Porter Press has published the second volume of its landmark four-volume work Ultimate Ford GT40, which chronicles the Le Mans-winning sports-racing car in unprecedented detail.
Volume 2 investigates the origins of the GT40, including Ford’s initial plan to buy Ferrari, the story of the Lola Mk6, from which many design cues were taken, and subsequent development of the Ford GT project.
It details the design and build of the prototypes and early production cars, and the extensive testing programme, followed by the setting up of FAV and the arrival of Shelby and the GT40 Mark II. The competition début of the car is chronicled, along with all the 1964 races in which the GT40 competed, and the 1965 races up to and including Le Mans.
The authors have been granted unique access to several thousand pages of original 1960s documentation produced not only by Ford, but also by its agents Ford Advanced Vehicles and Shelby American. With the cooperation of the Ford Motor Company, many previously unseen photographs have been made available to illustrate the GT40 throughout its design build and racing career. Additionally, other photographers and agencies have delved into their archives to come up with pictures which hitherto have not been seen in print.
This fascinating and substantial collection of new material, complemented by previously unpublished interviews with many of those involved with the GT40 in period, has enabled the authors to produce an unparalleled history of the car, providing much new insight and analysis.
Volume 1 of Ultimate Ford GT40, providing chassis records and photos for every GT40 built, was written by Ronnie Spain and published in December 2024.
Volume 2 begins the chronological history of the GT40, from its roots in the early 1960s through the challenges of its formative racing career.
Volume 3 will tell the story from post-Le Mans 1965 up to and including Le Mans 1966, and Volume 4 will cover the period from post-Le Mans 1966 to 1970.
Together, the four volumes will provide the most detailed and comprehensive study of the GT40’s history ever undertaken – the ultimate work on these iconic cars.
Key Points:
- Lavish production, 576 pages, large-format, extensively illustrated with over 1,000 period photographs and documents
- The origins of the GT40
- The plan to buy Ferrari
- The Lola Mk6
- Designing and building the prototypes and production cars
- The testing programme
- The setting up of FAV and the arrival of Shelby
- The arrival of the GT40 Mark II
- The 1964 racing programme – the car’s début at the Nürburgring 1,000Kms, Le Mans 1964, the Reims 12 Hours, the Nassau Tourist Trophy.
- The early 1965 racing programme – Daytona Continental 2,000Kms, Sebring 12 Hours, the Le Mans test weekend, Monza 1,000Kms, Targa Florio, Silverstone International Sports Car race, Nürburgring 1,000Kms, Le Mans 1965.
- Biographies of important personalities involved in the GT40 programme, and the car’s drivers.
- Previously unpublished interviews with key personnel.
- A treasure-trove of previously unpublished documents and photographs, throwing new light on every aspect of the G40 story.
The Authors
The publisher has been fortunate in assembling a team of the world’s foremost expert authors and GT40 specialists, who are collaborating to bring their combined knowledge and experience of these cars to the project. For Volume 2 the writing team comprises Mark Cole, Graham Endeacott and John S Allen, with Mike Teske providing his expertise and material from his extensive GT40 archive.
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more information: porterpress.co.uk
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