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THE
BESPOKE CAR. The thing to keep in mind is that the Ford
GT40 is something very, very special in the way of cars.
So special, in fact, that you need to be measured for
it, just as a tailor measures you for a bespoke suit.
If you absolutely insist, of course, you can
have one off the peg, but it would be rather like ordering
something from Savile Row through a mail-order catalogue.
Far
wiser and better to do the thing properly, and go along
for a personal fitting. After all, when you are buying
one of the sleekest, swiftest, most powerful machines
ever to come onto the market, you want to be sure - and
Ford wants to be sure - that it's tailored exactly right.
Only a personal visit can guarantee this.
Unless
you have just dropped in from the far side of the moon,
it will be unnecessary to point out that this is the
car which created a sensation when it came in 1st, 2nd
and 3rd in the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hour Race.
Naturally,
the 'domestic' version has had to be de-tuned, because
the Le Mans machine was race-bred, and would be altogether
too formidable for anywhere outside a race circuit.
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Special
exhaust silencers have been developed, and softer brake
linings incorporated. There has also been a 25 per cent
reduction of the shock absorbers' stiffness.
But
the overall performance figures still speak volumes. Output
is a very smooth 335 bhp at 6250 rpm, which gives a top
speed of 164 mph and maximum gear speeds of:
|
1st..........58 mph |
2nd
..........90mph |
| 3rd..........127
mph |
4th..........142
mph |
|
Top..........164
mph
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SPACE-AGE
LINES. Externally, the road version of the GT looks
little different from its Le Mans sister. It is just
40 inches high, and driver and passenger sit in a semi-reclining
position, following modern practice in all racing and
the best Grand Touring cars.
Headlights
are enclosed within the bodywork, and perspex covers
retain the sleek, space-age lines.
Inside,
nothing has been spared in the way of comfort and convenience
for driver and passenger. Standard upholstery is black,
and the floor and door sills are covered with deep carpet
and thick underlay. |
As
one would expect with such a power unit, there is a
comprehensive range of instruments, all angled towards
the driver's eye. There is also a special windscreen
wiper which was developed to operate at speeds of up
to 200 mph on the racing GT.
Aeroflow,
the unique Ford ventilation system is standard equipment,
as is a thermostatically controlled radiator fan, a
heater/demister and an engine compartment light.
PERSONAL
CHOICE. When you go for your personal fitting, among
other things the engineers will discuss with you will
be the rear axle ratios and the gear ratios. You can
choose your own from a wide range.
And
the body colour? With 150 to choose from, you should
be able to find what you want.
The
tyres are specially made by Goodyear and incorporate
all the lessons this famous company has learned in its
highly successful racing programme.
There
are two aircraft-patterned fuel cells with a combined
capacity of 31 gallons. Fuel is delivered to the carburettors
by a heavy-duty Stewart-Warner electric pump.
A
special two-plate clutch and flywheel complete the transformation
from a truly formidable track champion to a smooth,
luxurious road car which is equally at home in city
streets or on high-speed motorways.
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