By 1963, Henry Ford II, the company’s namesake and the company’s grandson, had determined that purchasing a Ferrari would be the quickest route to bring Ford into the racetrack. After months of careful discussion, Ford despatched a team of dealmakers to Modena, Italy to work out a deal with Enzo Ferrari.
In This Article...
Ford attempted to purchase Ferrari when?
In order to increase their domestic automobile sales with Ferrari’s participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ford Motor Company Vice President Lee Iacocca suggests to Henry Ford II in 1963 that they buy the cash-strapped Italian sports and racing car maker Ferrari.
Has Ford ever defeated Ferrari?
As you might anticipate from a Hollywood movie, the plotline strayed from reality a bit. What portions of the movie are therefore accurate, and what details were exaggerated for artistic and dramatic effect? Check out the second in a series of videos covering the actual race and the movie in the one up top (part 1 can be viewed below).
At a race in California, did Ken Miles actually throw a wrench at Shelby? Has he ever thrown a punch at him in public? Was Ford management sabotaging Miles after he had a multiple-lap lead at Le Mans because they wanted their other drivers to win? At the finish line, what actually transpired? What did the actual podium scenario look like?
Using exclusive footage from Motorsport.tv’s Le Mans archive and images from Motorsport Images, we tell the story of what actually happened with interviews with a number of motorsport experts, including Miles’s son Peter, who was a young boy when all the real-life drama unfolded. Tom Kristensen, a nine-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, serves as the narration.
Enzo Ferrari’s denial of Ford: Why?
Ford created its first sports car in the early 1960s as a result of a shift in American consumer behavior. Unlike their parents and grandparents, who preferred comfort and dependability, boomers of the time preferred sportier, better-performing vehicles. Ford intended to cater to this growing consumer base, but its lineup lacked anything resembling a sports car to aid in the development. Henry Ford II and his staff made the decision to buy one as a result.
Ford made an easy choice in choosing Ferrari. The Italian manufacturer dominated the races back then and only sold street cars to finance its racing endeavors. It appeared that the two companies could come to an understanding and work together to accomplish their main objectives.
Enzo Ferrari first accepted the proposal. After protracted and laborious talks, it appeared that the contract needed just a few more signatures to be finalized. Ferrari, though, abruptly withdrew. Enzo Ferrari allegedly turned down the offer because he wasn’t prepared to give up management of the motorsports program to anyone else.
He must have been really angry about the clause in the contract. Henry II was criticized by Enzo Ferrari for building unattractive factories and producing ugly cars. According to rumors, Enzo Ferrari even insulted Henry II by claiming that he lacked the knowledge of his grandpa.
That’s not all, though. By selling most of Ferrari’s stock to Fiat, Enzo Ferrari put another nail in the coffin of his partnership with Ford. Ford viewed this as a ruse Ferrari pulled on Fiat to drive up the price. Henry II was the one who was furious.
Which is better, a Ferrari or a Ford?
Mike Salmon and Eric Liddell’s 4.7-liter Ford GT40 was being pursued by a Matra MS630 and an Alfa Romeo T33B 2 at Le Mans in 1968.
The Ford feels what it is: stronger and heavier, even before you have traveled anywhere. The Ferrari has custom controls, an open gate gearbox, and an amazing view forward over those sculpted front wings. It feels like a delicate jewel. The Ford functions much more like a tool.
However, drawing the incorrect conclusion that the Ferrari was inevitably the more vulnerable of the two would be a mistake. Yes, if I had to crash one, I would much prefer to be in the monocoque Ford, but if I had to bet on one to last 24 hours, I would always support the Ferrari. Contrary to what I believe most people believe about American V8s, the ZF gearbox is not the strongest, and the Ford engine is easily damaged, especially if you downshift a little too early. Ferrari’s faster revving, freer spinning V12, on the other hand, could be pounded into the ground and not fail its driver.
