Automoblog Book Garage: Ford GT

Because of its famous performance, it is sometimes called the "Ferrari Killer". Recently, Ford achieved a historic victory at Le Mans, ahead of their long-time rivals. Fifty years of competition was triggered when Ford’s plan to acquire Ferrari failed after the Italian automaker’s sudden job change.

Henry Ford II, (Hank the Deuce) wanted a car capable of winning the most prestigious racing crowns in Europe – more specifically, he wanted Le Mans. When Ford learned Enzo Ferrari would consider selling, it all looked very promising.

Ford invested numerous resources scouting Ferrari’s operations, all to be let down when negotiations fell through. They took it personally.

Beat Ferrari

Special Anniversaries

Author

Photographer

Availability

Beat Ferrari

That was the message radiating out of Dearborn, Michigan to the United Kingdom, where Ford tapped Eric Broadley’s Lola GT. The car was state-of-the-art, with a powerful, small-block V8 fitted specifically for the mid-engine chassis. The Lola GT would later become the Ford GT, being handled personally by Carroll Shelby.

Under his direction, the “Mark II” GT40 would capture Ford’s infamous 1-2-3 sweep of Le Mans in 1966.

The engine bay of the Ford GT in pit lane during practice. Photo: Dave Friedman, page 46, Ford GT by Preston Lerner.

Related: An in-depth look at the Ford GT’s Brembo Braking system.

Special Anniversaries

Ford GT: How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari and Conquered Le Mans details the 50th anniversary of Ford’s journey to Le Mans. We are given access to the Ford GT in the most intimate ways, from the GT40’s competing seasons to the challenges that resided before the Ford team. The book shows the foundation of the GT program, which ultimately made history again at Le Mans in 2016.

Author

Preston Lerner, a regular contributor to Automobile magazine, has written about Motorsports for publications ranging from Sports Illustrated to the New York Times. Lerner co-authored Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman and History’s Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed, both published by Motorbooks.

Photographer

Photography comes from Dave Friedman, Shelby American’s official photographer in the 1960s. He is a longtime Motorsports photographer and author of several racing books.

Availability

Ford GT: How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari and Conquered Le Mans is available through Motorbooks and Amazon.

Don Frey gives Dan Gurneyinstructions before a high-speed racetrackdemonstration of the Mustang I at Watkins Glen priorto the US Grand Prix in 1962. Roy Lunn’s work on theprototype earned him the job of chief engineer on theFord GT program.

Richard Attwood and David Hobbs race theLola GT at Le Mans in 1963. Although gearing issueslimited the car’s top speed, its lightweight chassis,slick aerodynamic shape and powerful Ford enginepointed the way to the future of the Ford GT.

In Le Mans, Ford plans to run three cars for the first time-two cars were tested there in April, and a new car was just in time for the completion of the race. Photo: MikeTeske Archives/Ford Motor Company