Maserati Speaks Fondly of the Ford GT

[AZSTAD]

"Maserati Monthly: Communique" Newsletter has an interesting article comparing the GranTurismo to several other supercars - one being the Ford GT.

Here's a link:
http://www.maseratiamerica.com/Mase...B.aspx?clickthru=1&PIN=ZZVJ017054&rid=3087934

GT Photos are below. Here's what they wrote specifically about the GT:

"The curvaceous Ford GT was first up on the menu, and it is everything one craves in an all-out supercar. It is visceral and exciting, if a little scary because there are no electronic driver aids. None. And it has 550bhp from its supercharged V8. Reaction to all inputs is instantaneous and the throttle mimics a velvet hammer to the small of the back while the low race-tuned suspension packs some astonishing grip on twisty roads. One thing unique to the Ford was its genuine manual gearbox and clutch pedal, a heavy but fast unit. It is incredibly good fun, but not a relaxing car, and definitely one to give great respect to. The homage to Ford's GT40 is itself essentially a track car, and the spartan but purposeful interior suggests that, especially in contrast with the luxury of a Maserati."

 

[HHGT]

GR8 Post. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RALPHIE]

God, I love Maseratis!!

Here's one I worked on in 1961...

 

[nthfinity]

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138016470&postcount=339

part of an event in Southern Indiana.... amazing venue, and a few familiar cars

 

[nthfinity]

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138016470&postcount=339

part of an event in Southern Indiana.... amazing venue, and a few familiar cars

 

[skyrex]

Johnny Drama was nice enough to spare the new Maserati the wrath of his golf club during the new episode of Entourage on Sunday. Took his vengeance on a Mercedes windshield instead. :lol

That show is one of my guilty pleasures. :thumbsup

 

[FLY GT40]

God, I love Maseratis!!

Here's one I worked on in 1961...

Ralphie
nice pic, looks like the the bird cage at indy. please share the story behind the "worked on in 61":thumbsup
FLY GT40.

 

[RALPHIE]

Ralphie
nice pic, looks like the the bird cage at indy. please share the story behind the "worked on in 61":thumbsup
FLY GT40.

Correct :thumbsup. It is the birdcage (S/N 2469) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum. It is the car that won the Los Angeles Times Grand Prix for Sports Cars on October 16, 1960 with Billy Krause at the helm - I used to love to watch him in a big Maserati 450S prior to that race. At that race, I crewed for J. Frank Harrison's (Chattanooga Glass Company) two birdcages driven by Jim Jeffords (S/N 2451 - finished 4th) and Carroll Shelby (yeah, the same - S/N 2467 - finished 5th). The car was brand new prior to the Riverside race, as was our Shelby 'cage, 2467.

At the end of 1960, Maserati Associates of Beverly Hills sold 2469 to Chuck Sargent of Modesto, CA who campaigned it at local races and the USRRC Championship races at Indianapolis, Continental Divide, Riverside and Laguna Seca. At Riverside during practice on Friday, October 13, 1961, Chuck saw the oil pressure go to zero and shut down the engine quickly. They then found that, when having the external oil tank welded, the welder had left a rag inside the tank which blocked the pipeline to the oil pump. I had been roaming the paddock that afternoon, found out about his situation, and offerred my services. We pulled the engine that night, tore it down for a complete inspection (fortunately, nothing had been damaged other than one of the rod bolts had broken upon disassembly, which we replaced), reassembled and reinstalled the engine in time for the qualifying race on Sunday morning. While leading the qualifier, a car being passed veered in front of Chuck, and he spun it into a hill on the inside of the esses (turn 3, I think), so we didn't make the main event.

A man named Dick Blair owned it in 1963, but I don't have any history on the car from 1961 to 1968, when it came to reside at the Speedway Museum.

 

[AlohaGT]

Thanks for the post, AZSTAD.

 

[pauleddy]

Ralph:
Great pic's!
Tell us about the LM in the back of the shot? A rare and fantastic Ferrari...

 

[FLY GT40]

Ralphie
thanks for sharing sounds like great times.
FLY GT40