In December of ’65, Ford sent down an order for McLaren to return the car. Kar Kraft received GT/110 and immediately undertook preparation of the racer for Shelby American. This included strengthening the chassis to 1966 specification and incorporating a rollover bar into the roadster bodywork that was now updated to the new Mk II shape. With a fresh coat of red paint, the Mk II Roadster was a stunner!

One competitor was working hard on employing an automatic transmission in their race cars, and they were winning races with it. The lightweight Mk II Roadster was initially used as a test mule for a Ford automatic transmission. After breaking a series of torque converter transmissions, Shelby decided to stick with the standard ‘box, and in this form the lovely red Roadster went on to win the 1966 Sebring 12 Hours; it’s first and last race.

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Dick Thompson, who was originally paired with Graham Hill, collided with a slower car during practice and, due to the unique politics surrounding Le Mans, found himself disqualified as a result! On the morning of the race, Brian Muir arrived from England and was given a couple laps to get familiar with the car and the track, neither of which he had ever experienced before!

Graham Hill was charged with the first driving stint. Following the traditional sprint across the track, the Essex Wire GT40 was first away, but by the Dunlop bridge Hill had taken the lead from his sixth place starting position! Gurney and Bucknum were in tow, and at the end of the first hour Hill was stationed in the second of the three leading Mk IIs. The race continued well for Hill and Muir, but shortly after midnight a broken front suspension upright – later determined to have resulted from the collision during practice – ended their efforts.

The post 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours | Graham Hill, Brian Muir | Alan Mann Racing appeared first on Exoto.

The radiance of the golden sun over Suzuka, Japan’s most famous race circuit, has been captured in the new Standox Exclusive Line special effect paint.

At first glance, the new paint radiates the color of pure gold. A closer inspection soon reveals the many facets of the golden sun. One moment it dazzles like the silvery light of the midday sun, and the next moment “Suzuka Sun” deepens into the reddish gold of the sunset before displaying a hint of rare and precious greenish gold. All depending, of course, on the angle of view and the brightness. Standox has achieved this fascinating interpretation of the sun’s golden hue by using special pigments. The new paint’s iridescent effect is the result of light reflection.

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