P1001

[Andrew Komosa]

The story goes on and on- as a friend, Rob Millingship (an aerobatic display pilot, by-the-way), told me about this slide on EBay (which I've now purchased). It shows the Sid Taylor car at the premier of the 1966-7 film "Grand Prix" starring James Garner.

The car's "historian", also provided me with this info, which ties in with the GT40 appearing at the premier in 1967-

"
The livery is Sid Taylor car number 28. Came second in the Wills Trophy at Silverstone on 29/4/1967 with Denny Hulme on board. Think you have the programme for that event."
John Christian

 

[Andrew Komosa]

P/1042 (1001)

I am informed that the rather expensive Premier bag tanks have arrived in New Zealand and have been installed. I was rather dispondent to learn that for FIA racing purposes, the tanks are only certified until 2019! Here are some photographs showing progress. It's nice to know that the ancient art of the signwriter isn't dead. I still await installation of the suspension, brakes, steering, electrics, engine and gearbox Etc... but I remain hopeful David and his chaps can pull this one off before August, as per our final, final, postponed, final, latest, final agreement... Andrew

 

Having seen it in the flesh just a week ago Andrew I can only say that your car is going to look absolutely stunning when finished.

 

[Randy V]

It does look exceptionally nice at this stage.. You must be getting very excited at this stage - I know I sure would be!

 

[Jim Rosenthal]

The car looks lovely. I hope it gets done by August but as you say, deadlines are quite elastic indeed in that venue.

 

[Stephen Ducker]

The finish line approaches, congratulations Andrew!

Regards Steve

 

[Mark R]

Just amazing!

 

[Phil Williams]

Great to read your updates Andrew and like many others here, I'm just so pleased for you that everything is really coming together. Do think of me should you need a babysitter for your pride and joy in the future.....I'm always available and will even read her a bedtime story before tucking her in!

 

[Andrew Komosa]

I could only consider professional babysitters i.e. those with qualifications.. AAAHHHHH.... Slough..... wasn't that where FAV......??? Thanks to all the encouraging responses Best Regards.. Andrew

 

[Andrew Komosa]

My friend, John Christian, recently took his 40 down to Le Mans with other club members and stayed in the Hotel De France. In 1966 John Wyer based his GT40s, sponsored by Essex Wire, running cars no.59 and 60, at the hotel. (Indeed, he used the hotel throughout the 1960s and 70s, with his Gulf-backed Fords and Porsches). While at the hotel, John noticed a book about the hotel's history in reception and snapped a few cheeky shots for me, which I thought I would share as they will be good publicity for the hotel. John says- "Here are the photos I mentioned. Sorry about the quality but best*I could get.
Car No. 60 is 1001 and the sister car is No. 59 - Essex Wire.
In one of the pictures in the background is No. 14 which is chassis 1040 the Filipinetti red with white
stripes.
Regards
John********
Further Email will send more pictures."

 

[Dave]

Awesome Andrew....love this build...Can't wait to see the finished car.....what a roller coaster. think I will go back an reread again.....

 

[Charlie Farley]

1040 you say Andrew...
now there is one you could write a whole book about...
i once had some of the original chassis in my hands...
funny that.

 

[Andrew Komosa]

Yes, now for completeness- the photograph of Gt40P/1040 from the hotel's history book. If you're visiting Le Mans, then I would highly recommend a visit to the Hotel De France, as it's owner is a historic motor racing nut, and has managed to update the place magnificently, while retaining its period charm. Website here- Hotel de France - La Chartre-sur-le-Loir

 

[Andrew Komosa]

P/1042 (1001)

