This Month in Cobra History - June 1965

[computerworks]

A few short months prior, Shelby had started building a 427 version of the GT-40.
Some in the USA thought that to beat Ferrari in the Prototype class, the large 427 engine from the Galaxie would be necessary in an improved Ford GT chassis.
On a purely experimental basis Shelby was entrusted with the responsibility to install the 427 in a GT40 and to enter it in Le Mans, virtually untested.



The Ford GT was ultimately renamed the Ford GT40 Mark II. It suffered from the very start with transmission problems.
In fact, since there was no gearbox available to cope with such torque, Ford would have to build one: the Kar Kraft T44.



The MKII ran into big problems concerning its brakes, tires and aerodynamics. It would be fitted with wings and flaps for stability purposes.





...more

[computerworks]

At 4pm local time, the flag was dropped and the 24 hour race began. There is nothing more exciting than the old-style Lemans start....
The drivers ran across the track to their cars and they all started at once... pandemonium.



Here it is...the start of the 1965 Lemans on film...a great rare film clip...



Then... sadly, it began...

After 2 hours of the race, the Ford GT40 Roadster, #109, blew it's gearbox.
After 3 hours of the race, the Ford GT40, #1004, blew a head gasket.
Within minutes of that, the Ford GT40, #1005, also blew a head gasket.
In the next hour, the Ford GT 40 Mk II (one of the two 427 cars), #106, blew a gearbox.
After 6 hours of the race, the Ford GT40, #1006, blew a head gasket too.
After 7 hours of the race, the Ford GT 40 Mk II (the other 427 car), #107, blew a gearbox.

That's it for the GT-40s... finito. Before midnight all the GT-40s had dropped out of the race. Clearly Phil Remington had his work cut out for him when they got back to California.

The Daytona Coupes all were running strong up to this time...but now it was time for the cloud of bad luck to move over to the CSX cars.





CSX2601 blew it's clutch at the 10th hour of the race... and shortly after that, CSX2602 limped into the pits with...guess what? ...a blown head gasket.
At 4 a.m., the famous CSX2287 was sidelined with yet another blown head gasket.

Shortly after dawn, in the 15th hour of the race, CSX2286 lost oil pressure and was done.

As the race approached its final hours, all that was left of the Ford flotilla was CSX2299, driven by Jack Sears and Dick Thompson.
They would cross the finishline at the 24 hour mark in 8th position overall, with the engine knocking violently due to failing oil pressure.
They did earn a Class Winner trophy for the GT 4001 - 5000cc class for their efforts.



Unfortunately, that year's Lemans would be a bitter failure even though Ford again set the best lap time and best maximum speed...
Ferrari celebrated its 7th consecutive victory that weekend, which had to be humiliating for Ford, as they packed up the champagne for another day.

That day was to be the following year, you know....the famous 1-2-3 finish by Ford.

...but that's another story.

Hope you enjoyed this one.

-ron