The MK-IV's used Goodyear Blue Streaks which you can still get. At 223 they made 950lbs of lift.
You can't fit Veryon tires as they require special wheels but Michlin PS 2's are close and what we use on P 4/5 which is steady as a rock at 200 which we kissed at CERAM. (Rene Arnoux was driving) Because of the banking we couldn't go any faster as the G forces were putting the rear body work into the tires. On a straight she will reach 233. 660hp 2600lbs.
At Le Mans the Lola coupes went 205 but the spyders won't. You need a much longer tail.
J6 went 223 MPH at 6200 rpm with Le Mans gearing. About 500 HP 2300 lbs
Today I keep her below that...
P 4/5 will be at the FOS.
Best
Jim,
Correct me if I am wrong. I obviously do not know more than I have read and I am curious? I was under the impression that the MKIV's at Le Mans never used their true top speed because
1) In the 1967 Le mans race they used the MKIIB Ford France car as a rabbit to try and break the Ferrari 330P4's
2) Dan Gurney deliberately posted slower laps to keep A.J.Foyt from sprinting and breaking the car since this was his first race at Le Mans.
He also stopped on the racetrack and let the second placed 330P4 through (he was a good number of laps ahead) and then caught and passed it. Just to show the Ferrari drivers his superior performance.
3) That Le Mans cars teams had a strategy and especially in the case of Ford the previous year a rev limit.
4) Maybe they kept their speeds down after the Andretti crash which wiped out two MKIV's and one MKIIB?
5) The timing position on the Mulsanne straight was at the begining so it recorded a conservative top speed.
6) The Le Mans race was about survival not top speeds
7) In testing the MKIV hit 215mph
8) The 1966 Le Mans MKII's engine had a life expendancy of 30 hours.
did they have the same testing in 1967? on the MKIV's.
9) I believe the true top speed at maximium would be in the order of 223-224mph but not in an 24hour endurance race. Given the fact that the P4 was down on power but lighter and I think it needed less fuel stops. Although it had what looked like an beautiful aerodynamic bodyshape; this was not the case and I think it was good for 199mph along the Mulsanne straight with 450bhp as opposed to the heaver MKIV's 530bhp. Going 9/10ths would of won the race in terms of reliability especially when your down to two MKIV's. The Ford MKIIB's where too heavy and also did not last the race so Ford's outright contenders would have been the MKIV's.
10) My main point about the MKIV's being handled carefully to see out the race. Was Henry Ford II wanting an all American car with an all American crew to win Le Mans. I do not thiink anyone would have been too keen to go up against his 'orders.'
11) The aerodynamic Lola T70 MKIII coupes at 1967 Le Mans were powered by the Aston Martin enginge they were time in practise at 205mph. But because of engine unreliabilty and faults did not make that speed constantly in the race.
Regards Allan