Ford GT40: Built With One Goal — Beat Ferrari
Few race cars carry this much personal corporate motivation behind their creation. This one exists because a deal fell through, and Ford wanted revenge on the track instead.
Illustration for editorial purposes
A Grudge Match Built in Metal
Corporate rivalries rarely produce genuine motorsport legends. This is the exception — a car built specifically and deliberately to humiliate a competitor at the sport's most prestigious endurance race.
Generations at a Glance
A racing car and homologated road car, not a mass-market model — pricing reflects what customer teams and privateers paid.
| Version | Years | Engine | Gearbox | Body | 0–60mph | Top Speed | Price New |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT40 Mk I (road/racing) | 1964–1968 | 4.7L (289ci) V8, 335–390bhp | 5-speed manual (ZF or Hewland) | Coupe (fastback) | approx. 5.0s | approx. 164mph+ | not reliably documented |
| GT40 Mk II/Mk IV (racing) | 1966–1967 | 7.0L (427ci) V8, 500bhp | 4-speed manual (Kar Kraft T44) | Coupe (fastback) | not reliably documented | approx. 200mph+ | not reliably documented |
Born From a Failed Ferrari Buyout
Developed after a failed attempt by Ford to acquire Ferrari in the early 1960s, it was created with the explicit corporate mandate of beating Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its name referenced its height in inches — just 40 — reflecting a design philosophy built entirely around minimising aerodynamic drag and maximising top speed on Le Mans' famously long straights.
A Name That Literally Describes Its Height
A mid-mounted American V8 gave it reliable, potent power, while its low, aerodynamic body was developed with extensive wind tunnel testing that was still relatively novel in motorsport at the time. Continuous development across several variants steadily improved both reliability and outright pace as Ford refined the programme year over year.
Four Consecutive Le Mans Wins, 1966-1969
It achieved its stated goal decisively, taking outright victory at Le Mans four consecutive years from 1966 to 1969, including a famous 1966 result where Ford cars finished first, second and third. That victory has since become one of the most celebrated stories in motorsport history, later dramatised in major films decades afterward.
How Much Does a Ford GT40 Cost Today?
Genuine original racing and road-going examples are exceptionally rare and command some of the highest prices among historic competition cars at auction, reflecting both their extreme scarcity and their direct connection to one of motorsport's most storied rivalries.
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Sources: Ford Heritage archives, Wikipedia.