Quote:
Originally Posted by DocGTR
This has been a very good thread, so a BIG Thank You Le Man for starting it and now quite putting it to the bed. Also thanks for Erik backing up some of my assumptions/theories. For me this was the last big unsolved puzzle about the GTRs (still some smaller popping out of the bushes). During this we also got the confirmation about the state of the 15R (thanks Thomas!), so it has been quite informative thread overall. 
At some point during this thread developing I did quite an intensive search on the possibilities of the other chassis to replace the damaged 14R in the Mine race, and only other options would have been 10R and 17R that I couldn't find anything about them near the actual race, but the other inconsistencies, as noted earlier in this thread, made them not so believable options (at least to me). 16R and 18R had their show rounds around the Europe and 18R was also quite soon to race in Brazil. 17R was most propably making similar show rounds in North America but I couldn't find any dates to them. So for me all that left the 04R as the only real option after all to be the Mine #61 LARK.
I hope someday the history of 04R between the Jarama crash and the race at Mine will be clarified and how much of the original 04R is left in this rebuilt version. Also it would be nice to see a photo of its actual chassis plate! I guess it's too much asked to see it making a public appearance in the near future, but at least we have nice photos of its glory days!  |
Thanks DocGTR, yes it has been a very interesting thread, even though I started it myself
. I,ll think of something just as interesting for my 2000th post
.
After studying Bucciali,s excellent scans in technical detail for some while, it dawned on me that this article was post season and the pit board states 96 champions. so the two chassis have to be 13R (60) and 04R (61) not long after the Mine race if the DA race history poster is correct.
Not sure if we will ever get to see its chassis plate, check out the main interior pic, the steering wheel has JN DB drivers initials, there is a panel/duck tape masking the view of the plate, shades of 01R
But the dead give away was the engine bay pic, the two 96 spec bulkhead window mouldings are "riveted" and bonded into position. Now if anybody can show me a 96 spec GTR with the same rivet configuration, please do
. Most of 04R (61) looks to be be 96 spec, so one would presume, that all that remains from the original 04R GTR is just the repaired monocoque.
Also DocGTR, you mentioned in an earlier post something about the thickness of the race numbers, take another look, you may find something very interesting.