1970 Leda-Mclaren Formula 5000

[ahebert]

FOR SALE: 1970 Leda-Mclaren Formula 5000
Chassis Number 102

Len Terry, designer of Jim Clark's Indy winning Lotus 38, and Dan Gurney's Eagle-Weslake V12 F1 car, designed and built the Leda LT20 F5000 offered here. He also designed the highly successful Surtees TS5 Formula 5000 car. The new Leda was lower and lighter than the TS5. For the LT20, Terry employed the same suspension design at the front and rear of the car, making the suspension pieces interchangeable. It didn't work. Of the four cars built, three were written off in accidents. Chassis 102 survived because it was purchased and later modified by Phil Henny, one of the Shelby GT40 Ford Team mechanics on the Gurney/Foyt Le Mans winning car.

After purchasing the car from his friend/teammate Dan Gurney at All American Racers, Henny crashed the LT20 at Laguna Seca. He met with Len Terry back in England, and they decided the best solution for the car was to mate the proven McLaren M10 Formula 5000 rear suspension to the Leda. Henny then met with another GT40 team friend, Bruce McLaren, also in England at the time, and McLaren agreed with the Terry/Henny solution to the problem. Henny purchased a complete M10 rear suspension and had is shipped back to California.

Upon returning, Henny had yet another Shelby GT40 Ford teammate, Carroll Smith, to help him with modifying and setting up the Leda tub to accept the M10 rear suspension. The result was a car that out of the box was 5 seconds quicker at Laguna with its now excellent handling, and Henny wound up on the podium. The car never crashed again.

The next segment of the Leda's history is well reported at OldRacingCars.com/Leda/LT20. Thereafter the Leda was maintained by Ron Chisholm of Cypress Lane Racing at Sonoma Raceway. The car has been run in just a handful of vintage races over the past few years.

The current owner reports his time with the car as follows:"When I bought the car I made the decision to not totally restore it. The front suspension on one side was bent so jigs for the upper and lower wishbones were built and new wishbones for both sides were fabricated from 4130 steel. All Rod ends were replaced. The front uprights were removed, crack tested, and new bearings and seals installed. The steering rack was disassembled crack tested and rebuilt. All four shock absorbers (Koni adjustable) were rebuilt and tested on a shock dyno. The rear suspension (McLaren M – 10) was removed and crack tested. New rod ends were installed. The rear uprights were removed and crack tested. New bearings and new seals installed. The drive shafts were replaced with new half shafts including U-joints and slip yokes.

The transmission is a Hewland DG300 5 speed with locking differential (Hewland “Power Loc” clutch type). The entire unit was rebuilt in 2014 with new gears, clutch disks, dog rings, bearings, and a new ring and pinion installed. The transmission was checked 2 events ago and new dog rings were installed. No other issues found. The DG300 uses DG300 gears or slightly modified DGB gears. Parts are available from Hewland or other sources.

A new aluminum radiator and fire system were installed. The car is wired for radio use but does not include a radio. The instruments are original including an original Smith’s chronometric tachometer with tell-tale. A MSD revolution limiter is installed. It has a transponder permanently installed. New front wings have been installed and the rear wing mount has been reinforced. New Porterfield brake pads were installed and remain in good shape. The master cylinders were rebuilt in the spring of 2013 by cypress lane.

The engine is a new build, zero time, Chevrolet with 302 cubic inches (5 liter). It uses a 1971 Chevrolet block that was prepped for racing and fully studded with ARP studs. It is the high alloy block. The heads are World Products that were prepared by Bob Gromm Racing. Carburetion is 4 48 IDA Webers on a McKay manifold. The exhaust is new stainless steel by SPD. The original exhaust is included. The engine was specifically designed for vintage racing with good torque and a presumed 8000 RPM limit. It was not dynoed since it was built to the same formula as the engine it replaced. It is “0” time having only been started up and idled. It will require some slow timing before full power is used. It has 4 bolt mains with ARP studs. It has a 4340 forged crankshaft, 4340 forged “H” beam rods with ARPs best L-19 bolts. The pistons are new forged high compression with domes. The compression ratio is approximately 11.5 to 1. This “formula” was dynoed on the original engine and resulted in about 500 B.H.P with about 320 Ft. Lbs. of torque. The headers for the car would not fit on the dyno so an older set for a street car were used. The use of the new SPD race headers will increase power somewhat."

There are some spares with car. These include suspension parts and jigs, spare nose, one spare upright and miscellaneous other parts. There is one set of new wheels that need a center spacer installed. A more detailed spares list is available.

