Introduction of Gurney Weslake Heads

[Charlie Farley]

Ive looked in various books, but remain unclear as to the introduction of Gurney Weslake cylinder heads on the GT 40.
Could someone please point me to a published date for the first time these cylinder heads were used. Would anyone know in what circumstance the heads were first used.
Was it the Shelby cars etc etc ?

As always, thanks for your help.

 

Mike Teske will know not only the date but probably the time of day, LOL. He recently moved to Tenn and I don't know how to reach him, Wayne

 

[Johan]

Shelby and Gurney formed AAR (All American Racers) and built a Lola T70 for the 1966 Can AM season that used a small block Ford utilizing the heads. Gurney was driving for Ford in several races, and the Shelby Ford connection was there of course, hence the AAR (Shelby/Gurney) Lola/Ford was a natural.
I guess this was early 1966. If the Shelby GT40's used the heads after that I would imagine it grew out of Gurney's success in the Can Am with the engine.

 

[Chris Duncan]

According to Legate, JWA started using the Gurney heads just before or at the start of the '68 season.

from Ford GT40 by Trevor Legate, pg. 106

 

[Johan]

OK so to sum up the info for Andy, the heads were developed for and first used on the Shelby/Gurney Lola T70 Can Am car and were used on the GT40 for the 1968 season. Right ?

 

[Mike from Vegas]

Gurney said in a Road and Track interview that the Gulf cars in 1968 and 1969 used Gurney Weslake Heads (Road and Track-June 1997)