GT40 mystery boxes

[Speedfreak]

Here is a shot from the instructions of the Fujimi GT40 MKII ('66 Le Mans 2nd winner) kit. The two large boxes that sit between the rear tires and the transaxle (one on each side), what are those? The restored version of the #5 car does not have them present, what's the deal? 

 

 

 

[Phirewriter]

Race cars at the 24hr Lemans were/are required to have provisions for luggage. Those were deemed big enough for a pair of suitcases, although placement dictated you probably didn't want to pack anything that would melt.?

[Speedfreak]

Ya, it might get pretty warm back there!

[Ace-Garageguy]

5 minutes ago, Phirewriter said:

Race cars at the 24hr Lemans were/are required to have provisions for luggage. Those were deemed big enough for a pair of suitcases, although placement dictated you probably didn't want to pack anything that would melt.?

Exactly.        

 

[afx]

On the GT40 MkI the luggage rack was directly above the exhaust, even hotter! ☺️

 

[GLMFAA1]

They were for luggage

http://gt40.rkmotorscharlotte.com/

good reference pictures and story

greg

[Speedfreak]

13 minutes ago, afx said:

On the GT40 MkI the luggage rack was directly above the exhaust, even hotter! ☺️

 

Wow! Let's go for a weekend cruise honey!

[Richard Bartrop]

The original idea back in the 1920s was to encourage race cars that had some relevance to production cars, but of course, things kind of mutated.  Interesting to compare this with what's been happening with NASCAR.

[Speedfreak]

So it appears that fabricators/restorers and modelers alike have distain for these boxes as the #5 car from '66 Le Mans that was restored (to '66 specs?) and sold by Sotheby's for almost 10 million back in March 2018 does not have these boxes! Hello? Or, is it possible that the #5 car ( a Holman/Moody prepped car) for some reason was 'not' required to have them? That seems unlikely.

The reason modelers don't like them is because it makes fitment of body to chassis difficult in final assembly. 

Edited October 1, 2019 by Speedfreak
Info update/correct spelling

[Jhedir6]

35 minutes ago, Speedfreak said:

So it appears that fabricators/restorers and modelers alike have distain for these boxes as the #5 car from '66 Le Mans that was restored (to '66 specs?) and sold by Sotheby's for almost 10 million back in March 2018 does not have these boxes! Hello? Or, is it possible that the #5 car ( a Holeman/Moody prepped car) for some reason was 'not' required to have them? That seems unlikely.

The reason modelers don't like them is because it makes fitment of body to chassis difficult in final assembly. 

My guess would be they removed them after Le Mans but years before the restoration. The Holeman car would of had to have had some kind of storage somewhere as those were the regulations at the time for Le Mans. If you research the history of the car, likely at some point after '66 Le Mans they were removed as they weren't required anymore, ie Sebring or Daytona or where ever else it may have raced.

[sfhess]

Holeman?????

[RancheroSteve]

The required suitcase is also the reason for those sharp edged corners on the trunk of an FIA 289 Cobra:

[Phirewriter]

Or... could be used as a warmer for your very expensive pizza delivery vehicle.

[Speedfreak]

Luggage has always been a prime motivator in competitive automotive design.

[Lizard Racing]

This topic really brings back memories.  Chaparral 2F carried its "luggage" in the front fenders.  The door is barely visible in the photo.  These two compartments conveniently also functioned as plenum chambers for cooling air to the front brakes.  In the day, cars were turned down at tech inspection or modified (sawing away roll bar brace) to accommodate "luggage space."

[boss 302 mustang]

The suitcase  was not a LeMans-specific requirement but actually a FIA requirement for all FIA races.

Edited October 2, 2019 by boss 302 mustang
typo

[Gramps46]

Back to the original topic and the #5 P1016 as restored versus raced.  Here it is at the 1966 Le Mans as stated above.

But they seem to have disappeared when in storage at Holman Moody.

 

[Jim in Falls]

"GT" stands for Grand Touring - a Grand Touring car had to have seats for two and enough luggage space for a grand tour (like an overnight trip). In those cars it would be a fast tour - probably get a speeding ticket or two.

[The Junkman]

And then you add a bit of "out of the box" thinking.  Chapparal 2d Daytona 1967

[Bugatti Fan]

If you want to see a big bucks multi medium GT40 kit that is in preparations a look at Creative Miniature Associates website.

[Pete J.]

Lots of weird rules for these races.  Luggage was just one of them.  They also had to have a spare tire.  Can you imagine a car stopped along the Mulsanne straight with the driver changing a tire?  Also the passenger seat was pretty rudimentary as few people ever had the courage to sit there in a race. The FIA did control the rules but there were plenty of other races that the GT40 competed in that were governed by other bodies such as Daytona, so the luggage boxes were removable.  Also the spare tire was not always required, in which case Holman Moody had an oil tank with a site gauge that mounted in the same place.  

[gzuckier]

So.... to sort of resemble real civilian cars they had to carry a spare wheel and tire.... but no jack? Or even a lug wrench (or mallet for the knock offs)?

Didn't think it through.

[Mattilacken]

The Toyota GT1 also had to apply for the luggage compartment rule but some how they managed to say that the fuel cell doubled as a luggage box according some sources. 

[Oldcarfan27]

On 3/18/2022 at 6:02 AM, Mattilacken said:

The Toyota GT1 also had to apply for the luggage compartment rule but some how they managed to say that the fuel cell doubled as a luggage box according some sources. 

Makes sense - as long as they didn't have to drive anywhere. 

[vamach1]

On 10/4/2019 at 12:45 PM, Bugatti Fan said:

If you want to see a big bucks multi medium GT40 kit that is in preparations a look at Creative Miniature Associates website.

Those pictures more than a  decade old and with the release of two 1/12 kits by Trumpeter and MENG I’m not sure many would fork over ten times the price of those kits for Marshall Bucks kit not matter how nice it is.  If he produced maybe fifty he might get the $1700 but IF they kit is ever produced I’m guess that price would go up another 50% due to cost of materials, etc.