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Aya-Wavedancer β€” Ford GT-40 MK IV J-8

Published: 2012-07-29 07:56:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 2674; Favourites: 45; Downloads: 162
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Description The Dennis Hulme/Lloyd Ruby car from LeMans 1967.

I finally got a pic of it outside, and I think this finally shows the fidelity of the car's color much better.

Chassis J-8, powered by a Ford 427CI/7 Liter engine, the only all-American car to win LeMans.

Measured at 220 MPH on the Muslanne. Radical for the era honeycomb/aluminum sandwich construction.
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Comments: 34

blueMALOU [2016-09-06 22:01:39 +0000 UTC]

Β month of September 2016

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SharkHarrington [2014-06-01 23:05:34 +0000 UTC]

Look at those lines. Β  Β Beautiful! Β 

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to SharkHarrington [2014-06-03 03:00:54 +0000 UTC]

From a modeler's standpoint, I know the big issue is the lines of the nose. I've taken some pics awhile ago as part of one fellow's study on that very issue was well as the framing and shapeΒ of the C-Type radiator. Yes, Al/"Ecurie Martini" is that particular about his modeling. O.o What's scary is he can look at models and point out things like that, then figure out how to fix said issue. My Dad knows some pretty finicky modeling people. O.o

Maybe the MK IV isn't quite the looker like the P4, but it's got a pretty direct and forthright tough appearance of its own!

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SharkHarrington In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2014-06-03 04:48:36 +0000 UTC]

I like the look of this MK IV. Β It's looking slippery with those curves . . . aerodynamic!

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to SharkHarrington [2014-06-03 05:49:22 +0000 UTC]

The original J-cars looked very different from these. I think the only part that was the same was the section comprosing the cockpit, windshield,Β roof and doors. The Ken Miles disaster at Riverside in one of the early J's had to have involved faulty aero, and they really re-worked the cars into this final design. My guess is the early J-Car's higher slab sides and much more pronounced Kamm tail caused some kind of bizarre crosswind/gust instabilityΒ issues at high speeds and prolly contributed to that crash.

Ironically, a lot of the weight they saved using the alumninum honeycomb material ended up back in the car when they added the NASCAR-style roll cage, an innovation. I'm unsure it would have saved Miles, but it is credited in saving Mario at the 1967 LeMans in the big incident.

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GauthierN [2014-05-30 08:07:29 +0000 UTC]

Nice shot!

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amillar1234 [2014-01-07 18:11:31 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful beast of a car!

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to amillar1234 [2014-01-09 03:08:47 +0000 UTC]

Indeed- and the Museum's undertaking the process with the HVA to make it the first registered Historical Vehicle with them- they've had Pete Brock in recently and interviewed him with the car.

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ShawnSkunk [2013-03-10 21:04:54 +0000 UTC]

yay one of my all time favorites Fords for life.

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johnwickart [2012-08-03 00:16:37 +0000 UTC]

Nice photo of a car that is dear to me. This is the best photo of this car I have seen . You just don't see it.
I have noticed that some of the MK IV's (other than the Gurney?Foyt car) have the bulge in the roof like the LeMans winner. I have seen the yellow car with this. When Mario and Bruce won Sebring ( neither man was tall) no bulge. The same car at LeMans, no bulge, But I have seen photos of the car recently with the bulge. Were they updated? Is this just a different car, painted similar.
Thanks .

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to johnwickart [2012-08-03 02:20:57 +0000 UTC]

The yellow car is James Glickenhaus' car- J-6. Read here why it has the bump. I saw this car at the Glen in 2003. Driven VERY carefully. Too much car for the track, frankly, and Glickenhaus didn't want to kill himself.

[link]

J-5, which Ford still owns, has evidence of the seat being lowered, etc.

And thanks for the compliment. I had to squeeze in between some kind people who didn't mind me getting shots. My camera works MUCH better outdoors, and this dark blue color, which I know has to be an actual Ford color in period- is tough to get a good read on with indoor shots.

According to the article- J-7- the Andretti/Bianchi car that nearly killed him- was sold. But to who and in what condition!? I have no clue.

There are some continuation cars out there now, that used J-6 and particularly this car to get everything correct and approved by Ford.

[link]

[link]

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johnwickart In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-08-12 02:29:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for your always detailed answers. If there is something I wanted to know about these cars, I would ask you. Thanks for the links as well. Very kind of you. Would you consider letting me draw some thing using your blue MK IV as a reference ?
Thanks again.

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to johnwickart [2012-08-12 05:26:38 +0000 UTC]

Please, use anythign I post as stock for anything you do. It's one of the reasons I post them. Just put a link to the original pic so I get some shameless advertising.

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johnwickart In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-08-12 14:34:51 +0000 UTC]

Thanks.
I am not sure how I will approach any of this, but I appreciate your favorable response.

