Ford P68
The Ford P68, also commonly known as the Ford 3L GT or F3L, is a sports prototype racing car model introduced in March 1968. It was designed by Len Bailey, a Ford research engineer, funded by Ford Europe and built by Alan Mann Racing at Weybridge, Surrey, UK. The first competition appearance of a Ford 3L prototype was at the BOAC 500 race at Brands Hatch in Kent. It delivered a good pace, but was criticized for instability at high speeds. It did not finish any of the races in which it was entered, due to mechanical and electrical failures.
| Category | Sports prototype | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Alan Mann Racing | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Len Bailey | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque, with steel bulkheads | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Single top link with reversed lower wishbone and twin trailing arms | ||||||||
| Engine | Ford-Cosworth DFV 2993cc 90° V8, naturally aspirated, mid mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland DG300 5-speed manual | ||||||||
| Fuel | Burmah | ||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Alan Mann Racing | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | Bruce McLaren Mike Spence Chris Irwin Jochen Rindt Pedro Rodríguez Frank Gardner Richard Attwood Denny Hulme | ||||||||
| Debut | 1968 BOAC 500 Brands Hatch | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
For the 1969 season the P68 was used as the basis for an aborted, fully open Spyder, dubbed the Ford P69. The P69 sported large, free-standing aerofoil wings, which were vital to the car's stability at high-speeds. However, these were banned by the European sanctioning body early in the season, thus the P68 was not eligible to race in the respective class any longer.