Cars
Le Mans Yesterday and Today: Ford
Ford's Le Mans journey began with an ambitious rivalry with Ferrari, leading to the development of the iconic GT40. The GT40's four victories (1966-1969) remain legendary.
In sixth place among the most successful manufacturers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the American giant Ford, which in the early 1960s attempted to purchase Ferrari, intending to make it its racing division. Henry Ford II was frustrated that Ferrari dominated global headlines every Monday for its victories, while Ford had to spend a fortune on advertising for similar recognition. The deal seemed set, but Enzo Ferrari, wanting full control over racing decisions, broke off negotiations in 1963. In truth, Ferrari was also negotiating with Alfa Romeo and Fiat, ultimately agreeing with the latter to remain an Italian brand. Ford, feeling slighted, immediately sought revenge: Henry Ford decided to build Ford-branded race cars, developed in-house. The result was the Ford GT40, designed specifically for Le Mans.
Though the path was correct, to secure victory, the GT40 (standing for Gran Turismo and 40 inches tall, as per regulations) required engines up to 7,000 cc, while Ferrari's P3 and P4 used a 4,000 cc engine. The brilliance of the GT40 lay in its modern design: a rear-engine, sleek, elegant coupe—no small feat for a manufacturer focused on racing. The project was developed in the UK by Ford Advanced Vehicles in Slough, with input from Eric Bradley of Lola. The first version was powered by a 4.2-liter Ford V8 Fairlane engine, delivering around 350 hp.
