VIN: the Comstock Racing Team Ford GT40 chassis P/1000
History of chassis P/1000
Chassis P/1000 was the first Mk1 GT40 tub produced. It initially served as Ford Advanced Vehicles’ basis for tailoring body panels for early GT40s.
As a result, P/1000 was not built up into a complete car until the winter of 1965-1966. During construction, most of the salvageable parts from P/1006 were used following that car’s crash during a test session at Monza.
The finished machine, painted white with dark green stripes, was sold (some sources suggest loaned) to the Comstock Racing Team run by Chuck Rathgeb in Toronto, Canada. For the ‘66 season, Comstock also took delivery of a second GT40 (P/1037) and planned a full campaign with both cars. Previously, Comstock had most famously raced Shelby GT350 Mustangs and Monaco King Cobras.
P/1000 arrived at Sebring with an unusually large front intake aperture. It was allocated to Bob McLean and Jean Ouellet who qualified 16th on the grid. The sister car of fellow Canadians Eppie Wietzes and Craig Fisher lined up 22nd.
McLean did the opening stint and at the 30 lap mark P/1000 was tenth. Soon afterwards, Ouellet took over.
During the fourth hour, Ouellett handed P/1000 back to McLean who emerged from the pits in 13th position with fresh brake pads and full fuel tanks.
Seconds later, disaster struck.
While coming out of The Esses, something at the back of P/1000 appeared to lock solid which caused the car to veer violently off to the right. It hit a ditch which catapulted the car into air. P/1000 barrel rolled end over end and hit a telegraph pole which ruptured the passenger-side fuel tank and caused the car to explode in a ball of fire.
It took the Sebring fire marshals around half an hour to get blaze under control.
Poor Bob McLean, the 1965 Canadian Sportscar Champion, was killed in the horrific accident.
Comstock immediately withdrew their other GT40 from the race.
The remains of P/1000 were subsequently buried in one of Sebring’s municipal yards.
Notable History
Comstock Racing Team, Toronto
26/03/1966 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (B. McLean / J. Ouellet) DNF (#18)
Destroyed in Bruce McLean’s fatal accident at Sebring
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
