A remarkable conclusion to the real-life Le Mans of 1966 saw Ford defeat front-runner Ferrari when all three Ford vehicles finished in a tie.
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The Ford v Ferrari film, featuring Christian Bale as Ken Miles and Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby, brought the tale of Ken Miles, Carroll Shelby, and Ford’s GT40 defeating Ferrari at Le Mans in 1966 to the attention of the world. But what was the actual sequence of events that led to what happened?
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.
How did Ken Miles pass away?
In the film, Christian Bale’s Ken Miles is depicted as having experienced a crash two months after winning the Le Mans. Ken Miles is reportedly killed in the collision, which was reportedly caused by a brake failure. On August 16, 1966, at Riverside International Raceway, he allegedly crashed while testing the J-car.
Legendary driver Ken Miles defeated Ferrari to win the Le Mans race in 1966. It has been claimed that a mechanical issue with the vehicle Ken Miles was testing was to blame for the tragic incident that claimed his life in 1966. However, there are a lot of additional conspiracies surrounding Ken Miles’ sudden demise.
Ford vs. Ferrari: Who won?
Ford suffers another setback as Ferrari’s new 330 P4 destroys its GT40s in the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours, taking the race in a humiliating 1-2-3 finish, only months after Miles died in testing.
However, Shelby has the solution in the form of a brand-new, American-made vehicle named the Mark IV. It gets its revenge at the next year’s Le Mans with famous drivers Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt after a fantastic race that features a time when the leaders come to a stop out on the course in the most strange stand-off in motorsport history!
Ford defeating Ferrari?
In 1964, Ford Motor Company began making an effort to defeat Ferrari at Le Mans. After two disastrous seasons in which Fords were unable to even complete the race, the American carmaker experienced an exciting 1-2-3 sweep in 1966. On the podium, Henry Ford II celebrated the decisive victory alongside the two New Zealand-born race winners, Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon.
Ford vs. Ferrari: Why did McLaren prevail?
Miles was notified that he had not won the race after crossing the finish line. Bruce McLaren, a teammate of his, did. Several cars after Miles, McLaren began. Therefore, despite the fact that Miles was faster until the very end, McLaren really moved forward more quickly because Miles purposefully slowed down.
What transpired in the Ford vs. Ferrari finale?
The actual world Le Mans ’66 came to a thrilling conclusion with a historic result as all three Ford vehicles tied for first place when they passed the finish line.
What message does Ford vs. Ferrari convey?
Leaders need to have the courage to speak up for followers. The team needs to see that performance matters, thus leaders must be able to spotlight performers, emphasize their accomplishments, and do so. Ford vs. Ferrari is more than just a car or racing movie. This movie is about leadership.
What prevented Ferrari from selling to Ford?
Sadly, the narrative is not quite so straightforward. Henry Ford II tried to buy Ferrari in 1963, according to The New York Times. However, according to Forbes, the real action begins in 1962. Ford was attempting to recover from a decline in sales at the time. Ford Division general manager Lee Iacocca persuaded CEO Henry Ford II, the eldest son of Edsel Ford and the eldest grandson of Henry Ford, that the company should purchase a sports car in an effort to reverse the trend.
Ford was on the verge of acquiring Ferrari and all of its assets in 1963, making Ford’s ambitions of owning a sports car a reality. Forbes claims that Enzo Ferrari also anticipated the deal’s completion. Sadly, his excitement was short-lived when he learned that the deal had a provision that would give Ford control over the Ferrari racing team. Enzo rejected the agreement because he was unwilling to give up control of the Ferrari racing team.
Ford claimed to have won Le Mans.
The 34th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans was an event unto itself. We have all the data from the Automobile Club de laOuest archives, but just like the legend itself, there are countless possible interpretations.
When presenting the trophy to the champions of the world’s greatest endurance race on June 19, 1966, Automobile Club de laOuest president Jean-Marie LeliA vre was extremely affected. Because the 1966 edition had been everything but ordinary. Ford not only set new speed records to stop Ferrari’s winning streak, but the thrilling race’s dramatic conclusion also prompted a discussion that continues to rage today. Why? Ford devised a strategy to have its cars cross the finish line together in triumph in order to celebrate its first Le Mans victory in style.
Is Ford or Ferrari accurate?
Yes. The three Ford race vehicles that finished the 24 Hours of Le Mans race together have been captured on film and in photographs. Although Ken Miles had been several minutes ahead of the competition, Miles was awarded second place rather than first due to self-serving Ford orders and a technicality.
Does Ford vs. Ferrari have a depressing conclusion?
At the conclusion of the film, he perishes in a fatal accident after being defrauded of a victory at Le Mans due to an ineffective PR strategy. But the true tale of Miles’ enigmatic death is considerably more complex than what we see in the film.
What Ferrari was defeated by the GT40?
In 2016, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Ford’s triumph in 1966, Rushbrook’s crew guided Ford to victory in the GT class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans following a fierce battle with a Ferrari 488. The victory has aided in the global sales of Ford vehicles like the Mustang, making it the most popular sports car in the world.
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.
Ford’s current owner?
Jr. William Clay Ford William Clay Ford Jr., executive chair of Ford Motor Company, is guiding the organization into the twenty-first century.
How many Ford GT40s are still around?
Any car takes a long time to develop, let alone one with the historical and cultural significance as the Ford GT40. And now that it has been put up for sale, one of the five prototype versions used for testing might be yours.
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.
This automobile was the final of the five first prototypes made in the UK in 1964. 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. The company insists that despite everything, the car is in perfect condition and has not sustained any substantial 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.
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.
Miles and Shelby truly fought, right?
Some racial incidents were just included to advance the plot and strengthen the characters. The Willow Springs Raceway in California was one such instance. The conflict between Shelby, Miles, and Beebe was also exaggerated.
Although they did occasionally disagree with one another on their working practices, risk factors, etc., their disagreements weren’t as heated as they appeared in the film. Shelby and Miles also never actually argued, in contrast to how the movie depicted their relationship. Those scenes were just included to heighten the tension.
Did Ken Miles truly triumph?
Ken Miles, a British native, was a talented race car driver and engineer. Miles became interested with Ford’s GT racing program through his work for Carroll Shelby. In 1966, Miles finished second at Le Mans and claimed victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Daytona. Later that year, while testing Ford’s J-Car, Miles was killed in a collision.
Who is the owner of the top GT40?
The GT40’s 15-year careful restoration by its present owner Rex Myers was finished in time for the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, when it took second place in the Postwar Sports Class. In a Gooding video, Myers adds, “The timing couldn’t have been any better.”