Marshals work to clear up and move the Ford GT40 of Peter Sutcliffe / Dieter Spoerry following an accident, as photographers take pictures. June 19, 1966 ID: 6066 The car was the GT40, the main people behind its success were Henry Ford II, Lee Iacocca, Leo Beebe, the indubitable Carroll Shelby, and of course, the lanky Brit racer, Ken Miles. Not only did the Ford GT40 win the Le Mans in 1966, but also did a 1-2-3 photo finish, the three cars that came in at number one, two and three, were all Ford GT40s. Ferrari have not won at Le Mans since. This perfect 1:8 scale model of the Ford GT40 is based on the chassis #1075, which was victorious at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1969. Driven by Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver, the #6 car recorded the real closest-run finish in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, and one of the greatest in all of the history But Ford of America won the (half) day. Though its victor – the lightweight X-1 roadster, one of two aluminium chassis built by Abbey Panels – was unsuitable for Le Mans because of draggy aerodynamics, bigger was now officially better. “Engines let down our cars,” says Alan Mann Racing fabricator Jim Rose. Drivers run to their cars at the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, at the Circuit de la Sarthe, in Le Mans, France, June 18, 1966. The four cars in the foreground are Ford GT40 MkI models. Limited-run model pays tribute to iconic racer; mimics the look of 1966's winning car. The Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition has been created to pay tribute to the success of the 1966 Ford Le Mans KhXMT. Jacky Ickx nonchalantly walks toward his Ford GT40 at the start in 1969 in protest at the traditional Le Mans starting proceedure, which he deemed dangerous. Jackie Oliver praises the well-proven GT40, which broke the Ferrari stranglehold at Le Mans in 1966-67. He describes it as easy to drive, stable, and reliable. Ford’s ultimate ambition was to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most prestigious sports car race, a feat that its GT40 program achieved in 1966 and 1967. In the US, Shelby American and Holman & Moody were the teams that Ford contracted to run its factory racing cars and develop the GT40 into a Le Mans winner. As for the other Ford GT40 roadsters, chassis GT/108 was the prototype, and never raced in period. Perhaps the most original example, it sold at a 2014 RM Sotheby’s auction for $6.93 million . Chassis GT/109, the sister car to 108, was prepared for the 1965 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans by Shelby American, and during the race it was Derek Hill, the Daytona 24 Hour and Sebring 12 Hour class winner and son of Le Mans and Formula 1 icon Phil Hill, was one of those stunt drivers. He attributes his ability to drive for the camera 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II #2 Le Mans Winner in 1:18 Scale by Shelby Collectibles by Shelby Collectibles. Shelby - 1966 Ford GT-40 MK II Hardtop #2. Winner Le Mans 1:18 scale diecast collectible model car. Ford had to spend three years and about $3 million before reaching its goal of becoming a leader in motorsports: In 1966, the Ford GT40 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The win wasn't easy for Ford.

ford gt40 winner le mans 1966