1966 Ford GT40 (gold) car

[Mr mopar]

Did this use the suit cases in the back ? some photos show no cases was it  mandatory to have them ?

[935k3]

The cars that ran FIA races such as Lemans they were required. They were not required at Daytona

[Mr mopar]

7 hours ago, 935k3 said:

The cars that ran FIA races such as Lemans they were required. They were not required at Daytona

Ok thank you Dale that makes cents !

[Bill J]

Actually they were required and also at Daytona. In 1966 the Daytona 24 hour race was also sanctioned by the FIA and the same class rules applied. The cars were allowed to remove the suitcase boxes for practice. The boxes were in the way of some suspension and gearbox access and some engine work was easier without the boxes. For qualifying and the races, the boxes had to be in place. This also applied to Sebring. I am not sure what year they FIA rules were dropped at Daytona and Sebring but it was after 1970 for sure. 

This is the # 98 Daytona 24 winning car from 1966 and it clearly has the suitcase boxes.

I believe this no suitcase rumor began because of a How To write up  in  one of the modelling magazines.  I believe it was building a 1966 Daytona GT-40 MKII The information was incorrect and likely based on a few photos taken when boxes were removed for access during practice sessions.

Edited August 1, 2020 by Bill J

[Pete J.]

This and other rules of the time always tickled me!  Two other rules were the requirement for two seats and a spare tire.  Both great if you blow a tire going down the Mulsanne straight.  You could toss your riding mechanic out and have him change the tire.  ?

[afx]

As Bill J indicates Daytona and Sebring were part of the FIA World Sportscar Championship in 1966, therefore FIA rules applied - suit box cases would be required. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_World_Sportscar_Championship

Daytona & Sebring were also part of the Championship in 1967.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_World_Sportscar_Championship

Edited August 1, 2020 by afx

[Bill J]

14 hours ago, Pete J. said:

This and other rules of the time always tickled me!  Two other rules were the requirement for two seats and a spare tire.  Both great if you blow a tire going down the Mulsanne straight.  You could toss your riding mechanic out and have him change the tire.  ?

Pete, what you say makes sense from today's perspective but going back to the beginnings of the GT class and the Prototype classes, it makes more sense to have room for some luggage and another person. Incidentally, while at some point they stopped this, originally the spare tire and  jack made perfect sense, the driver was required to fix a flat anytime he had one. I would think it was very hazardous and the requirement was changed. The concept of the GT class was a "touring" car that a couple could pack some clothes and enjoy a road trip of several days or more. To be eligible for the GT class in FIA racing the car had to meet those requirements and also sell a defined number of cars for road use. In those days the "prototype" class had to meet the same requirements and the only variation is they had not met the sales of road versions. So you could build a few cars to race and not bother building any for sales to road users. Eventually the Prototype class has evolved into purpose build race cars that do not follow the GT class rules.

The reason a Ford GT-40 MKI was eligible for GT class by 1966 was because they had built and sold enough cars for road use. A few of those street versions  ended up as race cars. Ford never built many MKII or MKIIB versions and never produced a street version, so the MKII always was in the Prototype class. At the time, they had to meet the GT class requirements, except for road car sales. This was a very defining and golden era in sports car racing. 

[Bill J]

9 hours ago, afx said:

As Bill J indicates Daytona and Sebring were part of the FIA World Sportscar Championship in 1966, therefore FIA rules applied - suit box cases would be required. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_World_Sportscar_Championship

Daytona & Sebring were also part of the Championship in 1967.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_World_Sportscar_Championship

Thank you for the support JC

[Pete J.]

1 hour ago, Bill J said:

Pete, what you say makes sense from today's perspective but going back to the beginnings of the GT class and the Prototype classes, it makes more sense to have room for some luggage and another person. Incidentally, while at some point they stopped this, originally the spare tire and  jack made perfect sense, the driver was required to fix a flat anytime he had one. I would think it was very hazardous and the requirement was changed. The concept of the GT class was a "touring" car that a couple could pack some clothes and enjoy a road trip of several days or more. To be eligible for the GT class in FIA racing the car had to meet those requirements and also sell a defined number of cars for road use. In those days the "prototype" class had to meet the same requirements and the only variation is they had not met the sales of road versions. So you could build a few cars to race and not bother building any for sales to road users. Eventually the Prototype class has evolved into purpose build race cars that do not follow the GT class rules.

The reason a Ford GT-40 MKI was eligible for GT class by 1966 was because they had built and sold enough cars for road use. A few of those street versions  ended up as race cars. Ford never built many MKII or MKIIB versions and never produced a street version, so the MKII always was in the Prototype class. At the time, they had to meet the GT class requirements, except for road car sales. This was a very defining and golden era in sports car racing. 

Many of these rules are indeed anarchic carry overs from a prior time.  However the FIA sometimes used them to effect who could race.  More than once a team was disqualified for not meeting such rules when the sanctioning body did not like the team.  This was not limited to the FIA.  It has been a common tactic through out the history of racing.