From what I have gathered, sometime in 1964 two transporters appear as the Ford GT team haulers. An advertisement, notes them as 'Strachans'.
Photos of these transporters are rare, but this one is a great image of both, at what appears to be a factory location (possibly where they were built?).
The first truck shows the license plate 'GML 128B', while there is no plate on the second truck.
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/204-281219101209.jpeg)
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/204-281219101356.jpeg)
Wow - extremely cool and interesting Rich!
Were did the advertisement appear? Magazine or racing program?
- Phillip
Quote from: propayne on December 28, 2019, 10:21:47 AM
Wow - extremely cool and interesting Rich!
Were did the advertisement appear? Magazine or racing program?
- Phillip
I wish I knew. It was just a random internet find.
Rich, another great thread ! thanks ! you might have found that piece on the GT40 haulers here ? 4th post, it looks like it might
have been sourced from Autolit.com, who have closed due to the passing in November 2019 of the owner.
I think that might have been in one of the magazines like Sports Car Graphic ?
It would be good to have a better image, to read the article.
Mike
https://www.gt40s.com/threads/gt40-transport.38783/
Quote from: honker on December 28, 2019, 02:20:37 PM
Rich, another great thread ! thanks ! you might have found that piece on the GT40 haulers here ? 4th post, it looks like it might have been sourced from Autolit.com, who have closed due to the passing in November 2019 of the owner. I think that might have been in one of the magazines like Sports Car Graphic ?
It would be good to have a better image, to read the article.
Mike
https://www.gt40s.com/threads/gt40-transport.38783/
Nice thread on the 'GT40s' site. I had not seen that one before. It looks like they found the same photos. Maybe the same source?
Yes, find a larger copy of the Strachans ad to actually read the content would be nice.
Stephen D. added some helpful comments on the license plate;
-The number plate appears to read GML 128B, so that vehicle was registered in 1964. ( The 'B' is the year )
-The 'ML' part tells us it was issued in the Middlesex / London area.
-It is not a personal or private plate.
-It was bodied by Strachans of Hamble, England., as already shown by Mick.
-The chassis could be Thames, AEC, or almost anything ? 1964 just pre dates the Ford D series / R Series chassis, unless it was a pre production chassis ? The fact that there is no makers badging on the front may point to it being a non Ford chassis?
Here's a peak at the rooftop at Le Mans in 1964. The white transporter is easy to spot in these B&W photos.
Those might be skylights in the roof panel. The polished hubcaps and side stripes help too.
(Like I said, photos of this Ford GT team transporter are hard to find, especially in the paddock areas.)
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/204-291219104316.jpeg)
Cool!!!
Rich, that overhead shot at Le Mans is new to me, thanks 8)
Here's another in the paddock, also '64, I'm not sure this hasn't been here before, maybe in another thread.
Mike
Excellent find Mike. Nice rear view color photo!
(New to me) :)
It looks like the license plate on this transporter reads 'GML 129B'.
That would make sense as the other truck was 'GML 128B'
Is that a Bizzarrini parked next to the transporter?
Quote from: 2112 on December 29, 2019, 09:59:59 PM
Is that a Bizzarrini parked next to the transporter?
That's what it looks like to me (too),
There's still a couple more photos from 1964 and 1965 to share.
This 1964 photo was taken at the Reims 12 hours event.
Both Ford GT team transporters are visible along with what appears to be a Ford Transit camper in between them.
We can see the nose of the #6 Ford GT (GT/105) against the wall. That was the clue needed to ID the time/location
Also at the very top is the Shelby American Bartoletti Transporter with the cab facing inward towards the wall.
They were hauling the two Daytona Coupes csx2287 and csx2299. I don't believe there were any SA team Cobra's there.
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/204-301219105153.jpeg)
Rich, another great image, thanks ! looks like tea time.
are you wanting to keep this chronological ? If so I can remove my post from '66 and insert it later.
Mike
PS: photo added June 19th. 2021, so it's in sequence. Rich I believe this to be GT/103 at Monza, April 25th. 1965 with the
transporter behind
This next photo is from 1965. One of the sources noted it to be at Silverstone on March 3rd 1965. (GT-108).
We see the transporter in the background with the rear door opened up. The plate appears to be 'GML 129B' from the second truck.
