Ford gt40 car and driver

Miles discovered that the initial design settings had been lost and when he reset the suspension to the original settings. It was born out of intense hatred between two industry titans henry ford ii and enzo ferrari. Were mentioning this gt40s car and driver link because the story behind the story involves carroll shelby. With a droolworthy design and otherworldly performance, the 2020 gt is one of the most exclusive, expensive, and extraordinary cars that ford has ever built. After trying and failing to win the 24 hours of le mans with its gt40 race cars in 1964 and 1965, ford. The gt40 is perhaps the most iconic race car of the 60s. Feb 12, 2020 one major fact about the original ford gt40 that might sound surprising to many fans of detroit steel is that bruce mclarenyes, that mclarenwas actually a test driver for the car. When the ford motor company was left at the altar trying to buy ferrari, their response was if we cant buy em, well beat em. With two hours remaining, the gt40 driven by ken miles and denny hulme passed the mclarenamon car for the lead. The fords registration plate helps tell the cars story.

Its the car im driving that makes the le mans illusion complete. No accidents, original numbers matching engine and. Upon eric mathers death, his racing driver son kim passed the motor car to martin johnson who had it extensively restored at great expense by race engineer and renowned gt40 specialist, john etheridge. Ford had taken only seven months to create the new gt40, with the completed car being shown to journalists on april 1st 1964. A combination of old and new, this custom mk i gt40 sports the modern ecoboost twinturbo v6 from the current ford gt supercar. Ford gt40 1966 le mans winner photos, details, specs.

Remembering bob mclean, the man who died racing the first. Ford intended the j car to be a follow up to the ford gt mk. While a member of the accobra ford team, miles entered a lotus 23 in the 1964 players 200 at mosport. The car in these images isnt a real 1966 ford gt40 mk1 racing car. The range was powered by a series of americanbuilt ford v8 engines modified for racing. Trouble is that, like silver was a big nag, the mustang is a big car, so it has a. The ford gt40 mk ii that shouldnt have won le mans in 1966. Oct 30, 2018 the cars custom interior is more luxurious than any 60sera race driver could have ever dreamed, not to mention the air suspension and custom wheels.

And even though christian bale did a great job playing ken miles, part of the reason mclaren was allowed to join in the fun at that legendary and controversial. Nov 10, 2019 entered by shelbyamerican, the ford gt40 mk. The gt40 is virtually the same car that the great ones like dan gurney and a. And this is the car that earned ford that first win back in 1966. Oct 30, 2018 the ford gt40 is a timeless race car, and superformance wanted to pay tribute to both old and new with its future gt forty sema show car. And so the gt40 was born, with only one goal in mind. According to rm sothebys, this gt40 mk ii is chassis p1016, one of the legendary cars that brought down ferrari at the 24 hours of le mans in 1966, giving ford and american car companies in. Nov 14, 2019 as for the ford gt40, the great american supercar remains one of the most collectible automobiles in the world, with a sticker price that would blow back any drivers hair. The first two ford gt40 prototypes were completed in slough, england, in the spring of 1964, labeled as chassis gt101 and gt102. The gt40 would go on to win at lemans for four consecutive years. Feb 01, 2002 this powertrain solution is just one option, should showgoers and car nuts convince ford to produce more than one gt40.

When the flag dropped, drivers ran to their cars, buckled in, then blasted awayideally not running over their competitors in the process. In terms of motorsports lore and significance, few cars rate higher than fords gt40, the race car that henry ford ii built to topple enzo ferraris. As for the ford gt40, the great american supercar remains one of the most collectible automobiles in the world, with a sticker price that would blow back any drivers hair. Nov 15, 2019 superformance gt40 and cobra movie car test drive from ford v ferrari.

The teardrop shape of the ford gt is the result of extensive work in the wind tunnel. Rm sothebys will auction a 1965 ford gt40 roadster prototype in monterey on friday, august 16, and its expected to go for millions interestingly, this is the very same gt40 car and driver. Interestingly, the first seven produced had a vin number beginning with ford gt, while the cars after those had a vin beginning with ford gt40. When driver mario andretti crashed the car at le mans 1967, the cage is believed to have saved his life. Its an icon, the patron saint of american motorsports, the infamous result of personal rivalries between three automotive titans. Heres the real story behind the le manswinning ford gt40. Ford 302 v8 500hp 5 speed zf manual 2400 lbs top speed 204 mph.

