THE FERRARI CRUSHER! The Story of the Ford GT40 (1964-1969)

Take a Lola that's a death trap, hand it over to one of the brightest minds and biggest names in car tuning culture, and you're on to a winner. A four time winner in fact, and a car that became an utter machine at one of the toughest races in the world.
The GT40 started out as a revenge tour. A way of getting one over, a way of saying 'alright, watch this' and so on. And while it was started as a petty way of getting revenge, it's remembered for everything but the revenge.
So what happened? Let's have a look.
Enjoy! And remember to like and subscribe for more!
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CPU: Ryzen 5 5600 @3.7gHz
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Wheel: Simucube 2 Pro - Cube Controls Formula Pro Rim/DIY Ascher D Shape Rim
Pedals: Heusinkveld Sprints

[@cvulp5993]

Fun fact, the 1968 and 1969 Le Mans races were won by same car. The same exact chassis won 2 years in a row.

[@savageduck4487]

As a Ford fan and boat anchor hater from from AU, this deserves a billion likes if I can find a billion friends to do it.

[@CellDweller73]

I was raised in a General Motors (Chevy) family and even owned a 1969 Camaro. However, there are 3 Fords that I love even more than the Old school Corvettes and Camaros, The Mach I, RS200, and the GT40. Sad thing is I have driven, in anger, a Mach I and RS200, but never the GT40.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

I can't help but feel like the RS200 is the ultimate car, period.

[@AntoniusTyas]

But you have driven an RS200. Something that most of us will never experience.

[@andyparker2119]

Always thought the GT40 in the orange and blue Gulf livery was a classic 👍🏻

[@aoife1122]

The second-most awesomest car to ever feature that livery ;) (Top spot for me goes to the 917K ;)

[@thecoolguy284]

I had the chance to drive a MK V last year and it was the best thing I've driven. This becomes more pivotal when one learns that I i had driven my dream car the same day and PREFERED the GT40. What a car.

[@Romit12]

I love the fact that one of the greatest cars in the history of the world started because Enzo Ferrari said "Everything you have is shit".

[@philiptownsend4026]

And it was...

[@ianwynne764]

Hello Aidan: I'm a Ford and Porsche "tragic", so thank you. Also, thank you for the mention of Steve Winwood. I am so old, I can remember when he was playing with the Spencer Davis Group. Have a lovely weekend.

[@anthonyhastings5961]

Thanks Aiden. It’s my birthday today. I was born on the day that GT40 last won. I drove a replica at the Top Gear test track for my 50th birthday

[@gregd806]

I love How Bruce McLaren won LeMans In a Ford.. Makes me Proud to be a Ford Fan.

[@jordanmustang87]

If there's any two Le Mans winners I'll always love, my first pick would be appropriately, the Ford GT40, and my second pick would be the Porsche 917. Two hugely iconic top-class race cars that were literally just years apart, and because the Porsche featured in the film Le Mans with Steve McQueen. Also, my love for Fords started with the very well designed Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R, the GT40 comes a close second btw, love those cars.

[@astonwards7236]

The 'go like hell' was from earlier in the race, Amon and McLaren had got so far behind from problems with tyres, they decided to just go like hell and see what happened.

[@Rebelscum320]

Often forgotten Two drivers died at the hands of the GT40. Bob McLean and Walt Hansgen.

[@jamesselig8461]

Would love a video on Ken Miles

[@marksimpson2689]

Ford asked the organizers about a photo finish and tie and were told yes that's OK. After the final pitstops the organizers came back and said the car that qualified further back would be the winner. But another good video, thanks Aidan

[@l1a146]

So the mention of Anglo / US alliances and Jackie Oliver has got me thinking. Perhaps a video about Shadow might be a thing 🤔. Mysterious team principle with alleged CIA connections. The outrageous Can Am designs. And possibly the most beautiful F1 car of the 70s ( well after the Lotus 79) the DN1 UOP shadows. Every young fellow with a Scalextric set in the mid 70s had a DN1.

[@ajax700]

At the time Ferrari was a big workshop or a very small factory, still making cars in a somewhat artisanal way, versus Ford being one of the world biggest corporations. While Ford spent millions and millions, Enzo's team just kept doing what they were doing, they had no budget to do more. Best wishes.

[@willbeasy2898]

Yep it’s pretty ridiculous when you think about the resources it took to beat Ferrari!

