Ford GT40: The Car That Broke Ferrari's Heart

The creation of the Ford GT40 stems from one of the most famous corporate grudges in history. In the early 1960s, Henry Ford II attempted to buy Ferrari to dominate global endurance racing. Enzo Ferrari abruptly backed out of the deal at the last minute. Infuriated, Ford directed his racing division and Carroll Shelby to build a world-beating race car specifically to crush Ferrari at the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans, a historic feat they achieved with four consecutive overall victories from 1966 to 1969.

The name is a literal description of the vehicle's physical dimensions and racing classification. "GT" stands for Grand Touring, the endurance racing class the car was designed to compete in. The "40" refers to the car's incredibly low overall height: it measures exactly 40 inches from the ground to the top of the windshield. Experience the extreme engineering required to package a massive American V8 engine into a racing chassis that barely reaches the waistline of an average adult.

Depending on the "Mark" (generation) and the specific race track, the GT40 utilized two legendary Ford V8 engines.

289 cubic-inch Small-Block V8

Used heavily in the Mk I and Mk III. It was incredibly reliable and lightweight, helping the GT40 win Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.

427 cubic-inch (7.0L) FE Big-Block V8

Crammed into the Mk II and Mk IV models by Carroll Shelby. Producing nearly 500 HP, this massive engine provided the brute, high-speed force necessary to finally dethrone Ferrari and sweep the podium in 1966.

While they share a similar silhouette, they represent rapid evolutionary steps in 1960s racing technology. The Mk I was the original British-built chassis powered by the 289 V8. The Mk II was heavily modified by Shelby American to fit the massive 427 V8 and a heavier transaxle. The Mk IV (which won Le Mans in 1967) was radically different; it was the first GT40 built entirely in the United States, featuring a highly advanced, aerospace-style aluminum honeycomb chassis and a much more aerodynamic body shell.

Yes, but in extremely limited numbers. To homologate the race car for specific racing classes, Ford built the GT40 Mark III. Only seven of these street-legal versions were ever produced. To make it drivable on public roads, Ford softened the suspension, installed a milder 289 V8 engine, added an interior ashtray, elongated the rear bodywork to create a tiny luggage trunk, and moved the headlights to comply with road safety regulations.

During the 1960s, the Ford GT40 possessed terrifying, mind-bending speed. On the legendary, 3.7-mile Mulsanne Straight at the Le Mans circuit, the 427-powered Mark II GT40s were officially clocked at over 210 MPH (338 km/h). Driving a lightweight, tin-roofed race car with no modern electronic driver aids, traction control, or advanced aerodynamics at over 200 MPH required absolute nerves of steel from legendary drivers like Ken Miles and Bruce McLaren.

An original, documented 1960s Ford GT40 is one of the most valuable collector cars on the planet. Because only 105 original chassis were ever built across all variants, and many were destroyed in violent racing accidents, they rarely come up for public auction. When they do, a standard Mk I typically sells for $3 million to $5 million. However, historically significant models, such as the actual 1966 Le Mans-winning Mk II or the iconic Gulf-liveried cars, have sold for staggering sums between $10 million and $20 million.

Yes, because original cars are multi-million dollar museum pieces, a massive "continuation" and replica industry thrives today.

Hugegarage Technical Tip: Companies like Superformance and ERA Replica Automobiles build highly authentic GT40 replicas. The Superformance GT40 is actually recognized as a true "continuation" car; it is so dimensionally accurate that over two-thirds of its steel monocoque chassis parts are directly interchangeable with an original 1960s GT40. These high-end, turn-key replicas typically cost between $150,000 and $250,000.

While Henry Ford II wrote the checks, the GT40 was born in England. Ford partnered with Eric Broadley, the founder of Lola Cars. The very first GT40 chassis was heavily based on the Lola Mk6 mid-engine prototype. Ford set up a facility in Slough, England (Ford Advanced Vehicles), managed by John Wyer, to build the first cars. It wasn't until the early aerodynamic designs proved highly unstable at high speeds that Ford handed the program over to the Texan, Carroll Shelby, to finalize the winning formula.

This remains one of the most controversial finishes in motorsport history (and the climax of the film Ford v Ferrari). Ken Miles was dominating the 1966 race in the #1 GT40. Ford executives ordered Miles to slow down so the three leading GT40s could cross the finish line together for a spectacular photo opportunity. However, race officials ruled that Bruce McLaren's #2 car had started further back on the grid and therefore had driven a slightly longer total distance, robbing Ken Miles of his rightful first-place trophy.