April Preliminary Test Days Part 2

Les essais préliminaires d'Avril des 24 Heures du Mans 

On this post you'll see some cars tested in 1966. They all Ford GT40 (and one J car)


The models:

1966

Ford GT40 Mk1 - Chassis 1038 - Le Mans trials
(B0X MODELS modified )

Ford "J" - Chassis J1 - SAI - Le Mans trials 1966

(Kit CEVEN KIT CARS)

Ford GT40 Mk1 - Chassis AMRGT/2 - Test Le Mans 1966

(Kit TENARIV modified)

Ford GT40 Mk1 - Chassis AMRGT/1 - Test Le Mans 1966

(Kit TENARIV modified)

Ford GT40 Mk1 - Chassis 1039 - Le Mans trials
(BANG Models modified - decals TENARIV - wheels BBR)

Ford GT40 Mk2 - Chassis 1011 - SAI - Le Mans trials 1966
(Kit STARTER modified)

Ford GT40 Mk2 - Chassis 1012 - SAI - Le Mans trials 1966 (IXO)

April Preliminary Test Days Part 1

Les essais préliminaires d'Avril des 24 Heures du Mans 

The April preliminary test days were born in 1959 and lasted until 1973. It was set up in April two months before the 24 hours race.
The idea was to allow manufacturers to adapt their race cars and drivers (especially rookies) to learn the specifics of the track. It also helped the organizers to prepare properly for the race.
The Le Mans race track with a unique 13 Km (8 Miles) length and a unique straight part of 5 Km (over 3 Miles) on public road non accessible the rest of the year for practice, made these test days very useful for the drivers, the teams, and for the organizers.
Some cars seen during these test days never saw the race, others tried different set ups not used for the 24 hours, others had different liveries. All this made it interesting for car collectors and Le Mans fans like me. Here are a few of these race cars seen in April at Le Mans in 1962 to 65:

The Models: 

1962

Sunbeam Alpine April test days  Le Mans 1962
(Kit PROVENCE MOULAGE modified)

       

The same

1963

Lister Jaguar April test days  Le Mans 1963
(Kit PROVENCE MOULAGE modified)

The same

Rover BRM - April test days  Le Mans 1963 (BIZARRE)

1964

Ferrari 250 LM - April test days Le Mans 1964 (REMEMBER)

The same

Rover BRM - April test days Le Mans 1964 (BIZARRE)

Ford GT40 chassis # 102 -April test days Le Mans 1964 - (BIZARRE)

AC Cobra "A98" -April test days Le Mans 1964 - (Kit MIKANSUE modified)

Ford GT40 chassis # 101 -April test days Le Mans 1964 - (BIZARRE)

1965  

Maserati 151/4  - April test days  Le Mans 1965 (LEO Models)

The same

Ford GT40 Spyder - chassis # 109 - April test days  Le Mans 1965  -
(Kit TENARIV modified)