The 1966 finish.
Posted on 06/17/2016 7:36:55 AM PDT by MtnClimber
At the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi, Porsche, and Toyota will battle for the win with their futuristic hybrid race cars, but another carmaker is getting all of the attention. Ford and its quartet of GTs won’t be in the running for an overall win, but the Blue Oval is nonetheless the biggest Le Mans story this year.
So what’s the big deal?
Basically, it’s a case of déjà vu. Fifty years ago, Ford won Le Mans with its GT40, the culmination of a fierce battle with Ferrari. Today’s GT supercar is inspired by the GT40, and Ford would very much like a win in the GTE Pro class for production cars in order to drive that point home. There’s no feud with Ferrari this time, but Ford’s reputation is definitely on the line.
An epic rivalry
The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans went pretty well for Ford. Its cars finished 1-2-3, and Ferrari was never really in contention. But that victory came only after defeats in 1964 and 1965, showing the determination of Henry Ford II to beat Enzo Ferrari on the biggest motor sport stage in the world.
Grandson of company founder Henry Ford and referred to as “The Deuce,” Ford’s then boss had offered to buy Ferrari in 1963, but Enzo Ferrari went back on the deal. In his book on Ford/Ferrari rivalry, Go Like Hell, author A.J. Baime argues that Enzo spurned Ford because of concerns he wouldn’t maintain full control of Ferrari’s racing operations. Whatever the reason, Henry Ford II was not happy.
“All right,” he said upon hearing the news that the deal was dead, “We’ll beat his ass. We’re going to race him.”
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
The race is this weekend and will be televised in its entirety switching between Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2.
It’s so cool having another Ford GT at Le Mans. I am old enough to remember the first GT40 in the sixties, still one of the most beautiful cars in it’s class.
The writer of this story fails to mention that Ford also won 1967 1968 and 1969
The 1966 finish.
Thanks, just set it up on the DVR. Looks like about an hour is missing...no real big deal, though.
I am a big fan of the V6 Ecoboost engine. I have it in a Lincoln MKT. I humiliate BMW’s, Lexi and Volvos all the time with it and it is in a much bigger car than those other brands.
Fantastic at elevation and great fuel economy as well.
As a pickup truck motor I haven’t been impressed. MPG or power.
Go FoMoCo! [Sometimes MoFoCo... Heh.]
The GT40 (along with the Ferrari 330 P4) to me is arguably one of the best looking racing vehicles ever put on the track...and one of the best at winning.
I am old enough to remember the first GT40 in the sixties, still one of the most beautiful cars in it’s class
So am I. I still have a Cox.029 fuel powered model in green with white stripes
Sorry Cox.049
I have a diecast model of that number 6 car in 1/12 scale or something like that very expensive but beautiful
Ford’s Le Mans winning streak continued through 1967, 1968, and 1969, after which new rules made its GT40 obsolete, and the 1970s oil crises made performance less fashionable.
I had a big GT40 poster in my room when I was a kid. Gulf Oil livery, of course.
I remember those! Wanted one, but Dad got me the "Baja Bug" instead. He just wasn't a "car guy".
Cool! I had a Cox Ford GT40 slot car. Sadly, it’s long gone.
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