GT40

[lifes2short]

It’s only money that the bloody kids will get, so go f..k em all!

who gets the motors then, my kids already wanting the the cars included in the will

 

[midlifecrisis]

Cheers Brian. My reasoning in my silly petrolhead way was that if I don’t do it now I’ll either be too old and fat to get in it, or too scared to drive it or it will be banned from the roads by the Government. It’s only money that the bloody kids will get, so go f..k em all!

My dad turned to me years ago and said 'you can forget any inheritence, I'm spending it!'... He was right.

 

[lifes2short]

roy lunn had a good innings

 

[GeoffCapes]

That’s why I’m staying around here! One of the best forums I’ve come across and I enjoy the participation and banter on here with like minded car mad idiots that let heart rule head far too often!

The GC was my first Maser but it won’t be my last. I would have kept the GC as it’s lovely and I’ve put time, effort and money into it in the 2 years I’ve owned it. Its just that I really don’t have enough garage space in the U.K. at the moment and taking cars down to my French properties just isn’t possible with COVID. The GT40 really belongs at my Le Mans place at La Chartre it’s spiritual home, and I really hope things relax so I can take it to this years 24H and Classic.... we shall see

There are so many cars I want to try, but Maserati keeps pulling me back.

I've never bought the same car twice, but my inner self can justify a GTS Sport Shift as a different car to an MC Shift. Even though it looks the same.
Somehow.... probably because I've let it!

 

[Corranga]

What a wonderful machine!

 

[Motorsport3]

It’s coming end of the month. Just need to go and signoff final spec and pay the balance.... ouch. A quick photo of it I’ve got.... classic US racing colours and painted in 1968 era-correct cellulose so it looks right, not modern 2 pack paint that is too glossy.

Will be Maserless from tomorrow but already feeling withdrawal symptoms and living near the north Norfolk coast with spring coming I think I need a cheap Italian convertible in the stable. I’m thinking Fiat Barchetta or Alfa Spider. View attachment 81366View attachment 81367View attachment 81368

A spider from the early 90s (s4) would be great for summer and a keeper.

May I ask a few practical considerations?
This is road registered and taxed ? Do you need to homologation it's? Do you need special insurance cover?

 

[Doctor Houx]

A spider from the early 90s (s4) would be great for summer and a keeper.

May I ask a few practical considerations?
This is road registered and taxed ? Do you need to homologation it's? Do you need special insurance cover?

Yes, that sort of wedge Spider is a good call.

Yes it’s fully road legal and classed as old PLG class as 1968 F reg as that is the right year for the 1968 car it’s a copy of. VED is about £260. It’s fully IVA approved but not race homologated as yet.

Limited mileage agreed value insurance is not too expensive as it will do very low miles and I’ve added it to my group policy inc the DB4 and Vanquish with Lockton.

 

[Bebs]

Always liked the Alfa spiders, agree S4 a good call. I’ve been tempted several times myself as we prefer LHD in our household.

 

[jonny]

Drool. Love the colours Doc (surprising, but they 100% work).

 

[conaero]

Do it!

 

[Doctor Houx]

Just done my first proper drive in the 40 since getting it and having a dry sunny day with all the salt on the roads gone. Chickened out at 110 which is 3,500 rpm in 5th, so with the red line starting at 5,500 that makes it about 170+.

The wind roar at 110 drowns out all conversationand most of the induction noise and it’s very full on. How they did 200 in the dark and wet with the race engines able to rev to 7,000 make you realise how mad and brave they were with huge Cahunas ⚽️

Just like a bike, it demands 100% concentration 100% of the time. The steering is very connected, but not a great turning circle. Brakes are great with no fade and not having to haul up much weight so pretty sharp. Similarly it’s also pretty stable and not too light at the front but you can feel it as the speed rises and the front goes light as the air gets under the front clam. You can see it under pressure so good job those dzus fasteners were on tight. It’s the wind noise that is the most disconcerting. Gearbox is notchy as you expect from a long rod change and you have to be VERY careful to get 5th not 3rd when changing up.

All in all a raw experience, just what I was looking for as an antidote to modern machinery that does it all for you. As I sat there today surrounded by a flimsy bit of glassfibre with my legs protruding forward, no airbags, ABS, traction control or any other safety aid in an unfamiliar car being properly extended for the first time and wondering if I did wire those knock ons properly and do up the catches holding the front clam in place .....

it felt so good to feel the adrenaline pump after months of lockdown ****. Oh it’s good to be alive on a day like today

 

[Doctor Houx]

Needs a billet aluminum handbrake as that one looks like it's from a 90's Transit.
Beautiful otherwise.

