VIN: the Alan Mann Racing / Malcolm Guthrie Ford GT40 Mk1 chassis P/1009A

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HISTORY OF CHASSIS P/1009A

Chassis P/1009A was a lightweight GT40 tub constructed in 1969 by John Wyer Automotive Engineering (JWAE).

The JWAE organisation in England (which started life as Ford Advanced Vehicles) had acquired the GT40 rights in late 1966 after Ford decided to switch focus to the all-American Mk4.

JWAE supplied P/1009A to Alan Mann Racing (AMR) on behalf of Malcolm Guthrie who had heavily crashed his other GT40 (chassis P/1009) at the Kyalami 9 Hours in November 1968. Rather than have P/1009 repaired, Guthrie elected to purchase a brand new lightweight tub which AMR built up in time for its debut at the 1969 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Malcolm Guthrie was the grandson of financier, Sir Connop Guthrie, and the son of Sir Giles Guthrie, an aviator and merchant banker. In 1968, Malcolm Guthrie had taken up Formula 3 motor racing with a Frank Williams-run Brabham. That year, he also purchased a Lamborghini Miura which was followed by his first GT40 a few months later.

Chassis P/1009A appeared at the 1969 Le Mans as an Alan Mann Racing entry where it was driven by Guthrie and AMR-contracted Frank Gardner.

The grey and maroon car was powered by a 465bhp five-litre all-steel Holman Moody engine with Gurney heads and Tecalemit fuel-injection. Many suspension parts from the Mk2 GT40 were incorporated as well as Kelsey Hayes 1.25-inch ventilated disc brakes instead of the usual Girling items.

Grid positions were dictated by engine size which meant P/1009A started ninth.

Unfortunately, the opening lap was marred by the fiery death of John Woolfe who crashed his brand new Porsche 917 on the approach to White House. Gardner was caught up in the melee and, having run over much burning fuel, P/1009A briefly caught fire. Luckily the flames extinguished themselves within a few corners.

After the wreckage from Woolfe’s crash was cleared the race re-started.

Soon after, Gardner was motoring down the Mulsanne Straight when he felt a driveshaft doughnut let go. He made it back to the pits where a new doughnut was fitted after a lengthy stop.

Following another breakage during the sixth hour, the team decided to call it a day; the same problem had occurred in practice which led to the belief they had been supplied with a faulty batch.

Thereafter, P/1009A raced as a Malcolm Guthrie entry for the remainder of its career.

During the rest of the ‘69 season, Guthrie most notably picked up a couple of good results during the end-of-year Springbok series. He and Paddy Driver finished third overall at the Cape Town 3 Hours, sixth overall at the Lourenco Marques 3 Hours and fourth overall at the Bulawayo 3 Hours. In P/1009A’s final competitive outing, Guthrie and Driver finished 13th overall at the Pietermaritzburg 3 Hours.

Upon its return from Africa, P/1009A was rebuilt as road car.

In 1971 it was sold to New Yorker, Gil Jackson. Jackson also acquired chassis P/1085 around the same time and had the two cars shipped across the Atlantic together. He is understood to have owned both GT40s ever since.

Notable History

Grey with Maroon stripe

15/06/1969 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (F. Gardner / M. Guthrie) DNF (#9)
29/06/1969 IND Norisring 200 mile (M. Guthrie) DNF (#10)
13/07/1969 IND Hockenheim Solituderennen (M. Guthrie) 10th oa, 2nd S5.0 class (#22)
16/08/1969 IND Oulton Park Gold Cup Oulton Park (M. Guthrie) DNS (#??)
08/11/1969 SPR Kyalami 9 Hours (M. Guthrie / P. Driver) DNF (#8)
22/11/1969 SPR Cape Town 3 Hours (M. Guthrie / P. Driver) 3rd oa, 3rd 2.0+ class (#8)
05/12/1969 SPR Lourenco Marques 3 Hours (M. Guthrie / P. Driver) 6th oa, 5th 2.0+ class (#8)
13/12/1969 SPR Bulawayo 3 Hours (M. Guthrie / P. Driver) 4th oa, 3rd 2.0+ class (#8)
27/12/1969 SPR Pietermaritzburg 3 Hours (M. Guthrie / P. Driver) 13th oa, 2nd 2.0+ class (#8)

Rebuilt as road car

1971 sold to Gil Jackson, New York

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed