GT 40, Born out of spite

In 1963, Henry Ford II took Enzo Ferrari’s refusal to sell his Maranello company so personally that he decided to create his very own racing department to build a car that would outperform Ferrari at Le Mans. That car was the GT40, a masterpiece deserving of its own tale. It has become so iconic and ingeniously designed that even in its modern reimagined form, it remains highly captivating. The GT40 occupies a special place in automotive history.

Following the Roarington tradition of providing five key insights - who, when, where, how, and why - we uncover the story behind this legendary racer.

Why: let’s begin right here. In the early 1960s, Henry Ford II had tried to acquire a small but prestigious Italian automaker: Ferrari. He was tired of seeing newspapers and TV programs filled with reports of Ferrari’s victories while he had to spend a fortune on advertising just to be noticed. But, despite initially appearing open to the idea, Enzo Ferrari ultimately bluffed, for his true goal was to remain Italian with his beloved red cars. And so it was.

The first version of the Ford GT40 presented in New York in April 1964.

Who: in the face of Ferrari’s rejection, Henry Ford’s only choice was to follow the same path as the Italian manufacturer: win races and, more importantly, beat Ferrari on the racetrack - a far more powerful means of gaining publicity through motorsport. But how could an American company beat the established European constructors from so far away? This is where the brilliant English engineer Eric Broadley stepped into the picture, alongside a pure-blooded American like Carroll Shelby. Shelby, having already created the AC Cobra with a mighty American engine and British mechanics, became the driving force behind Ford’s GT40 project. The soul of the GT40 resides in these three men.

The Ford GT40 debuted at Le Mans in 1964. Note the flaps mounted to prevent the car from losing grip at high speeds. The three cars entered had technical problems and withdrew.

Where: Ford’s original decision was to create a development centre for the car destined for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and beyond, in England. Established in Slough and named Ford Advanced Vehicles, this technological hub drew heavily on the expertise of its founder, Eric Broadley, the creator of Lola cars.

When the Ford GT40 made its debut in 1964, it astounded with its harmonious balance: a mid-rear engine layout, functional and elegant lines in both closed and open-top versions. These traits were significantly different from the aggressive, spartan European race cars designed solely for victory. The year was 1964, and three GT40s lined up at the start of the iconic French 24-hour race, driven by legends such as Phil Hill, Bruce McLaren, Richie Ginther, and Masten Gregory. One of them was an open-top version, perhaps serving as a commercial marketing choice. Ford’s powerful GT40s were highly anticipated, but they proved to be fragile and retired due to transmission failure without glory.

The first major win after Carroll Shelby’s arrival came at Daytona. The car underwent numerous developments and demonstrated its potential.

How: this cold shower gave Carroll Shelby’s audacious vision for racing cars plenty of room to breathe. Called to the rescue by Ford, the former driver and budding constructor asked himself, “What engine does Ferrari have?” The answer was a 4,000 cc engine. Shelby’s response: “Well, we’ll put in a 7,000 cc engine,” taking full advantage of the regulatory freedom.

Thanks to this larger engine, the magnificent Ferrari 312 P cars were eventually outpaced by the GT40 Mk2 cars, a fact recently depicted in the film “Ford v Ferrari.”

The 1966 MKII veersion finally took Ford to victory at Le Mans with three cars arriving in the top three. The new 7.0 engine contributed decisively to its success.

When: it was the 1966 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans that marked the turning point, with Ford’s three cars arriving in formation, proving that when Americans want to, they win. Equally newsworthy was the peculiar criterion used to rank the three cars: rather than considering the finishing order, the organizers examined the kilometres and metres covered, awarding victory to the MK2 that had started further back on the grid in the famous “Le Mans-style” running start, where drivers rushed to their seats. The winning team was that of Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon.

Ford’s glory at Le Mans repeated itself in 1967 and 1968. However, Ferrari knew how to react and, in 1967, on American soil at the 24 Hours of Daytona, returned the favour to Ford. This is the beauty of motorsport: two continents, two cultures and traditions, one ultimate goal.

The iconic Gulf livery of John Wyer's JWA team that won the 1968 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the GT40.