the last job that Group 44 did, and just one man was to work on this tub. Sam Headley. Sam had been with Group 44 for a long time, through all of the GTP days. He went to LeMans in 84 and 85 with Group 44. He really loved those days as I would find out over the next several years as I got to know Sam. Unfortunetely we (Lanky, Sam and I) underestimated what it would take and how long for this GTP car to be completed. I sell cars for a living and would be the only regular guy to end up with a car like this. It has been almost 12 years since I started this project. I have never stopped wanting to do a GT40. And I will get to that project as well. I have enjoyed reading all of the different build diaries on GT40s.com and it has just fueled my fire to have a GT40 in the garage along with the ERA and the XJR5. I am a little jelous (kidding) of some of the build threads I read because a car from RCR, ERA, CAV ect. comes with all (or most) of the parts and probably some build manuals as well. I have had to dig through parts listings and call all over for different pieces needed to keep this project going. I have already picked a GT40 to do and will hopefully get started later this year. But before I can do that I need to finish what I started almost 12 years ago. All the build threads and stories from all you guys at GT40s.com has fueled my fire for a GT40 and pushed me to finish this project now.
At this time the car is a roller. The body has been painted and fit to the car. The engine (6.5L V-12), short block is done and the head work is going on now. I hope to have the car at the Vintage races at Watkins Glen this year.
I will continue to update this thread (if GT40s.com allows ) if anyone is interested and hope to continue to be inspired by all of you guys here on this forum. Thanks very much !!!
Mike
[email protected]
Jag XJR5 Chassis 012
I am new at this type of thing and can't seen to get the pictures to load. If you click on the above link there are some shots of the car in the later stages of the build. I will try to get some others up from earlier stages.
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At this time the car is a roller. The body has been painted and fit to the car. The engine (6.5L V-12), short block is done and the head work is going on now. I hope to have the car at the Vintage races at Watkins Glen this year.
I will continue to update this thread (if GT40s.com allows ) if anyone is interested and hope to continue to be inspired by all of you guys here on this forum. Thanks very much !!!
Mike
[email protected]
Jag XJR5 Chassis 012
I am new at this type of thing and can't seen to get the pictures to load. If you click on the above link there are some shots of the car in the later stages of the build. I will try to get some others up from earlier stages.
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