Take a look at the historic ford gt40 superformance, hear a real owners likes and dislikes and discover how many stars he rates it packed with all. The 1963 lola mk6 gt led to the ford gt40 hot rod network. Early issues with the car were apparent as the ford motor company team tried to accomplish in 10 months what ferrari had perfected. Ken miles, the driver behind fords victory over ferrari at.

Shelby hired british world war ii veteran, mechanic and race car driver ken miles to help him achieve his goal of besting ferrari and the biggest endurance racing event in the world. Miles had a reputation for courtesy on the track and was sometimes called the stirling moss of the west coast. Testing out the superformance ford gt40, which was featured in ford v. Victory in the 1966 24 hours of le mans should have gone to ken miles and denny hulme, driving the ford gt40 mk ii that carried chassis number p1015.

Once all of the press duties were completed the gt40 was purchased by anthony bamford of jcb and subsequently by the mather family. It is a handbuilt clone of the original with carbon fiber bodywork built by a man called andrew broadly of gt40 north america inc. Ford gt a comparison of three generations kelley blue book. Ford gt40 experiences phoenix arizona racing adventures. Only the mk iv model was designed and built in the united states. The ford gt would be based off of the lola mk6 gt sports car. The cars custom interior is more luxurious than any 60sera race driver could have ever dreamed, not to mention the air suspension and custom wheels. The gt40 program became the single biggest racing investment in ford s history. He became the chief test driver of shelbyamerican in 1963. And now the car that legendary race car driver ken.

Cast in california, these blocks are stronger and 40% lighter than the original cast iron blocks. Gt108 went back to work in october 1965, acting as a test car for the new x and j series ford gt40s fielded by kar kraft, making way for the mk iv iteration of fords highlyanticipated racecar. Still, even in death, ken miles was an unsung racing hero. Nov 08, 2019 take a look at the historic ford gt40 superformance, hear a real owners likes and dislikes and discover how many stars he rates it packed with all the information you need to know on this. Foyt drove at a time when there was nothing that americans couldnt do, and america was the most. Nov 15, 2019 shelby hired british world war ii veteran, mechanic and race car driver ken miles to help him achieve his goal of besting ferrari and the biggest endurance racing event in the world. He began racing fords new gt40 cars, winning the 1966 daytona 24 hours race among a collection of other top spots. The mk i, mk ii, and mk iii variants were designed and built in england based upon the british lola mk6.

The ford gt40 mk ii that shouldnt have won le mans in. Foyt, jackie ickx and dan gurney all drove the ford gt40 to victory. The chassis has been modified to take the gt40 protot more. Superformance honors ford gt40s 50th with future gt forty. Gt40 p1067 rolled out of the ford advanced vehicles factory in slough. Used as the the sound engineering car for the 2019 james mangold film ford vs. The exterior will be sprayed with the current gts endurance racing livery to create a synthesis of the old and new. The ford gt40 is a highperformance endurance racing car. Ferrari ford gt 40 mkii is going up for auction robb. The 24 hours of le mans being just weeks away, the cars were. Superformance gt40 and cobra movie car test drive from ford v ferrari. The superformance gt40 is the spiritual heir to the throne, a realworld race car with an originalstyle suspension, and at a fraction of the price of the new ford gt. Later crash testing would show just how dangerous the gt40 was, with every driver sitting in a magnesium pontoon boat filled with fuel. Meet the 1966 ford gt40 mk ii that won le mans for america.

Nov 15, 2019 ken miles was a race car driver hired by shelby as a test driver. Ii chassis p1046 entered the 24 hours of le mans and was piloted by kiwis bruce mclaren and. Nov 18, 2019 the first two ford gt40 prototypes were completed in slough, england, in the spring of 1964, labeled as chassis gt101 and gt102. On hand at laguna are three stunning ford gts, prototypes of the makers remarkable new gt40 inspired supercar. Gateway classic cars of philadelphia is presenting a 1966 cav gt40 for sale. As a direct result of miles death, the car was renamed the ford mk iv and outfitted with a steel rollover cage. Feb 19, 2014 the ford s registration plate helps tell the car s story.

