The Ford GT 40 named after the class Gran Turismo and its height of 40 inches ruled the 24 hours of Le Mans from 1966 to 1969. For 4 years in a row, he crossed the finish line in first place. A total of 134 pieces were built of the GT40 as a racing and street version in the years 1964 to 1968.
After the American car manufacturers had retired from motor racing in 1957 which brought a negative image for the car brands, Henry Ford II decided to get back into international racing in 1962. By participating in the popular long-distance races of Le Mans and Indianapolis, he wanted to advertise the Ford brand, pointing out the engineering and reliability of the company. His plan worked: Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren celebrated the victory at Le Mans in 1966 in a Mk2, which was powered by a new 7-liter engine and thus reached a top speed of about 320 km/h. Three more series wins followed.
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Report by collectorscarworld.com /Â rs65photos.com
Photos by Rainer Selzer
