EX-YAMAHA GT40 DISPLAYED AT PEBBLE BEACH
The extremely original ex-Yahama Ford GT40 (chassis No P/1077) was joined by six other highly significant GT40s in a special display at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which took place on Sunday 17 August 2003. The unique display of GT40s celebrated the Ford Motor Company’s Centenary and represented one example of each of the various body styles. One of the other GT40s on display was a sister car to 1077, and one of the Gulf-livered cars which took part in the famous 24 Le Mans race.
1077 was originally built as a sister car to the Gulf team
cars and sharing their specification, the car was purchased new in 1968 by
Yahama Motor Company for testing and evaluation purposes in Japan; and was raced
twice at Suzuka in 1970, before being retired and joining a significant private
Japanese collection for many years.
GT40P/1077 returned to England in 1999, where it was
rebuilt and prepared for competition by Lynx Motors International. It has since
competed in the Whitsun Trophy races at the Goodwood Revival Meetings in 2001
and 2002.
Due to brief time as a test and development car for Yamaha
and its cosseted life following its initial two races, 1077 remains one of the
most original GT0s in existence. It retains its 289 small block V8 engine with
Gurney Weslake heads, Le Mans-specification brakes, larger-width wheels, lighter
gauge steel monocoque and lightweight glass fibre body panels. The car is
finished in its original colours of Ford Buttercup yellow with a white stripe
and black edging.
1077 is returning directly from Pebble Beach to compete in
this year’s Goodwood Revival Meeting to be held on 5-7 September, where it
will be driven by Lynx Chairman, John Mayston-Taylor.
For further
information,
please see the article on
GT40P/1077 in our
Press Articles section,
or
contact John
Mayston-Taylor.
18 August 2003
