The Ford GT40 is the pinnacle of American racing all packed into one immaculate sport car. The GT40 was originally produced in 1964 and was manufactured to compete with the likes of Ferrari in the Le Mans 24-hour race, a race to test European long-distance sports cars. The GT within the Ford’s name stands for Grand Touring, and the 40 refers to the height of the car in inches.
Initially, engineer Eric Broadley created the Lola GT, a mid-engined race car that debuted in the 1963 Le Mans race. Ford saw the potential of the Lola GT, bought two of them, and gave three designers and engineers the task of turning the Lola GT into a Ford version that could dominate Le Mans. This is where the original prototype of the Ford GT40 was born, a car that would change the racing scene drastically.
The Ford GT40's Engine Was Ahead Of Its Time
One of the biggest issues highlighted in the original plans of the Ford GT40 was that the aerodynamics of the car were not able to keep up with the extreme power the engine produced. This also meant it wasn't durable enough to win long-distance races. In the 1964 Le Mans, three GT40s lined up to compete in the race, and by the 12-hour mark, all three of them had retired due to gearbox failure at high speeds.
At the beginning of 1966, Ford engineers perfected the masterpiece that was the GT40, taking the 24-hour Daytona race by storm with a 1-2-3 finish. By mid-1966, the GT40 was finally put to the test and went on to win Le Mans comfortably in front of Ford biggest rivals, Ferrari, once again in a mesmerizing 1-2-3 position.
Bruce McLaren was at the wheel of the Ford GT40 that took first place. The Ford GT40 housed a 7.0-liter V8 that produced a roaring 463 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, enough to achieve a top speed just shy of 200 mph on the track. This, paired with the improved aerodynamics of the vehicle, allowed Ford to take on Le Mans with ease. Drivers described the GT40 as having “lots of power” and it handled “damn good”. This incredible variant of the Ford GT40 was named the mark 2 which was able to outlast and outpace the competition in the grueling race.
The Ford GT40 Was Expertly Crafted Inside And Out
The 7.0-liter V8 engine that had previously been used in the Shelby Cobra, was paired up with a new ZF transmission, allowing the car to endure the brutal 24 race. In the 1966 Le Mans, Ford produced a mass amount of Ford GT40s, along with around 20 tons of spare parts, showing just how seriously they took it, and that's part of why it dominated the track and pushed competitors aside. During the 24-hour race, Ford’s biggest rivals, Ferrari, were eliminated overnight due to the rainy conditions, and by the next morning the GT40s were maintaining such a large lead that the team suggested slowing down to ensure they would finish the race at the brutal track.
The front-running cars were told to reduce their lap times in the hopes that the car was able to withstand the final stages of the race. The closest Ferrari finished the race in eight position, which was an unbelievable 47 laps behind the Ford GT40s. Ford went on to win the Le Mans the next year with two of their drivers, A.J Foyt and Dan Gurney, comfortably winning behind the wheel of the new Mark 4 version of the car which was easily able to dominate the Ferrari 330 P4.
The Ford GT40 Altered The Racing World Drastically
It is a given that the Ford GT40 was truly an impeccable car during its era and changed the course of racing history. The legacy Ford crafted with that car was one of the biggest shocks in the history of Le Mans, making it truly special. Only 87 Ford GT40s were produced, alongside 12 prototypes. With just short of 100 cars produced, the Ford GT40 is a rare gem in today’s market. One of the last street-legal GT40s was sold for $3.5 million, proving just how well-loved this incredible vehicle is.
Since Ford ended production, kit car manufacturers, such as Superformance, took over the production of the GT40, allowing regular people to get behind the wheel of one of the most iconic race cars ever made. Ford also built their own heir to the GT40's crown, the 2005 Ford GT, which was more of an evolution rather than a revolution of the original.
Source: Ford