Originally appeared on Automoblog.net

It is sometimes called the “Ferrari killer” becasue of its famed performance capabilities. Recently, Ford captured a historic win at Le Mans, finishing ahead of their longtime adversary. The fifty year rivalry was sparked when Ford’s plan to purchase Ferrari fell through after the Italian automaker suddenly jumped ship.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

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. Ford took it personally.
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.
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 mo...