We don't know if the lettering in the side stripes is still written as 'FORD G. T.' or as later appears in 1966 as 'FORD ADVANCED VEHICLES LTD.'
I'd love to see a photo of the GT40s loaded inside or even unloading...if there are any out there.
Mike, if you want to move your 1966 photo / post to after this one that would be helpful to follow the chronological order. If not, no big deal.
I only have one more photo from 1967 and one photo from 1968 to share. There's not much out there to be found.
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/204-301219212732.jpeg)
This is a great thread. Richstang and Honker you're really to be commended IMO.
Shades of the 'old' forum.
(Wish I had something to contribute!)
^^^ yes, couldn't agree more!
Rich, repost: now in sequence..... ;)
I believe thus is taken at the Le Mans Trials, April '66 ? Tails of AM GT40/1 and AM GT40/2 (the Alan Mann light weights) plus the transporter, still in it's original colours, but with different script,. Was it being used by Alan Mann ?
Mike
camp upshur, thanks for the compliment for Richstang & Myself, everyone here contributes their bit, this is what makes the Shelby
community so great, there's alway an image, or bit of history that is new to me.
Thanks to all of you !
Mike
Mike, I have the '66 photo from the Le Mans trials dated around April 3rd.
I can only guess that Alan Mann was using the transporter for the two lightweights #15 & #16 since we see both of those rear shells.
I don't have any other '66 photos. Next up is the one from '67 also at the LM trials... unless you have any others from '66.
(as Mike said, THANKS for the compliment 'Camp Upshur' and 'JD')
Around April 9, 1967 the Strachons Ford GT team Transporter appears at the Le Mans trials behind the Ford of France GT40 P/1020.
Once again it appears with different lettering in the side stripes now as 'J.W. Automotive Engineering Ltd.'
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/204-010120131258.jpeg)
Rich, your last one from '67 8) great image, the boy behind reminds me of myself at various venues, just in awe of what your
looking at !
I think you said you only had one from '67, so I hope I'm not jumping ahead of you ? Here's what I have in my files, you can just
see the nose on the right behind the Piper-Attwood Mirage.
Le Mans, April '67..trials. a larger shot from the back, and behind the Mk. 1V on the trailer (can you imagine hauling cars around
like that today !) you can see the two transporters where there.
Mike
Mike, these are all great finds from the 67 Le Mans trials. Well done!
I didn't realize the person in the side view I posted was a young boy. (He was dressed too nice in the collar shirt.)
You must have eagle eyes to spot these transporters in the backgrounds. I completely overlooked the two next to each other in the B&W photo with the J3 MKIV on the trailer. (All I saw were those shark fins on it, similar to what they used in '65 on the two GT prototypes.)
Great to see the back door of one of the transporters showing the changed lettering to 'J.W.A.E.' in both B&W and in color!
8)
Nothing yet showing the team unloading or carrying the GT40's. That might be a tall order.
I only have one photo from '68 left to share...
Last in my files for these two Ford GT team transporters is this photo from April 25th, 1968 at Monza.
The side stripes are now gone. The GT40 pictured is P/1075.
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/204-020120151517.jpeg)
I saw these on a FB post, and would the "TNT San Juan" be considered a "transporter"?
jim p
Quote from: 6R07mi on January 27, 2020, 01:34:57 PM
I saw these on a FB post, and would the "TNT San Juan" be considered a "transporter"?
jim p
Nice color photos.
That 'Paris'/'WALON' transporter, used for the '65 Le Mans race, was likely just a typical new car transporter rented for the weekend.
I've never seen it used anywhere else or at any other European events, nor any other years.
I suppose that TNT/San Juan Ferry boat to Nassau does count as a Ford GT transporter, but not as a team owned hauler.
There also the ferry boat to Sicily for the Targa Florio. There's a few photos of that with some damaged Cobras, I suspect from rough seas.
Here's a nice color photo at the LeMans trails in April 1964 showing GT/105 and GT/108.
The side lettering on the transporter still notes it as hauling the 'FORD GT'
The b&w photo also appear to be from the '64 LM trails. (correction; file name says Nurburg[ring] '65-5-23)
Is that Gordon Chance tuning the engine?
Great thread! I went through my files and came across this image from Le Mans in 1965. The red arrow indicates what I believe is one of the transporters.
Quote from: MichaelM on April 16, 2021, 10:49:31 AM
Great thread! I went through my files and came across this image from Le Mans in 1965. The red arrow indicates what I believe is one of the transporters.
