EX-YAMAHA GT40 AT LAGUNA SECA
The ex-Yamaha Motors competition Ford GT40 (chassis no P/1077) returned to the track at Laguna Seca earlier this month.
The car was built as a sister car to the Gulf GT40s and its specification includes a lighter-gauge steel monocoque, lightweight fibreglass panels, Le Mans specification brakes and the famous Gurney-Weslake 289 Ford V8 engine.
Originally purchased by Yamaha in April 1968 for test and evaluation purposes, it was not raced by the factory. Following Yamaha's tests with the car, it was sold to a privateer Japanese team who competed with it in two races at the Suzuka circuit in 1970, where it finished in second and fourth places respectively.
The car then remained in a private Japanese collection for many years before being acquired at the RM Auction in Florida in 1999.
Following a comprehensive rebuild carried out by Lynx Motors International, the car ran for the first time at the Laguna Seca raceway.
Due to the car's limited accident-free life in competition, it is considered by many to be the most original surviving full competition GT40 in existence.
For further information, please contact
John Mayston-Taylor at Lynx or see Calendar of Events.
23 August 2000
