All good points. It's nice to see opposing viewpoints on this forum without it degenerating into name-calling (yet...
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Randall, the Coupe was originally designed with those vents in the "Kamm" tail (named for Dr. Wunibald Kamm, who came up with the theory that a truncated rear end, with a slightly concave cross-section, would induce turbulence that would aid in rear traction). The were connected to the plexiglass scoops in the rear 3/4 windows and were designed to aid in brake cooling. The only problem was, in early testing it was discovered that the rear tires acted like centrifugal pumps, actually sucking air through the crescent-shaped cutouts in the rear and forcing it through the rear 3/4 windows. Adding plexiglass "vanes" to the A-pillars helped solved the reverse airflow problem but the crescent-shaped cutouts must have been deemed unnecessary anyhow, as they were typically covered over.
I am with you guys on the wheel size. To my eye, looking over the car at Monterey, it was the main "problem" with the car. I asked Pete Brock about it but he was quick to explain that he needed wheels that size to accomodate the huge brakes installed on the car. Personally, I would be willing to sacrifice a bit of braking performance for a set of 15" Trigo or PS FIA wheels, and I would want some offset to the rears like the original cars had. Aside from the overall "hugeness" of the wheels on the SPF, the rear wheels have no offset, which I really think the car needs. Yada yada yada, this is all irrelevant, as I would have to take out a second mortgage to afford one, anyhow...