Did that Phil! Not quite billet aluminium as originals were black, but got a leather gaiter and ally surround as you can see from the new interior shot.

 

[dgmx5]

I've never bought the same car twice, but my inner self can justify a GTS Sport Shift as a different car to an MC Shift. Even though it looks the same.
Somehow.... probably because I've let it!

I bought back to back Fiat Puntos... well actually 55S and 60SX as I wanted the extravagance of central locking and electric windows and the extra 5hp to help get up the A2 heading to Canterbury without having to resort to dropping into 3rd gear.

Oh I was living the dream in the late 90s.

 

[Hurricane52]

Just done my first proper drive in the 40 since getting it and having a dry sunny day with all the salt on the roads gone. Chickened out at 110 which is 3,500 rpm in 5th, so with the red line starting at 5,500 that makes it about 170+.

The wind roar at 110 drowns out all conversationand most of the induction noise and it’s very full on. How they did 200 in the dark and wet with the race engines able to rev to 7,000 make you realise how mad and brave they were with huge Cahunas ⚽️

Just like a bike, it demands 100% concentration 100% of the time. The steering is very connected, but not a great turning circle. Brakes are great with no fade and not having to haul up much weight so pretty sharp. Similarly it’s also pretty stable and not too light at the front but you can feel it as the speed rises and the front goes light as the air gets under the front clam. You can see it under pressure so good job those dzus fasteners were on tight. It’s the wind noise that is the most disconcerting. Gearbox is notchy as you expect from a long rod change and you have to be VERY careful to get 5th not 3rd when changing up.

All in all a raw experience, just what I was looking for as an antidote to modern machinery that does it all for you. As I sat there today surrounded by a flimsy bit of glassfibre with my legs protruding forward, no airbags, ABS, traction control or any other safety aid in an unfamiliar car being properly extended for the first time and wondering if I did wire those knock ons properly and do up the catches holding the front clam in place .....

it felt so good to feel the adrenaline pump after months of lockdown ****. Oh it’s good to be alive on a day like today

View attachment 84357View attachment 84358View attachment 84359View attachment 84360

Lovely car. Did it take long to get used to the right hand gear change?

 

[MarkMas]

I bought back to back Fiat Puntos... well actually 55S and 60SX as I wanted the extravagance of central locking and electric windows and the extra 5hp to help get up the A2 heading to Canterbury without having to resort to dropping into 3rd gear.

Oh I was living the dream in the late 90s.

I bought two sequential Jaguar X-Types; both 3.0 AWD but first was a green saloon and second a silver estate. Lovely cars.

 

[Doctor Houx]

Lovely car. Did it take long to get used to the right hand gear change?

For me it wasn’t at all unusual as I live part of the time in France and used to LHD with the stick on the right. I believe this is why the 40s have this so it felt familiar to the American drivers.

The actual gearchange is another matter however. Just driving a manual when everything else is paddles or full auto took some adjustment and you have to be so careful with 3rd to 5th, as it’s notchy as a long rod mechanism to the Transaxle and there is no spring to the 3rd/4th plane so you have to guide it and double declutch. Proper driving!

 

[Oneball]

For me it wasn’t at all unusual as I live part of the time in France and used to LHD with the stick in the right. I believe this is why the 40s have this so it felt familiar to the American drivers.

The actual gearchange is another matter however. Just driving a manual when everything else is paddles or full auto took some adjustment and you have to be so careful with 3rd to 5th, as it’s notchy as a long rod mechanism to the Transaxle and there is no spring to the 3rd/4th plane so you have to guide it and double declutch. Proper driving!

Right hand gear change is pretty standard for single seaters of the period, incl Ferrari. Putting the gear change on the outside in a GT/prototype also does away with having to get it through the engine and the input to Hewlands is usually right hand side. Most mid engined GTs and prototypes have it on the outside.

 

[Oishi]

As I have posted in the past, I grew up in Charlotte, and as a teenager hung out at the Holman Moody shop at the airport. I actually got to drive one of the originals when it was in for some freshening up. Your car is probably the ultimate driving machine. Well done.

 

[philw696]

For me it wasn’t at all unusual as I live part of the time in France and used to LHD with the stick in the right. I believe this is why the 40s have this so it felt familiar to the American drivers.

The actual gearchange is another matter however. Just driving a manual when everything else is paddles or full auto took some adjustment and you have to be so careful with 3rd to 5th, as it’s notchy as a long rod mechanism to the Transaxle and there is no spring to the 3rd/4th plane so you have to guide it and double declutch. Proper driving!

You tried a Renault 4 yet here in France ?
That will sharpen you up

 

[CatmanV2]

Sounds fab!

C