The Leda-McLaren was offered a couple of months ago for $95,000. However, the owner just decided to let it go for $89,000.


LEDA LT 20 No.102 OWNERSHIP HISTORY

• Leda Cars - Len Terry Poole, England - When Constructed to May 1970.
• Broadspeed Racing - May to June 1970 - returned to Leda after testing crash.
• All American Racing - Dan Gurney - bought car after repair in fall of 1970.
• Phil Henny - bought car February of 1971. Used in SCCA Formula A.
• Bob Braverman - Publisher of “Street Bike” Motorcycle Magazine, bought in 1974
• Iverson Movie Ranch – Driven in a promo film for the new California Speedway. May have been driven by Steve McQueen. Made a few commercials (Quaker State), and was used as a movie prop.
• PBS Motor Sports - Peter Boyd - Not raced - bought for resale. Date of Purchase/Sale unknown.
• Chuck Haines - Not Raced - bought for resale. Date unknown.
• Tom Fredrickson - Intended to make it a parts car for a Surtees TS-5 project. Date Unknown.
• Dr. Bruce Jacobs, Palm Springs, Ca - one HMSA appearance. Intended to part out.
• Dean Beaupre, Occidental Ca. - Purchased July 6 2004. Historic Racing
  

There is a lot of easily obtainable history about this car. Len Terry wrote a book in 1971 entitled “Racing Car Design and Development” in which he spends some time talking about the car. Phil Henny wrote a book called “…Just Call Me Carroll…” about his experiences with Shelby. He devotes a chapter to the Leda. Popular web sites are OLDRACINGCARS.COM and MYF5000.COM. The MYF5000 site includes records of Phil Henny’s races. A google search of F5000 LEDA will usually turn up photos taken at vintage races and sometimes old photos.

The car has HMSA and CSRG log books.

For more detailed information, photos, and videos, please go to MotorsportSMarket.com. You can find the exact listing at:
https://motorsportsmarket.com/raceca...-formula-5000/

You can also call Art directly at 707-328-2452.

The Leda-McLaren is a great looking and sounding car in person. It is a potential class winner in the U.S. Formula 5000 Driver's Association Class A (pre-1972) Championship, or the HSCC Aurora Trophy Series Class E (pre-1972) Championship, or the F5000 New Zealand Series. Of course F5000 cars also race at other vintage racing events worldwide, including such events as the Monterey Reunion. They raced through the streets of Long Beach back in the day. What if it happened again?

[E1pix]

What a lovely car, and introduction to it.

If only......

Good Luck with the sale, Art.

[ahebert]

What a lovely car, and introduction to it.

If only......

Good Luck with the sale, Art.

Thank you! It's a very cool car.

[Rick Iverson]

Stunning beautiful. A STEAL.

[ahebert]

Stunning beautiful. A STEAL.

Thanks, Rick. I agree it is a great deal. I have found that sometimes people think that because a broker is involved, the cars are not good deals. That is not a universal truth. Much depends upon the broker and the particular situation. We keep our fees small, and are racers too. We want to see all these cars in good hands and out on the track where we can all enjoy them, not sitting in garages deteriorating and devaluing. So we work to achieve that. My biggest problem is that I fall in love with almost every car we list and want to buy it too, ha ha!

[E1pix]

That is sure the right attitude.

We all see a growing trend to “keep these cars safe from racing,” which bothers me on many levels. These *are* intended to race, so while museums have their purpose with one-of-a-kind cars (think Chaparral Can-Am here) we fanatics deserve to see them run.

I especially appreciate your attention to lineage and history. As a former sign painter of over 500 race cars, now if only new owners would better honor original liveries I might sleep a little better.

On another note Art, with Bob’s passing I sure wish the family had bought that March 712 you restored...

Keep up the great work.

[trajo]

I raced against this car in 78 and 79.
Bob Braverman put more miles on it than anybody. He was my instructor in drivers school and we raced against each other in So. Cal. regionals.
At this price this car is a bargain. Its not a Lola 332, but they made a million of them. This car is unique with a solid history.

[Eddie Hill]

Would you mind quoting the weight on the car as it sits in the picture?

Thanks

[E1pix]

Man, I love racing. Sometimes, any and every kind of racing.

My engine may not be blown but my mind just was.

Welcome from a mere mortal, Sir.

[ahebert]

Would you mind quoting the weight on the car as it sits in the picture?

Thanks

Hi Eddie. Approximately 1,350 lbs. with the iron heads. Less with the aluminum heads.