The self-specified ‘GT40’ is a small EV microcar
Since the first event in 1923, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has seen many heated battles unfold. In its long history, the 34th edition in 1966 has been passed down as one of the most memorable races. That year, Ford’s GT40 won the Le Mans race for the first time overall, beating Ferrari, the reigning absolute champion of the race until then. Ford went on to win Le Mans for four consecutive years until 1969. Here we introduce a microcar that has recreated the Ford GT40 as a small ‘moped car’.
Reproduction of the Le Mans winning car in Gulf colors
The impression of Ford as a practical but unexciting mass-market carmaker had been successfully renewed by successive Le Mans victories, as planned by the Dearborn, Michigan, headquarters, to give the brand a youthful, sporty image. The ‘GT40’ and its family of derivatives, which played a leading role in this, are remembered as unforgettable icons for Ford and for us car enthusiasts.
By the way, the ‘Ford GT’, which Ford itself ‘self-covered’ twice, in 2005 and 2017, is of course the origin of the 1960s GT40.
Introduced here is a cute moped car produced with the Ford GT40 as its motif. The striking ‘Gulf Color’, with its light blue and orange stripes, was the livery worn by the JW Automotive Engineering car that won Le Mans in 1968 and 1969, two years in a row. Incidentally, the 1969 Le Mans winner’s number was ‘6’, while this moped car’s number is ’66’, the age of the owner when he built this car.
The moped car freak built it himself
“Ever since I saw the film ‘Ford vs Ferrari’, I’ve been interested in the GT40, so I built it.”
The owner of this car, Mr. Kiyoshi Nakamura, is a “moped car freak” who owns many other moped cars. He is an energetic car guy who does not seem to be affected by the right side of his body, which has been crippled due to an illness he suffered about 20 years ago.
The strict legal regulations for regular passenger cars mass-produced by manufacturers make it quite a hurdle for individuals to “manufacture” their own cars, but what about lightweight moped cars? Mr. Nakamura told us.
“As long as you meet the regulations, it’s not that hard to get a number for a privately manufactured vehicle.”
Of course, Mr. Nakamura is a professional mechanic by nature and has contacts within the industry with a wide range of car-building professionals, so this line is probably true, but it is quite a dream come true to be able to drive on public roads with a number on a car that you built yourself.
Although it is an EV, you can also enjoy the “real engine sound”
“This moped Ford GT uses the powertrain, suspension, and other components of an existing electric buggy, but covers it with an FRP body. The body was created with reference to the 5/8 scale body of Automobile S.C.A.F., a French manufacturer of kids’ cars. When I was asked for the name of the manufacturer and the name of the car by an official when I obtained a license plate number for driving on public roads, I quickly replied that it was the ‘NSC GT50’, Nakamura Small Cars moped car.”
When you lift the side-opening FRP body and look at the chassis, you can see that apart from the motor, differential, and other drive systems, it is equipped with an engine.
“This is a Honda general-purpose engine with a gimmick that allows the motor to rev up and down in tandem with the accelerator opening. I originally found it lying around the house, so that I could enjoy the sound of a real engine, even though it’s an EV.”
I was impressed by his playfulness in installing the engine only as a sound source.
translated by DeepL
