1969 Ford GT40 MkI. Red version
The Ford GT40 is a high-performance endurance racing car commissioned by the Ford Motor Company. It grew out of the “Ford GT” (for Grand Touring) project, an effort to compete in European long-distance sports car races, against Ferrari, which won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race from 1960 to 1965. Ford succeeded with the GT40, winning the 1966 through 1969 races.
Henry Ford had wanted a Ford at Le Mans since the early 1960s. In early 1963, Ford reportedly received word through a European intermediary that Enzo Ferrari was interested in selling to Ford Motor Company.
Ford reportedly spent several million dollars in an audit of Ferrari factory assets and in legal negotiations, only to have Ferrari unilaterally cut off talks at a late stage due to disputes about the ability to direct open-wheel racing.
Ferrari, who wanted to remain the sole operator of his company’s motorsports division, was angered when he was told that he would not be allowed to race at the Indianapolis 500 if the deal went through, since Ford fielded Indy cars using its own engine and didn’t want competition from Ferrari. Enzo cut the deal off out of spite and Henry Ford, enraged, directed his racing division to find a company that could build a Ferrari-beater on the world endurance-racing circuit.
