Murray Carter

Easytoremember · 30-10-2015, 05:25 PM

I have a question about Murray Carter's XBGT's.

Why is one of his dark blue/purple XBGT's sponsored by Brian Wood Ford a number 3 car, when he was known to race as #18 during his Brian Wood Ford career (and later)? I have photos of both XBGT's and when I figure out how to post them I'll do so in the comments. I'm fairly sure the #3 was a car he had during 1977.

Any help is appreciated, cheers. I'm fairly new to all of this.
Daniel

Easytoremember · 30-10-2015, 05:27 PM

Also, that image that somehow attached to the original post I believe is his XC GT. Does anyone know what year (Oran Park) it was that he crashed? I am having trouble finding anything about it.

sbutler · 30-10-2015, 05:27 PM

Cant answer your question, but mate his cars were the best looking hard tops out there..

Easytoremember · 30-10-2015, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbutler

Cant answer your question, but mate his cars were the best looking hard tops out there..

No doubt about it. It's a shame there isn't a heap of information about his cars as there are Moffat, Goss etc.

sprint347dave · 30-10-2015, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easytoremember

Also, that image that somehow attached to the original post I believe is his XC GT. Does anyone know what year (Oran Park) it was that he crashed? I am having trouble finding anything about it.

XB GT..no such thing as a XC GT

Easytoremember · 30-10-2015, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprint347dave

XB GT..no such thing as a XC GT

Yeah my apologies. I believe it is his XC anyway that is seen in the crash as the blinker can be seen on the side of the guard. Do you know what year this was?

sbutler · 30-10-2015, 06:07 PM

Someone should do a replica !!!!!!!

**Raptor** · 30-10-2015, 06:29 PM

Maybe the #18 didn't stick until the mid 70's

A quick google search turns up a #3 in 1973 and a #10 in 1974 both with the colours scheme shown below.

.

bathurst77 · 30-10-2015, 06:36 PM

Murray was the "unofficial 3rd driver" for the frd factory in mid 70s. I believe Wayne Draper was responsible for his stripes too

**Raptor** · 30-10-2015, 06:39 PM

Also #15

Bearman · 30-10-2015, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbutler

Someone should do a replica !!!!!!!

Someone has!! It was at the AFD around 2 years ago. It's an XC done circa 1978.

There is also a replica of the 1973 #15 XA doing the rounds.

Easytoremember · 30-10-2015, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raptor

Maybe the #18 didn't stick until the mid 70's

A quick google search turns up a #3 in 1973 and a #10 in 1974 both with the colours scheme shown below.

image

.

I did see that and the other numbers posted here, but they're all prior to Brian Wood Ford, when Carter was with Shell Racing I believe. I just found it interesting that I could not find another image on the #3 Brian Wood XB GT (purple) anywhere else.

Easytoremember · 30-10-2015, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearman

Someone has!! It was at the AFD around 2 years ago. It's an XC done circa 1978.

There is also a replica of the 1973 #15 XA doing the rounds.

Hey mate, I remember you and Raptor I think talking about Murray Carter on a post back in 2010 (long time ago to remember), but I'm wondering if you might know how I can find the source of the information that BDA Escort posted back then? The image is below. I just really need to find the article or magazine that contains this information (especially the last paragraph about Murray Carter's #15 XA specs converted to XB - painted dark blue etc.).

Appreciate your help.
Daniel

Bearman · 30-10-2015, 07:22 PM

I'm not sure where or even whether that info is published anywhere, all we have is anecdotes. Murray himself says his first coupe shell was scrapped. As for the newer one he believes it has also been scrapped when it was cannibalized of its mechanicals for the XD, but he's not 100% sure.

Easytoremember · 30-10-2015, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearman

I'm not sure where or even whether that info is published anywhere, all we have is anecdotes. Murray himself says his first coupe shell was scrapped. As for the newer one he believes it has also been scrapped when it was cannibalized of its mechanicals for the XD, but he's not 100% sure.

Oh well, it'll probably just remain a mystery. I've just tracked down a spare vehicle of Murray Carter's and I'm trying to find evidence whether or not it is a spare vehicle and if so, trace its origins. It seemingly links up with the "stripped of all running gear for a new car that was later scrapped". I have my suspicions that this spare vehicle has that running gear, but that's all it'll remain without evidence, suspicion! Lol.

Tokyo Geoff · 30-10-2015, 07:34 PM

Can't help with the above but I've always loved Muuray. Even when I was a lad he looked like he was 500 years old but always having fun and with beautiful babes by his side. Not to mention his XC coupe. Good on you Murray!

Bearman · 30-10-2015, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easytoremember

Oh well, it'll probably just remain a mystery. I've just tracked down a spare vehicle of Murray Carter's and I'm trying to find evidence whether or not it is a spare vehicle and if so, trace its origins. It seemingly links up with the "stripped of all running gear for a new car that was later scrapped". I have my suspicions that this spare vehicle has that running gear, but that's all it'll remain without evidence, suspicion! Lol.

Are you talking about the one on Australian Muscle Car Sales???