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914four [2012-07-30 16:20:17 +0000 UTC]

Nice!
I think you mean the only all-American prototype to win LeMans, Corvette has won in GT class.

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to 914four [2012-07-30 19:23:25 +0000 UTC]

Yes, the only overall winner. I don't see Ford or GM even attempting to take on the Audi juggernaut in the forseeable future. The only real competition right now may come from Toyota.

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914four In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-07-31 20:22:10 +0000 UTC]

Robertson Racing is doing a good job in GT class, but with Panoz struggling I wonder if we'll ever see another Made in USA LMP.

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to 914four [2012-08-06 04:27:05 +0000 UTC]

It appears the Robertsons have packed it in, which is sad.

It would take a major car-builder to do the attempt and have the money to back it. Highly unlikely anyone would try and fight the Audi juggernaut. They're just too damned good and well prepared. Maybe Toyota will challenge next year- IF they can have luck, AND their Japanese drivers CALM DOWN.

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914four In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-08-07 16:04:44 +0000 UTC]

Really? I didn't see it on their website but they weren't at Mosp... er, the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this year.
Truth be told, I'd rather see Audi win than Acura though; perhaps it's because of Honda's lifetime of making cars I can't fit in (I'm 6'3").

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to 914four [2012-08-07 19:04:53 +0000 UTC]

Their website hasn't been updated in a year. They didn't compete at LeMans, Mid-Ohio, etc. No major sponsors or factory support, there's an article I read where they just hung it up.

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914four In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-08-08 13:58:51 +0000 UTC]

Interesting; the website says copyright 2012, but there doesn't seem to be anything new since last October. Maybe they're taking a sabbatical?

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to 914four [2012-08-08 18:05:06 +0000 UTC]

No press releases except for an article in stumbled on saying they were likely to shut down after 2011.

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914four In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-08-09 15:24:59 +0000 UTC]

I'll keep an eye out, maybe they're regrouping. I know that Melanie Snow drove for them at Mid-Ohio last year, sharing the wheel with Andrea in place of David; maybe he's decided to call it quits and they're trying to find other drivers.

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GilDunnit [2012-07-30 00:28:12 +0000 UTC]

Wow.

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to GilDunnit [2012-07-30 01:47:46 +0000 UTC]

More than 5 feet away it's great looking. Get closer you can see a lot of battle scars on the car.

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GilDunnit In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-07-30 04:43:45 +0000 UTC]

Battle scars are good, thanks for sharing all these great shots of cars from a wonderful era of world motor sports.

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to GilDunnit [2012-07-30 05:45:05 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome. I'm trying hard in my own way to increase awareness of the Simeone Museum, and to get people to come and by just visiting, support it or even by buying a book, cap or something.

I know many of the watchers are from other continents, but I figure there have to be some in the NE US or that may some to Philadelphia some day.

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GilDunnit In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-08-01 00:08:18 +0000 UTC]

I've been to Philadelphia, traveled from Washington DC to New York, didn't know about the Simeone Museum, next time I will stop and check it out.

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to GilDunnit [2012-08-01 01:48:14 +0000 UTC]

Right near the airport.

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GilDunnit In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-08-01 06:30:37 +0000 UTC]

Thanks.

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SylverRaptor [2012-07-29 12:12:14 +0000 UTC]

Oh my!
The Ferrari-killer!
This looks..I don't if I should say...terrifying... O_O
One of the best car ever!
Great capture on it's aerodynamic shape!

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to SylverRaptor [2012-07-29 18:58:37 +0000 UTC]

Hard to get good pics of one of these on the loose, even though Glickenhaus is known to drive his original one at occassional vintage races. There are several continuation cars with official Ford serial numbers out there based on this one since it's the most original remaining, but I have no idea where you'd find one of them on a track. many are done up as the winning car.

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SylverRaptor In reply to Aya-Wavedancer [2012-07-29 20:39:33 +0000 UTC]

I have never seen this car in real-life.
There was a sticker-album - or how it is in english -, and they're called it the Ferrari-killer. As it was made againts the Ferraris on track. The strongest vehicle I've ever seen was a Mustang GT. XD Which I hate.

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Aya-Wavedancer In reply to SylverRaptor [2012-07-29 20:54:16 +0000 UTC]

Yes, they were created to beat Ferrari at enormous expense. The reason it was outside was because it was part of a "Ferrari-Beaters" live demonstration at the Simeone Museum.

They changed the LeMans Formula in 1968 to outlaw this car, and also the Chaparral. So, the MK IVs race careers were short-lived.

The 7 liter engine that powers this is typically American. Simple, large, and brutal. The chassis is another thing altogether, quite forward-thinking and advanced.

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