1969 Ford GT40: Henry Ford II's Le Mans-Crushing Legend
Dan Kowalski
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After Enzo Ferrari walked away from buyout negotiations with Ford in 1963, Henry Ford II famously told his team: 'Go to Le Mans and beat his ass.' The resulting machine was the Ford GT40—named after its ultra-low 40-inch overall roof height.
Developed alongside Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, the GT40 claimed four consecutive overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1966 through 1969, breaking Ferrari's dominance once and for all.
The Mk I Endurance Specification
- Engine: 4.9-liter (302 cu in) Ford small-block V8 with Gurney-Weslake aluminum cylinder heads.
- Power: 425 HP and 395 lb-ft of torque.
- Top Speed: Over 205 mph (330 km/h) down the Mulsanne Straight.
- Chassis: Steel semi-monocoque with fiberglass body panels.
The famous chassis #1075 won Le Mans twice back-to-back in 1968 and 1969, cementing the GT40 as the greatest American endurance racing car ever built.
