There have, however, been two considerable changes in that the engine and gearbox are new. As installed in the GT40 model 380 bhp is realised at 6500 rpm with 330 lb ft torque at 5500 rpm. To meet these demands the Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshaven have designed and supplied gearboxes which are an almost miraculous combination of compactness and load carrying capacity. The gear case is only 21.0 ins long and the complete weight of the transmission, including the transaxle a mere 127 lb. And this for over 10 hours.
Experiments are continuous with wheels, tyres and shape.
In respect of the first, the cars will run at Le Mans with cast spoke alloy wheels but no fixed decision has yet been made about the tyres mounted upon them. The nose shape of the Ford GT40 is somewhat compromised by the forward mounting of the spare wheel which, at Le Mans, must be removed and replaced during the pit stop. The 4.72 litre engine has a wet sump and for racing purposes on some circuits the oil is circulated through a heat exchanger mounted in the tail. Provision is also made for circulating the gearbox oil from the pump normally fitted through an additional tail mounted heat exchanger. The present purpose of Ford Advanced Vehicles is to explore within relatively limited means the problems peculiar to high speed motoring.