REALLY IMPRESSIVE!
Specially I enjoy to focus on the evolution of the bodywork, at least, the visible aerodynamics.
I did not know about "light weight roof" cars. Do you mean that the roof was make with a different spec?
Talking about the migration from MkI to MkII, let me refresh a text taken from a sports car magazine several years ago:
MkI had 256 ci, 350 CV at 7200 rpm, later migrated to 287 ci, rather heavier but 13% more couple.
MkII: It was a problem when someone suggested to use the 427 ci motors. These engines were modified to last 24 hours endurance, rated to "only" 485 CV at 6200 rpm. There were a lot of internal complaints and doubts, however everybody changed mind when they estimaded they could race 24 hours running only at 6000 rpm.
On the other hand, the new motor weighted additional 300 kg, so the car had to be designed again, almost from the start, even in the aerodymanics, because the car would reach 330 kph easyly, and nobody knew what could happen at such speeds.
Finally, does anybody heard of the Mercury GT40?
When I started doing a bit more digging in to GT40 variants, apart from slight aero differences, I was surprised at how many engine variants there were. These are what I have in my collection:
64 Ford GT40 255ci/4181cc Ginther Le Mans
64 Ford GT40 Mk1 Prototype Schlesser Le Mans Test
64 Ford GT40 Mk1 Prototype n/a n/a
65 Ford GT40 325ci/5300cc Bondurant Le Mans
65 Ford GT40 289ci/4727cc Whitmore Le Mans
65 Ford GT40 Mk1 Spider 289ci/4727cc Bondurant Targa Florio
65 Ford GT40 MkII Long Nose Rear Fins 427ci Miles Le Mans
66 Ford AMR2 Hill/Stewart Sebring 12hr
66 Ford GT40 MkII 427ci Mclaran Le Mans
66 Ford GT40 MKII experimental lightweight 427ci/6982cc Hill Le Mans
66 Ford GT40 X-1 Roadster 7010cc Miles/Ruby Sebring 12hr
66 Ford J Mclaren Le Mans
67 Ford GT40 Mk IIB 427ci/7000cc Schlesser/Ligier Reims 12hr
67 Ford GT40 Mk1 Spider 289ci/4727cc (with hardtop) Sutcliffe Spa 1000KM
67 Ford GT40 MkIV 6980cc Foyt Le Mans
67 Mirage M1 351ci/5700cc Ickx/Thompson Spa 1000KM
68 Ford GT40 302ci/4942cc Rodriguez Le Mans
68 Ford GT40 4736cc lightweight panels Salmon/Liddell Le Mans
69 Ford GT40 302ci/4942cc Ickx Le Mans