I enjoyed the company of a special guest at my house last Saturday. He was a gentleman who at the age of 23, got to drive prospective customers in the MkI and MkIII road GT40s, as he was a manager at FAV for four years in the mid 1960s. He brought a lost of historical papers and gave me some of the original assembly drawings. However, the most cool thing was, that he sold me a Smiths 200 mph speedometer. Not just any speedo however, but the one out of the 1st MkI road car, GT40P/1013, registered in the UK as (OVX 355D). The speedo was retained by FAV when 1013 was sold to its first customer and a new zero-mileage speedo fitted. This means the 23054.7 recorded miles on the odometer is the last recorded mileage of 1013 before it was sold on. (OVX 355D) was the car tested by all the motoring journalists, including Dennis Jenkinson "Jenks" for his article in MotorSport December 1966. "Jenks", for those who are unaware, was Sir Sterling Moss's co-driver during the 1950s and they rallied together on such events as the Mille Miglia and Targa Floria Etc...! The speedo will replace the one out in NZ and is another piece in the originality puzzle. I'm not sure I should even attach a speedo cable and just leave the mileage as it was last recorded in 1967. The photograph is our man from FAV at the age of 23, with 1013, the silver-painted Ford press car... Andrew

 

Brilliant addition Andrew. Congrats.

 

[Allan Feldman]

Hi Andrew
'Jenks' was Stirling moss navigator in the famous Mercedes SLR 722 when they won the Millie Miglia. He designed a route navigation map for the race in the form of a box in "toilet roll" type contraption and this help them win the race. I wonder did you guest show you any of the early car in colour? I am still trying to get a decent shot of GT/102 bonnet to make sure its dark satin blue and not black. I wish you success with your project.
Regards Allan

 

[Jos]

Re: P/1042 (1001)

I'm not sure I should even attach a speedo cable and just leave the mileage as it was last recorded in 1967.

I agree with this - if I were the current owner of 1013 (where-ever it is) I'd want to try to get that speedo just as it was on removal

As an aside when 1013 was auctioned in 1997 (for under £ 200 000) there was also this super John Ketchell painting of it (and fortunately did not cost me £ 200 000)

 

[Andrew Komosa]

P/1042

"Hi".. it's been a while, but I can finally say my worldwide hunt for those elusive magnesium uprights is finished, as Jay Cushman has found me three period original uprights and one, new/old stock unmachined upright from somewhere. Not sure whether they have a serial number embossed, but dying to find out. These are the very last parts in the puzzle, as I've now been able to replace the last of the modern copy parts on P/1042, with period originals. The engine is also in one piece, has been statically balanced and is ready to go into the car. I believe the wiring is been done as I type, but apparently it takes a real specialist to work on this old wiring and he only works part time, so as usual, progress is grindingly slow, but it will be correct. In between job moves and house moves to another county, I've been building a website about the car. It's in draft format with lots of mistakes as yet, so I'd rather not divulge it until I'm 100% satisfied it's ready for publication. As a taster, it'll detail the history of the car, talk about those who drove GT40P/1001, give race results in a quick find order and show progress of the reincarnation of P/1042 (1001). For now, here are some photographs of oily old parts-

 

[Andrew Komosa]

P/1042

A couple of months ago, the 1965 289 ci motor returned from the engine builders. This was the Mathwall - supplied short engine from GT40P/1042, with heads purchased from Cushman Competition off GT40P/1079. The camshaft is a new/old stock FAV mild race item, the Girling clutch being the twin plate variety, FAV balancer and note the period original wide sump. The motor should be going into the car next week, so now CCD has those magnesium uprights, we might be looking at completion sometime soon!

 

[Andrew Komosa]

Hello to all old car lovers around the World. If this hasn't been mentioned on this forum already, then it should have. If the link I provide below does not work, then try Googling "Motorsport Digital". This is an unbelievable resource of period magazines going right back to the 1920s. Every page can be read from every year! I have no connection with this publication, but you can get 10 articles for free, then you only need to pay £3.50 or $5.00 per month to read the old archives and get a subscription to the modern Motorsport magazine. I love the Letters From Readers, talking back in the 1930s. about how "my goodness Sir, in ten years or so, we may even see female motorists driving such severe machines as an MG, whatever next?"! To keep in context, those of you who like historical accuracy, cannot do better, but to use this digital time machine to read race reports as they happened. This link should take you to the review "On The Road With The Ford GT40" from December 1966, which happens to be GT40P/1013, the car my period original speedometer came out of (see above for details). I hope you enjoy these, as much as I do-
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/december-1966/37/road-ford