| The piece in question is a (now working!) Smiss made Wittnauer wrist watch, which was presented to Eric Broadley by Ford in 1963 when Ford procured Eric's services - as well as, of course, the rights to the Lola MK6 GT.
As is well known, it was the Lola MK6 that formed the backbone of the Ford GT project that was to be developed in the four times Le Mans-winning GT40 MK1 and MKII, and the Ford MK IV.
The watch, which was recently sold by Eric's son Andrew, is in very good condition. Its face is inscribed with Eric's name in black, while the rear is engraved with the words:
Ford
Division
Total Performance
Team
1963
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The background photo shows Augie Pabst in the paddock before his first outing in John Mecom's MK6 at the Interational Guards Trophy
meeting at Brands Hatch in August 1963, where it sported a Ford 289 engine, before the Chevy engine was installed later that month. Eric and Rob
Rushbrook can be seen in the background on the right. |
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| I was told that similar watches were presented to the other individuals leading the Ford GT project, ie Carroll Shelby, John Wyer, Ray Geddes, Len Bailey, Ron Martin, Chuck Mountain and Roy Lunn, but I do not know if any of these watches survive. Has anybody out there seen another one? |
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