1967 FORD GT J-4
MK IV RACING COUPE
Details & History
The first J-Car, with a lightened chassis and fiberglass body, was completed in March of 1966, and it made its first public appearance at the Le Mans Trials where it recorded the fastest time. The J-Car project was put on hold while development concentrated on the GT40 Mark II, but after Ford’s 1-2-3 win at LeMans in 1966, Ford revived the J-Car program to compete against Ferrari’s 330 P4. Chassis J-4 was prepared by Ford engineers and Shelby American with a new body, incorporating a longer front nose, a Can Am-style tail section and a new roof line with a rear window. During this transformation the J-Cars officially became known as the Ford GT MK IV.
The MK IVs were powered by the 427 Ford V8 which produced 550 hp and could propel the 2,250 lb. car to over 230 mph on the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans. The J-Cars and the MK IVs used a space age honeycomb aluminum tub (for the first time ever in a race car) for higher rigidity and lower weight. A total of two J-Cars and six Ford GT MK IVs were completed in 1967.
This MK IV debuted at Sebring in April of 1967, where it led from the start and took victory with Bruce McLaren and Mario Andretti behind the wheel. Four MK IVs were entered for the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1967, and that race was won by J-5 driven by Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt. J-4 had been kept in the United States and was used for testing at Daytona before being put into storage. It was sold to the first of several private owners in 1970.
On loan from the Miller Family Automobile Foundation.
Race History
DATE: 4/1/67
TRACK: Sebring
PLACE: 1st Place
DRIVER: Mario Andretti / Bruce McLaren