The client Ferrari would have most certainly outperformed the customer GT40 in terms of speed, but it was a pure prototype as opposed to the Ford, which was produced in far greater quantities (dozens as opposed to a small number of 412Ps). However, it’s important to keep in mind that Ford had to wait till a 7.0-litre engine to ultimately pound its way to a performance edge over its competition.
Chris Amon and Nino Vaccarella’s Ferrari 330P4 at Le Mans in 1967, followed closely by Giancarlo Baghetti and Pedro Rodrigues’ Ferrari 412P.
My memories of the Ferrari are of a car with light steering, a super-precise gearbox, the most wonderful sound, and a sense of occasion that is rivaled by very few others in fact. I haven’t driven both on the circuit at the same time. Due to its synchromesh ‘box, the Ford is heavier to handle and shifts more slowly, but it has a sound that is equally as fascinating despite being more like Detroit thunder than Maranello song.
The Ferrari would be my first choice to drive again due of its rarity, exquisite sound, and thoroughbred-like feel. However, very few people in that era would have had that option: Ferrari only provided 412Ps to its preferred teams, including Ecurie Nationale Belge, North American Racing Team, Scuderia Filipinetti in Switzerland, and Maranello Concessionaires in the UK. Ford, on the other hand, would give everybody who wanted one a GT40. They are both wonderful automobiles.
The Ford vs. Ferrari rumor: is it true?
James Mangold directed the true story-based film Ford vs. Ferrari. The movie is about a 24-hour endurance event that occurred at the 1966 Le Mans race. A team of auto engineers engaged by Ford to develop a racing that can outperform a Ferrari sports vehicle at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France is the center of the movie’s plot. Carroll Shelby, a pioneer in the automotive industry, and British race car driver Ken Miles are in charge of the Ford team. Carroll Shelby is portrayed in the movie by Matt Damon, while Ken Miles is portrayed by Christian Bale, who also plays Batman.
In the Ford v. Ferrari race, who was the genuine driver?
Ford v Ferrari’s depiction of Ken Miles’ passing isn’t too dissimilar from the truth, despite some specifics being altered for the sake of the narrative.
Ford v Ferrari’s depiction of Ken Miles’ passing isn’t too dissimilar from the truth, despite some specifics being altered for the sake of the narrative. The real-life account of Ford’s victory over the defending champion Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans has long been a Hollywood dream come true, and for good reason. It’s a fascinating story of squabbling egos, backroom dealings, and gifted artists trying to strike a balance between artistic integrity and commercial viability. It all culminates in a thrilling car race where one wrong move could result in a catastrophic collision and possibly instantaneous death for the drivers.
Ford v Ferrari, directed by James Mangold, eventually made it to the big screen after an earlier version starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt failed (Logan). In the movie, Matt Damon plays Carroll Shelby, a former racecar driver-turned-automotive designer tasked with creating the Ford GT40, a new racing vehicle that will enable Ford to finally dethrone Ferrari as the winners of the yearly Le Mans competition. Previously collaborating with Mangold on his 3:10 to Yuma adaptation, Christian Bale co-stars as Ken Miles, a highly skilled but temperamental World War II veteran turned professional racer who Shelby (an old friend) asks to assist him.
The film tragically shows how Miles was killed while testing a new Ford automobile (the J-car) at the Riverside International Raceway in Southern California, just a few months after Ford defeated Ferrari in the 1966 Le Mans (and he missed out on being the individual winner on a technicality). In reality, Miles was thrown from the car and killed instantly as it unexpectedly flipped, crashed, and caught fire for reasons that are still unknown to this day. After a full day of test runs, something happened just as the driver was approaching the track’s end. Viewers are dealt a cruel blow as the last laps of Ford v. Ferrari are wrapping up.
Ford owns Shelby, right?
Carroll Shelby worked with Dodge during the 1980s as a result of his close friendship with Lee Iacocca. However, the Shelby name will always be associated with the Ford Performance Division. Shelby American, however, continues to exist separately. Enterprise, Nevada serves as the location of the headquarters.