4stanger · 30-10-2015, 08:07 PM

Check out the vehicles in the 1979 Bathurst.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Hardie-Ferodo_1000
There were 2 Brian Wood Ford backed hardtops, one for Murray, the other for Rod Stevens/ Bill Evans number 36 (18 x 2 =) I do recall this, hence the google search for this, I wonder what were the origins of this 2nd hardtop as these 2 drivers (Stevens & Evans)used to drive Brian Wood Ford backed escorts in the touring car races.
Very interesting to know the origins of the other XC Hardtops entered by the other privateers (12 hardtops all up) and where they ended up.
Same goes for the 13 Hardtops entered in the 1978 race https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_Hardie-Ferodo_1000

minheim · 30-10-2015, 08:10 PM

Murray certainly flew the Ford flag during the hard years immediately after the factory withdrawal. I recall watching his hardtop at Sandown. One of my favourite hardtops was the Jim Keogh car in its metallic green livery. A somewhat more unusual looking car was the Rusty French machine which appeared in one of the Sandown 500s in black duco and Melford sponsorship but which featured GXL rectangular headlights. I must have a look for some photos I have of the racing hardtops from Calder and Sandown and scan and upload them

minheim · 30-10-2015, 08:36 PM

On the subject of Murray, I always remember the gracious loan of his XY car to Allan Moffat in the 1973 Adelaide round of the ATCC after Moffat's car was stolen the night before the race. At the time Moffat was leading the championship and was able to retain his lead by finishing second to Brock in the Carter machine. The main Ford drivers of the era seemed to be a pretty tight group; Moffat in the 1974 Bathurst race provided Goss with the wet weather tires that got Goss home for victory.

Easytoremember · 30-10-2015, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnaldo

Check out the vehicles in the 1979 Bathurst.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Hardie-Ferodo_1000
There were 2 Brian Wood Ford backed hardtops, one for Murray, the other for Rod Stevens/ Bill Evans number 36 (18 x 2 =) I do recall this, hence the google search for this, I wonder what were the origins of this 2nd hardtop as these 2 drivers (Stevens & Evans)used to drive Brian Wood Ford backed escorts in the touring car races.
Very interesting to know the origins of the other XC Hardtops entered by the other privateers (12 hardtops all up) and where they ended up.
Same goes for the 13 Hardtops entered in the 1978 race https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_Hardie-Ferodo_1000

That's very interesting, thanks for sharing that. I was searching through other races to find a number 3 Brian Wood sponsored hardtop but still found absolutely nothing. I'll have to look through the 1978 Hardie Ferodo.

It's just a pity that there are hardly any photos around, I'm assuming a majority, if there are any more, would be in earlier magazines etc.

Pedro · 30-10-2015, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprint347dave

XB GT..no such thing as a XC GT

Correct, but cars were cosmetically upgraded to "current" models in those days, like Brock's Commodores VH - K etc..

bathurst77 · 31-10-2015, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minheim

A somewhat more unusual looking car was the Rusty French machine which appeared in one of the Sandown 500s in black duco and Melford sponsorship but which featured GXL rectangular headlights.

Check out the latest Aust musclecar magazine fora photo of the racing Fairmont

minheim · 31-10-2015, 06:07 PM

Here are some pics I took as a young lad of Murray Carter's hardtops. Unfortunately I wasn't the greatest photographer and had only a humble camera (it was the 1970s). Also as the photos have bonded to the photo album page I have had to scan the whole page for the relevant photos. The last image is actually a purchased professional photo and it shows I'm pretty sure Murray's XA falcon (third car in shot). I also post some other pics I took of other racing hardtops in a later post. Being Victorian the shots are from Calder and Sandown. I'll also post up later a photo I purchased that features Pete Geogehan driving the falcon hardtop T-car at Sandown in 1973. It was famous for losing a rear wheel in race and revealing Ford had fitted four wheel disc brakes in preparation for Bathurst. A correction also to my earlier post - the Rusty French Falcon was actually sponsored by Morley Ford not Melfords

minheim · 31-10-2015, 07:12 PM

I seem to have reached my forum limit for attached thumbnails so I have loaded the earlier photos together with the additional photos mentioned in my earlier post on to photobucket. Hopefully this link will take you to the racing falcon album - http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/mi...znfuo.jpg.html

Bearman · 31-10-2015, 10:45 PM

Fantastic pics, thanks for sharing!!

Some pretty obscure coupes there. Never seen that #11 multi coloured striped one before, who was running that?

A few of these coupes still exist, including the Rusty French Morley Ford XC. Do a search of this forum for a thread on surviving ex track coupes.

minheim · 31-10-2015, 11:07 PM

I am pretty certain that #11 was Jim Keogh's car.

Just checked and the HM Headers sponsorship confirms it.

**BLU-220** · 31-10-2015, 11:19 PM

Thanks for sharing

Easytoremember · 03-11-2015, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minheim

I seem to have reached my forum limit for attached thumbnails so I have loaded the earlier photos together with the additional photos mentioned in my earlier post on to photobucket. Hopefully this link will take you to the racing falcon album - http://s1337.photobucket.com/user/mi...znfuo.jpg.html

Huge thanks for all of those photos mate, would've been a bit of effort to scan them all. Sorry for the late reply too, I didn't receive an email notifying me.

No chance you have any photos from 1977? I couldn't get through those photos in your album due to my phone stuffing up. Will get through them later.

Thanks again mate.

minheim · 04-11-2015, 01:19 AM

Unfortunately my memory is a little vague these days and I didn't date the photos and over the years they have been jumbled a bit. I think Murray ran the Brian Wood blue colour scheme in both 1976 and 1977 on his XB. Sorry I can't be more precise. You might enjoy this video link of the Sandown 1977 Hang ten challenge (20 feb 1977) which features a bit of footage of Murray's car - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIAiLz8o7KY