The ford gt40 is not just a successful race car from a bygone era. Ken miles, the driver behind fords victory over ferrari. The car won its class on the way to 4th overall in 1964, the first year of the ford gt40 program, but driver bob bondurant thought the car could have won the whole thing if not for an issue with a. Priceless ford gt40 found buried in junkfilled garage. The tanks ruptured, the car caught fire, and mcleans chance. Details about car and driver magazine february 2002 ford gt40. Aug 17, 2017 as tiddly as the firm was, its racing car was the right configuration, had an aluminium body, and used a ford v8. The pretty highs and hot lows of driving a replica vintage race car. Ford gt40 mk4 7000 cc fantastic original condition call us. Ford intended the jcar to be a follow up to the ford gt mk. The new ford gt is technically wonderful, brilliant to drive, and to be admired. The 427 fe engine became popular in the 1960s as the first power plant for the big block cobra. Superformance gt40 and cobra movie car test drive from. Ken miles was a race car driver hired by shelby as a test driver.

They could allow the drivers to settle the outcome by racing each otherand risk one or both cars breaking down or crashing. The life and times of the 1966 le manswinning ford gt40 mkii. Ii chassis p1046 entered the 24 hours of le mans and was piloted by kiwis bruce mclaren and chris amon. Aug 10, 2016 the superformance gt40 is the spiritual heir to the throne, a realworld race car with an originalstyle suspension, and at a fraction of the price of the new ford gt.

When carroll shelby and ford gave up on the car ken miles. I grew up driving american muscle cars, and while their market value wasnt as high in the. The ford gt is a lowvolume, ultrahighperformance model, so its not crashtested by either agency that conducts these evaluations. Aug 30, 2016 the ford gt40 is not just a successful race car from a bygone era. Instead, controversial team orders requested that the first, second and thirdplace gt40s join ranks for a. Theres not really another car as emotionally charged as the gt40.

The origins of the ford gt40 and the victory at le mans in 1966. The gt40 program became the single biggest racing investment in fords history. The two get to work, testing the gt40 mk extensively and fixing its flaws until it is ready to challenge the big boys. Bruce mclaren and chris amon drove this blackandsilver gt40, chassis p1046, to first place at le mans 50 years ago. As tiddly as the firm was, its racing car was the right configuration, had an aluminium body, and used a ford v8. These drivers were everywhere on the international circuit at the time. Aug 04, 2019 gt108 went back to work in october 1965, acting as a test car for the new x and j series ford gt40s fielded by kar kraft, making way for the mk iv iteration of ford s highlyanticipated racecar. Ferrari may be headlined by two oscar winners, but the real star of the film is a ford gt40 mkii. This powertrain solution is just one option, should showgoers and car nuts convince ford to produce more than one gt40. Jun 17, 2016 and this is the car that earned ford that first win back in 1966. New zealander bruce mclaren was the initial test track driver as the car was put through its paces.

Matt damon plays carroll shelby, a former race car driverturnedcar designer, who helped develop the gt40 which would go on to complete against ferrari at the end of the movie. Bruce mclaren and chris amon drove this black and silver gt40, chassis p1046, to first place at le mans 50 years ago. Almost all whos who of automotive legends drove this car. Likewise, it lacks any of the driver assistance technology. The car ford built to beat the ferraris in the 1960s. Airstream model u synus evos iosis iosismax gt70 gt90 nucleon f250 super chief giugiaro mustang interceptor soybean car. The ford gt began life as a concept car designed in anticipation of the automakers centennial year and as part of its drive to showcase and revive its heritage.

Superformance honors ford gt40s 50th with future gt. Ford gt40 mk i continuation by superformance first drive. We take the ford gt to the le mans circuit in france, plus log full test numbers. Car and driver magazine february 2002 ford gt40 ebay. The story of the ford gt40, told by 25 rare photos thrillist. It was effectively a prototype gt40 in all but name. You can now buy the ford gt40 mkii that starred in ford v. Superformance gt40 and cobra movie car test drive from ford v. Jun 17, 2016 later crash testing would show just how dangerous the gt40 was, with every driver sitting in a magnesium pontoon boat filled with fuel.

The ford gt40 is a timeless race car, and superformance wanted to pay tribute to both old and new with its future gt forty sema show car. On hand at laguna are three stunning ford gts, prototypes of the makers remarkable new gt40inspired supercar. This replica, one of two made for the film, was driven by actor christian bale in the movie and will be auctioned in january. But fords historic 1966 le mans win changed the company and auto. Ceo of slc, we were offered the right seat and wheel in the actual gt40 continuation car dont call them. The muchmodified gt40 roadster was used in its altered configuration for some five months, until the filming of le mans was. Our 427 fe engines start with our aluminum 427 block.