Ha, yea that's the GT Transporter...what we can see of it hidden behind those campers.
It seems most of the photos are from LeMans. These are tough to find anywhere else in Europe.
Another shot I came across. 5S114 at Le Mans in 1965. The transporter is now wearing Ford Advanced Vehicles livery.
Quote from: MichaelM on June 01, 2021, 04:39:05 AM
Another shot I came across. 5S114 at Le Mans in 1965. The transporter is now wearing Ford Advanced Vehicles livery.
It's always helpful to check out the backgrounds of theses vintage photos!
Alan Mann Racing Team used to have a transporter early 1964 at the Monte, which looks very similar to a Strachan with the same roof ending and the lower sideline, yet obviously with a second cargo side door ...probably longer. Can't read the licence plate, but may search for the original scans sent in by ex-mechanic David Campion.
(http://www.ponysite.de/GM_1964MC_amanntransp.jpg)
The b/w scan wasn't any better, but here is another shot of the red Thames transporter (1965) with a B for 64 on the licence plate as well.
(http://www.ponysite.de/alanmann%20team_transporter65.jpg)
(http://www.ponysite.de/allanmann_transporterCortina_THAMES.jpg)
..so back to the white Ford GT ones, sorry.
Quote from: TransamEd on June 01, 2021, 05:04:55 PM
The b/w scan wasn't any better, but here is another shot of the red Thames transporter (1965) with a B for 64 on the licence plate as well.
(http://www.ponysite.de/alanmann%20team_transporter65.jpg)
(http://www.ponysite.de/allanmann_transporterCortina_THAMES.jpg)
..so back to the white Ford GT ones, sorry.
Yes, I don't recall the red Alan Mann transporter ever hauling a Ford GT.
The red transporter license plate is 'ETW 561B'.
(I have a very large copy of your B&W photo and another of the color photo, that are legible.)
Rich, here's a photo of the red Alan Mann transporter with GT40 #1006 taken at the press day, Goodwood before Le Mans '65. I
would think that the car was brought there in the transporter ?
Photo from the Alan Mann "A life of Chance" book
(photo:Ford Motor Company)
Mike
Quote from: honker on June 18, 2021, 08:46:36 PM
Rich, here's a photo of the red Alan Mann transporter with GT40 #1006 taken at the press day, Goodwood before Le Mans '65. I
would think that the car was brought there in the transporter ?
Photo from the Alan Mann "A life of Chance" book
(photo:Ford Motor Company)
Mike
Nice work Mike! It does appear that the Alan Mann transporter was used at least once to move the team Ford GT.
It seems there is conflicting information about this car and the date.
My notes list it as P/1008 (#1), which was also painted Linden Green, the same as P/1006 (#14).
They note the Goodwood Test Day was in July (after the Le Mans race with P/1006).
Rich, thanks for that added information, here's a scan of the caption with the photo I posted from the Alan Mann book, now the
information there could be wrong. I just took it to be P/1006.
Mike
Rich, as you said conflicting information, in the Allen & Jones book "The Ford That Beat Ferrari" my copy published 2005, pages
70- 71, the same shot of the linden green car in front of the transporter has a caption that says, quote "Journalist's test day,
Goodwood, November 1965. The Alan Mann Racing team with 1008"
Mike
Rich, check post #12 December 30th 2019 in this thread, I have added a photo which I found on line of GT103 with the transporter
at Monza, April, 1965, just to keep things in sequence.
Mike
Quote from: honker on June 19, 2021, 05:26:33 PM
Rich, check post #12 December 30th 2019 in this thread, I have added a photo which I found on line of GT103 with the transporter
at Monza, April, 1965, just to keep things in sequence.
Mike
That's a very nice color photo!
Any photos from Monza with the GT's are rare, but having both a Ford GT with the Transporter is unheard of.
Very cool!
Quote from: honker on June 19, 2021, 05:12:04 PM
Rich, as you said conflicting information, in the Allen & Jones book "The Ford That Beat Ferrari" my copy published 2005, pages
70- 71, the same shot of the linden green car in front of the transporter has a caption that says, quote "Journalist's test day,
Goodwood, November 1965. The Alan Mann Racing team with 1008"
Mike
Yes, not exactly trust worthy when we have different sources with different info.
