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15 Nov 2006, 13:48 (Ref:1766806) | #1 | |
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 378
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Merlyn Mk. 20 FF
This is the first Merlyn Mk 20 FF produced and subsequently shipped to the US to compete in the final 1971 IMSA F100 event at Daytona (pictured) and a week later at the SCCA FF Runoffs in Atlanta.
This chassis number:325/FF/71 was put on pole of both races by Gordon Smiley in interestingly the first ever time an FF was used with slick tires. The rears on this vehicle are actually Firestone FB front tires, tested and tested at MAR in St. Louis to get the balance correct, and they caused quite a stir at both Daytona and Atlanta when put on for the final minutes of qualifying. Pictured next to Smiley is the eventual winner and champion David Loring in a Caldwell D9. The Merlyn dnf'd at Daytona due to a cracked condenser mounting tab in the distributor and finished second at the runoffs after having a rear wheel bent by a competitor's nosecone. Chassis is currently back in the U.K. |
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17 Nov 2006, 15:36 (Ref:1768655) | #2 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 108
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Davhut,
Ceretainly not the first FF MK20 .I own 307-FF-71 MK20 as per the original chassis plate, car delivered new to South Africa in August 1971.I think the first MK20 was around chassis no 290/291/292 . 325 could have been the first of the MK20A series. Great picture by the way. Regards Ian |
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17 Nov 2006, 16:27 (Ref:1768684) | #3 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 397
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How many were made? Mine was 329-ff-71 now owned by Guy Minshaw. Ive been told some 20a's were built before my car was built which would coincide with your last post Ian.
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17 Nov 2006, 21:00 (Ref:1768821) | #4 | |
Racer
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 378
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IANHEB:
Sorry for the confusion, I believe it was first one in US. This one did not have exterior water pipes, when did they appear? |
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17 Apr 2007, 18:50 (Ref:1894103) | #5 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 94
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17 Apr 2007, 19:39 (Ref:1894149) | #6 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 13,226
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Welcome, Racesport; I'm sure someone will have some information for you!
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18 Apr 2007, 08:32 (Ref:1894503) | #7 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 94
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Thank you John for your message!
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8 May 2012, 00:15 (Ref:3070930) | #8 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 40
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For anyone who'd like a pretty complete overview of these cars, I'd suggest this article:
Design and Construction of the Merlyn Mk20 Formula Ford |
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