Andrew Cowan (left) and Peter Procter - proud winners of
the thrilling Tour de France
The DPK7B licensed Tour de France Mustang #83 finished the
most famous european rallye first and was big promotion hit for FORDs
Total Performance project only topped by the 1967 Le Mans victory of the
GT40ies. After the race it was sent back to the US immediately by
airfreight. Picture courtesy Ford.
The Alan Mann team with Fords racing chief Jacque H. Passino at the
Winners ceremony 1964. Peter Procter holding the diplome. On the right
Bo Ljungfeldt, who did not finish in the third Mustang DPK5B with Sager.
Picture courtesy Bernard Cahier
The June 24th. Manufacturers confirmation letter for the
homologation application, signed by Jacque H. Passino and George Merwin
Document collection W.Kohrn, courtesy Alan Mann
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The History of
the TDF class winning Mustang #83
The 4 Mustangs at the Tour de France 1964. From the
beginning in Reims they lead the pack. Up front here the 3 Alan Mann
prepared Mustangs, a little behind the Ford France entered Mustang.
(Picture Ford)
In this picture second placed DPK6B is still up front
before DPK5B and DPK7B and the Ford of France/Henri Greder Mustang (Picture
Ford)
The DPK7B licenced Mustang started its racing career in August 1964, after being shipped over in July by Ford to Alan Mann Racing Ltd. With the Tour de France starting on 11th of September, Alan Mann had not much time to modify the cars, but Ford wanted to see them winning, so time was no excuse and so was money. Alan Mann got all he needed plus more to get these cars up in front of the racing herd.
This car is the most mysterious one of the 4 Tour de France Mustangs and has not
surfaced so far nor been traced down after 1965.
The winning TDF car had been backordered by Jaques H. Passino and Henri
Carlini to the US and then on to Canada to the Comstock racing team immediately after the TDF in September 1964.
John Grant, ex-mechanic of Alan Man remembers, that the car was pulled
immediately after the winning ceremony and send back to the US by
airfreight.
Car and Driver tested the car while being at the Comstock racing team
in Canada together with their own race Mustang and described it as a
clapped out worn TDF car. The Tour de France had certainly took its toll
on this car. However it was not pictured in that article.
The only appearance we currently know of, was at the November 29th, 1964
Nassau Speed Week, where Skip Scott drove this still DPK7B licenced
Mustang with the door number #199.
Picture courtesy Henry Ford History
Association
Picture courtesy Sports Car Graphics
It was entered with a
"bubble" hood and some body alterations at a February 1965
Daytona race.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehenryford/sets/
Skip Scott unfortunately passed away in 2003 as we learned.
The car has probably been parted out and been scrapped, but
one never knows.
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