Here's some of the notes I had on file;
#1006 – Mark 1 289 Race Spec.
14/6/1965 – Ford Advanced Vehicles (FAV)
1965 – Le Mans Ireland/ Whitmore Retired
Testing at Monza Whitmore crashed & wrecked
#1008 – Mark 1 289 Race Spec.
17/8/1965 – Ford UK
Never Raced or sold
Here's a shot of P/1038 with the Ford hauler in the background at Spa in 1966, also a Cobra with its transport behind.
Mike
took me a while to figure out that Cobra, the # confused me, it's CSX3019 (Ed Freutel's) still wearing it's # from the Targa Florio
May 8th. '66.
Excellent find Mike!
That is the first 1966 photo I've seen of the GT transporter. Too bad we can't see the side or rear door lettering.
As you said P-1038, the Essex Wire GT40, is in the foreground with a Cobra in the background.
That Cobra would be csx3019, still wearing the no 178 from the 5/8/66 Targa Florio event.
Cool
Thanks Rich, we were both typing at the same time, I amended my post above, great minds think alike ;)
Mike
I believe this to be P/1006 at Le Mans 1965 with the transporter behind. Wonder whats under the white tarp ?
Mike
Quote from: honker on August 29, 2021, 12:53:11 PM
I believe this to be P/1006 at Le Mans 1965 with the transporter behind. Wonder whats under the white tarp ?
Mike
Doesn't look wide enough for it to be a car, but the entire area is roped off with two employees behind the ropes.
Cool T-shirts
Quote from: honker on August 29, 2021, 12:53:11 PM
I believe this to be P/1006 at Le Mans 1965 with the transporter behind. Wonder whats under the white tarp ?
Mike
The way everyone's standing around it, maybe lunch?
Looks to have rocker stripes on the side
Tired Sheep, good eye ! maybe that's GT/109 under there, the draping looks similar to it's shape, sorry for the poor image.
Mike
thought I'd repost the images from Le Mans '65, in relation to what could be under the tarp, that's P/1009 in the foreground, and I
believe that could be GT109 under the tarp, that TiredSheep spotted, I flipped the one image to give better perspective, the shape
of the tarp looks like it could be, I think it's covered because it was an open car.
Mike
Rich, I found another image of the Ford GT hauler at Spa, 1966 with Len Bailey, That's a Mustang 'vert he's standing behind, shows
some of the lettering.
Also one with a hauler and the Mirage M1 at the Le Mans tests, April '67(l-r Jo Bonnier...John Wyer...Graham Hill & Jochen Rindt),
can you tell if that is one of the original GT transporters painted with the Wyer logo ?
Mike
(both images from the "Racing In The Rain" book, pub. 2006 by John Horsman)
Quote from: Richstang on December 30, 2019, 09:40:35 PM
This next photo is from 1965. One of the sources noted it to be at Silverstone on March 3rd 1965. (GT-108).
We see the transporter in the background with the rear door opened up. The plate appears to be 'GML 129B' from the second truck.
We don't know if the lettering in the side stripes is still written as 'FORD G. T.' or as later appears in 1966 as 'FORD ADVANCED VEHICLES LTD.'
I'd love to see a photo of the GT40s loaded inside or even unloading...if there are any out there.
Mike, if you want to move your 1966 photo / post to after this one that would be helpful to follow the chronological order. If not, no big deal.
I only have one more photo from 1967 and one photo from 1968 to share. There's not much out there to be found.
(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/204-301219212732.jpeg)
classic always be Classic ~
Quote from: honker on September 06, 2021, 02:47:37 PM
Rich, I found another image of the Ford GT hauler at Spa, 1966 with Len Bailey, That's a Mustang 'vert he's standing behind, shows
some of the lettering.
Also one with a hauler and the Mirage M1 at the Le Mans tests, April '67(l-r Jo Bonnier...John Wyer...Graham Hill & Jochen Rindt),
can you tell if that is one of the original GT transporters painted with the Wyer logo ?
Mike
(both images from the "Racing In The Rain" book, pub. 2006 by John Horsman)
Thanks for posting these Mike!
Yes I believe these 2 photos are both the FORD GT transporters
It appears they both were taken at different times.
You noted the Le Mans test in April '67 with the Mirage, but named the photo as SPA '66.
