Safir/JW GT40 MK V

Hello,
I am a newbie here and am very surprised to hear of the MK V GT40 being discussed here.

Several years ago I had been in another mailing list and enquire about the MK Vs, hardly anyone even heard of it. About the same time, I wrote to Peter Thorp and from his reply, said he has the last MK V under contruction - wide body and build to be a full blown racer.
Being a web developer and car enthusiast, I am planning to do a site specially dedicated to MK Vs. I have so far collected infos on most of the 40 cars that was built - pictures and serial numbers. Unfortunately, many images are of very poor quality. I therefore like to make a request to anyone out there who have photos of MK Vs to please send them to me. I really appreciate it and need all the help I can get.
I think these are very good cars. Personally I prefer their MK I body style than the MK IIs as it's "almost" 100% accurate - visually and technically. And based on what I have read, they seem to be amazing cars as well.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Victor

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

Victor,

I had the honor of taking P1116 to the Watkins Glen GT 40 Reunion. Drove it at the Glen a couple other times. Also visited Peter in the UK at the works and was much impressed.

Rick

 

Hi Rick,
Wow! I can just imagine. Don't mind to hear more of your story about P1116. Do you have any pictures of the car or your visit with Peter Thorp?
I am planning a special website dedicated to the MK Vs and need all the images of all the cars built.

Regards,
Victor

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

I have the original Safir brochure scanned and can email it to you. I will try to locate my works photos also. P1116 was delivered as a roller and had a 351 Windsor installed by Total Performance in Michigan. I have also ridden in Lamont Johnson's MK V, the red car with the Gurney-Weslake heads.

Peter Thorpe was unable to give me a ride in his car when I was in the UK as it was apart for some rework at the time.

The high point of the 1989 Watkins Glen reunion was taking my sons for laps in the car with P1075, the Gulf LeMans winner in the rearview mirror. I watched 1075 and the other Gulf car the Glen 6 hours races in 1968 and 1969 and now I was on the track with them!
Rick

 

Mark IV, I was there at the Glen & remember seeing thoes cars. Do you remember the " BOG "? Great times! I got to race at the Glen, a three hour enduro... in my LOTUS EUROPA... painted up in Gulf colors.

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

Always made a visit to the BOG to see what the residents were sacrificing. In 1976 when a Greyhound bus was "obtained" and burned in the BOG (containing the belongings of all the Brazilians that had come to see Emerson Fittipaldi) it was a friend of mine who as paddock marshall opened the gate to let it out, he was charged with keeping people out, not with keeping them in!

I fist attended the USGP at the Glen in 1967 and saw them all until the last. Spent a couple of races in the McLaren pits during the seventies when a family aquaintance was one of the principles in McLaren International, before Ron Dennis bought it out. Rubbed shoulders with Hulme, Fittipaldi, Hunt and others. I have a picture of James Hunt, hours after the race ended still in his driving suit "relieving" himself on the side of the Texaco trailer after he found it locked and the facilities inside unavailable.

I have never "raced" at the Glen but have done some open track events and the best were in P1116. Nothing like a forty to make you realize how limited your driving skills are. Easy to go 8 tenths in a car that will do 12 tenths!

Rick

 

[M.B]

Rick !

I would not mind to see some of those "works photo´s" !..
If you are up to it !

 

Mark 1V, I met Bruce Mclaren a number of times back then, Tyler Alexander lived in the next town to me. They would bring the cars to his parents house & prep them before going racing. I also worked for a company that built & preped Sam Posey's cars; 904, Mclaren MK 1B & the Caldwell D7 CANAM car, I worked in the fiberglass dept. and tagged along to the races as the "gofor". Got to meet all the "Greats" back then. Bruce was the person that raelly inspired me to go racing... I can't say enough good things about him. Mark Donahue was another great guy.

 

Hi Rick,
Yes, please send me scan pictures of the MK V brochure. I am interested. Do you also have pictures of P1116? I know of Lamont Johnson's awesome MK V. It was featured in Automobile magazine. That's how I frist heard of the MK V anyway. Do you know if he still owns it?
P/s I tried your email but it doesn't work. I have reposted my email up for now so you can get hold of me. Thanks.

Regards,
Victor

 

[Rick Muck- Mark IV]

GT40MKV- my email is [email protected]. I will gladly forward the brochure scans.

I do have some pictures of P1116 that I can scan in.

Marco-I will look for the works pictures. I took them while visiting Peter during a trip to the UK to do business with Brian Angliss and Autokraft. I had previously met Peter Thorpe in 1983 at the SAAC convention in Dearborn. I met Lamont in 1985 at the Dearborn convention when he had his red car there. I don't know if he still has the car but I do have his phone number around and can check if anyone wants.

Rick