Ford Performance re-released the Shelby Mustang in 2005. The GT badge was also brought back shortly after. Carroll Shelby died on May 11, 2012, yet he was able to secure the future of his business.
Shelby American creates authentically American performance vehicles with roots in Carroll Shelby’s past that go all the way back to his father’s two-door Ford car and his passion for flying extremely quickly in the storied B-26 bomber. Although Shelby American isn’t formally owned by Ford Motor Company, the Shelby story isn’t done, and collaborations with Ford Performance are certain to continue.
Who was the Shelby driver who defeated Ferrari?
The other half of the Ford v Ferrari motorsport bromance was Ken Miles (Christian Bale), an English race car driver who ended up being the victor for an American automaker. According to Motorsport, Miles was born in 1918 in Sutton Coldfield, England, and as a youngster worked as an apprentice at an engine manufacturer before enlisting in the British army at the outbreak of World War II and finally taking part in the 1944 D-Day landings.
One of Miles’ last competitions would be Le Mans in 1966. Later that year, a new experimental Ford was being tested in California when it overturned while traveling at 150 mph, killing the driver.
Ford’s current owner?
William “Bill” Clay Ford Jr., who serves as executive chairman of Ford Motor Company, is the great-grandson of Henry Ford. Bill had 6.8 million common shares of Ford Motor Company stock as of March 2018.
Shelby allegedly made Ford cry.
11 Henry Ford II Cried When He Saw The Speed And Power In the film, Shelby seizes Beebe and drives Henry Ford II away in the prototype to demonstrate the GT40’s capabilities. In the film, Henry Ford II sobs as a result.
Fiat still owns Ferrari, right?
The bulk of Ferrari will be owned by the public by 2020, but if you find yourself wondering, “Doesn’t FIAT own Ferrari?” you’re not the only one (just a few years late)
Shelby stopped racing, why?
Carroll The driver, Shelby Shelby’s racing career reached its apex in 1959 when he drove an Aston Martin to victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the pinnacle of international sports car racing. Shelby gave from racing in 1960 due to a cardiac issue.
How many more Ford GT40s are there?
Any car takes a long time to develop, let alone one with the historical and cultural significance as the Ford GT40. And now, one of the five prototypes models used during testing, might be yours after it was advertised for sale.
The prototype, chassis number GT/105, was a crucial milestone in the car’s development leading up to its final victory at Le Mans, and Duncan Hamilton Rofgo in the UK has now listed it for sale. While all test models are intended to find and fix technical problems, this one may be the one that paved the way for the GT40 MkII, which gave the Detroit carmaker its most illustrious racing victory.
Henry Ford Jr.’s quest to defeat the Italian performance titans at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race the latter company had dominated, gave rise to the GT40, as was depicted in last year’s Ford v Ferrari. And Ford was able to do just that, taking first, second, and third in the endurance race in 1966, thanks to the assistance of renowned auto designer Carroll Shelby, great racing car driver Ken Miles, and a few years of time.
The final of the initial five prototype cars produced in the UK in 1964 was this one. It was the first GT40 equipped with a 289-cubic-inch V8 with a ZF gearbox and the first one made with the vehicle’s production-spec bodywork. It was used for testing, development, and racing. Racing greats like Richard Attwood, Bruce McLaren, Phil Hill, and Bob Bondurant all got behind the wheel, albeit Miles himself never did. The vehicle, which has logged more test kilometers than any previous prototype, served as the firm’s test vehicle at Le Mans in 1965. Despite all this, the dealership believes the automobile is in immaculate form, having sustained no serious damage.
You must contact Duncan Hamilton Rofgo for price details if you wish to add this GT40 to your collection. Just be prepared to lose roughly seven figures from your wallet. Only three of the original five GT40 prototypes are still in existence; the other two are housed in the Shelby Heritage Center in Las Vegas. Rarely do race cars like this one appear.