Rich, missed that ::) date corrected to '67 on the image in post #50
Mike
Rich, found another one, these are the remains of P/1079 at the Wyer shop, after it's crash at Spa, May 26th. '68.
Not the best image, I think it's a screen grab from a film ? It was on that French forum I frequent "AutoDiva" you have to be
logged in to see it, easy enough to do.
The transporter look like it's having the lettering painted ?
Mike
Quote from: honker on September 09, 2021, 09:23:43 AM
Rich, found another one, these are the remains of P/1079 at the Wyer shop, after it's crash at Spa, May 26th. '68.
Not the best image, I think it's a screen grab from a film ? It was on that French forum I frequent "AutoDiva" you have to be
logged in to see it, easy enough to do.
The transporter look like it's having the lettering painted ?
Mike
Another interesting find! This might be the newest (1968) photo we have seen of the FORD GT transporter.
The lettering appears to be raised up higher on the sides, compared to the previous years.
If you recall the April '68 Monza photos had the lower sides blank also.
Looking closer at the photos again...one photo shows a side view of a race car behind the cab door, on the upper section
Your 'new' found photo shows what was behind the middle-side door in that upper section.
It's very nice to see that too. Great work finding these!
1967, Monza, the two Ford haulers in the paddock, sorry 'bout that Chevy in the foreground ;)
Mike
(image: Joe Honda Sportscar Spectacles, Sport Prototype 1967, part 02, pub. 2015, by Model Factory Hiro, Japan)
Quote from: honker on September 11, 2021, 10:47:19 AM
1967, Monza, the two Ford haulers in the paddock, sorry 'bout that Chevy in the foreground ;)
Mike
(image: Joe Honda Sportscar Spectacles, Sport Prototype 1967, part 02, pub. 2015, by Model Factory Hiro, Japan)
Another nice find, thanks for posting Mike
Here are two links to a pair of copyrighted photos from the '1967 Le Mans 24 hours" race, on motorsport images
A "FORD" logo on the cab door of the tractor trailer appears to be a support vehicle (parts) for the Ford team race cars.
The 6 Ford team cars were likely transported by the trailers parked in front of it. (4 Shelby and 2 Holman Moody prepared)
We saw the MKIV J3 at the LM Trials in April '67 on one of these trailers with the now labelled 'JWA' transporters in the background.
https://www.motorsportimages.com/photo/1017501866-24-hours-of-le-mans/1017501866/?race_type_id=0&search=1967%20Le%20Mans%2024%20&p=11
https://www.motorsportimages.com/photo/1017501868-24-hours-of-le-mans/1017501868/?race_type_id=0&search=1967%20Le%20Mans%2024%20&p=11
Found another, sorry for the quality, it was already a screen grab when I came across it, can't remember where now !
Mike
Here's a partial view of the Ford GT transporter on the right, beyond the Ferrari hauler, Goodwood TT Aug. 29th. 1964.
Mike
(photo: Neil Paton)
Here's another with a Gulf car, caption said testing at foggy Silverstone, has to be 1968 at the earliest. We can see the transporter
in the back ground with the ramps down, and another GT40 with no #s or stripes, could be first time out ?
This might have been on forum 1 ?
Mike
^^^ How did that work out with the steep ramps and those low cars? ??? short nose?
... also interesting to see that [Sunbeam] "Harrington LeMans" there in that photo as well. I don't know enough detail to identify the "model", but those are pretty rare.
The GT 40 in reply #61:
What is that object on the right rear fender between the"horseshoe" sticker?
This is a really cool topic . That last picture is the only one that shows the possibility of being a transporter, I was thinking until that point that they where hauling spares and being work spaces.
Found this photo appears to be loading damaged GT/111 following 65 Targa Florio into the FAV transporter?
jim p
Quote from: mark p on December 28, 2021, 10:20:19 AM
^^^ How did that work out with the steep ramps and those low cars? ??? short nose?
Short nose and the "spoiler" was no more than an diverter to force the air out to the sides.
Quote from: roddster on December 28, 2021, 03:58:55 PM
The GT 40 in reply #61:
What is that object on the right rear fender between the"horseshoe" sticker?
It is a large night time identification light. They were installed in the right or left rear fender (depending upon track/pit configuration). Sourced from WWII aircraft. Lens color varied per chassis/race.
Does anyone have the second page of the transporter add.
http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/204-281219101356.jpeg