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Topic starter
21/07/2024 11:49 am
Bruce McLaren's X-1 roadster was sent to Ford's Kar Kraft Division in Detroit to be converted to GT40 Mkll specs and was given to Shelby American, Ford's de facto factory team to test, practice and qualify for the 1966 12 Hours of Sebring along with the blue #2 coupe. Originally fitted with an automatic transmission, it was found incapable of handling the brute power of the 427 so it was replaced with the standard manual. Lighter than the coupe, the roadster could take on any comer. Early on, Miles was ordered to draft the Ferrari 330P4 for most of the race. Gurney's #2 coupe had trouble at the start but soon also passed the Ferrari. As the race came near the end, Mile was suddenly told to back off and let Gurney finish first. The fates intervened as the #2's engine seized 1/4 mile from the finish. As the car was being pushed to the finish, Mile's roadster came roaring by to take the overall win in its first and only race.
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21/07/2024 3:14 pm
An amazingly detailed model with quite a history ! Who does this beauty ?
John Kuvakas reacted
22/07/2024 11:17 am
Exoto (who else?)
Didn't they offer "dirty" versions of these? I'm not sure I've ever seen "clean" ones, like yours.  🤔 🤔 🤨Â
Rich Sufficool reacted
23/07/2024 12:43 am
It was interesting to me that Exoto made this model with the lights uncovered but the #2 Gurney car with headlight taped. For fun I switched the look between the two.
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Part of the reason I did this because I was not happy with the tape job Exoto did on the #2 car which I think looks so much better 'clean'
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Rich Sufficool and Christopher Moroni reacted
23/07/2024 1:06 am
Exoto did on the #2 car which I think looks so much better 'clean'
I agree, nice work Frank.
23/07/2024 9:27 am
To add to the story of this car after the Sebring win the track is so rough the car was to be shipped to Holman/Moody for a complete rebuild, however United States Customs came knocking on Shelby American's door and told Carrol Shelby that the car either had to be returned to England or Shelby could pay the import taxes on the car and keep it. Carrol Shelby told the shop to cut up the car, well that was a mistake as there had to be customs agents on site to witness the destroying of the car, so Shelby had the shop weld the car back together and had customs agents watch the Shelby employees cut the car up. It is said Shelby American buried the car and an apparent building was build on top of where the car was buried. This car no longer exists and has not existed since 1966 after Shelby American destroyed the car to avoid having to pay the customs import taxes. The car was allowed to enter America for the Sebring race only without paying the customs import taxes.Â
There is a car that is being falsely claimed to be this car, the owner claims he has the original firewall so that allows him to claim his car is the original, but I don't buy the owners claims.Â
Another little known fact is the year the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupes won the FIA world championship Alan Mann was the one in charge of the European effort for Shelby and after the season was over Alan Mann asked Shelby what he wanted done with the Cobra Daytona Coupes and Shelby told Alan Mann to take them out to sea and dump them in the ocean, Alan Mann just could not bring himself to do that and paid to have the Cobra Daytona Coupes shipped back to Shelby American out of his own pocket.Â
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This post was modified 2 years ago by john3976
Rich Sufficool reacted