[@JohnSmith-rw8uh]

Outspend outspend outspend. and have quite a big a big engine capacity advantage. Then sulk over leave and go make Pinto's and Mustang II's

[@backwoodsman5498]

Miles didn’t lose because Amon started farther back, he lost because Amon floored it and pulled ahead. You even did a video on this last year Aidan, the photograph is out there and you used it

[@josephotoole9088]

Glad you mentioned that Shelby hated Enzo. That gets left out of this story frequently

[@chriswoolacott]

Just back this afternoon from Le Mans , fantastic 4 days

[@EffequalsMA]

Thanks, Aidan, I'm looking forward to Me Mans this weekend.

[@paulrobinson3649]

The 68/69 car was not a MkV. Many suspect that it was a Mk1 bodywork on a Mirage chassis, but that's never been proven. The "official" MkV was produced by Safir Engineering as a road car in the 80's after they bought the rights from JWA. Some may suggest that Franco Sbarro's unlicensed replicas should be the MkV, but he just did the same as others by hammering in unused chassis numbers to create something like a MkI or II. I read Ronnie Spain's book on GT40's about 40 years ago and it's still stuck in my head. Great book if you can find a copy.

[@sebastianahrens2385]

The scariest thing about humanity almost nuking itself into oblivion is that it happened more than once. In September of 1983, thanks to Stanislav Petrov, the world as we know it did not end.

[@MrBuyerman]

A worthy remake and an all-around great story. I grew up with Fords, having had posters of the GT40 on my bedroom wall. Thanks for sharing the story again.

[@pres589]

One of the complicated aspects of the GT40 story that has interested me is the question of who made what. They're called Fords but they weren't built in a normal Ford factory. JWA built mk1's and mk5's; did they assemble others? Which series of cars did Shelby build? What about Holman-Moody and the cars they built? I believe Kar Kraft in Detroit assembled some GT40's as well but I don't know which ones. I don't know if there's been much written about this aspect of the GT40 that really spells out which companies contributed to the project and in what ways. This was a great video and I appreciate the time and effort that goes into telling this kind of story.

[@lacosanostra20]

This episode is gonna be killer.I've always respected ken miles as a athlete and a driver I've been interested in 10 miles ever since Ford versus ferrari came out

[@CD-Gaming]

It's that last GT40 that was featured in Gran Turismos 3 and 4 as well, as the earlier models seemed to take up residence, alongside that Ferrari and the Jaguar that never ran, the XJ13, to make up the "Three Legendary Cars" Trophy for 7 - and I'm one of not a lot of players to have unlocked it (I like Jags and that particular Jag is quite the looker, we're E-Type fans in our family)! I also remember when on Top Gear, when they were driving three V8s and had to race in a relay race against the GT40! That was pretty intense!

[@Steveaustin007]

Great presentation - as usual.

[@stephenbrown4211]

I remember the year the Goodwood Revival had a couple in a sports car race. The following year they came out of the woodwork. Can’t remember without looking at my programme but they were all originals. No replicas back then

[@adamwilliams192]

Thanks for doing this and thanks for highlighting the creative licence taken with certain characters in the film. It’s a good film for sure, but as you say, such things need a “bad guy”.

[@JD_Racer97]

Banging piece of automotive journalism.

[@MrTakaMOSHi]

Because of Donut Media, whenever I hear "Henry Ford II" I think "Hank the deuce!"

[@micodyerski1621]

Thank u. Yes. Thats correct.

[@edwardburek1717]

Who doesn't like a GT40? Apart from Ferrari aficionados, that is... And could someone please confirm or deny if the premises that Ford used in Slough was just down the road where Gerry Anderson was busy making his Supermarionation masterpieces?

[@AidanMillward]

It was. Anderson’s place was on Ipswich Road and FAV was on Banbury Road. Sane estate I think.

[@richardparker679]

Love you programs.BUT GCSE History about the 60s! Some of us lived through this...

[@minibus9]

awesome video

[@fantasticgobble]

Your enthusiasm for aviation shows through. The story of the Boeing 707 would be fun- if you're short on content ideas.

[@Scoots1994]

The first time I stood next to the original GT40 I was shocked how small it is.

[@bmstylee]

It really is small. What gets me is how big the top class prototypes are and how tiny the door to get inside is.

[@john1703]

Walt Hansgen was killed in 1967 in a Mark 2 at the Le Mans test day in April, because it aquaplaned on a wet track. Miles was killed on a dry track at Riverside. The Wikipedia piece about Miles is wrong about Hansgen. The car (singular) which won at Le Mans in 1968 & 9 was a Mark 1. The Mark V is a 1980s copy by Safir.

[@ralphlyons8020]

I enjoy all your videos. I a fan of F1 but I like sports car racing more. I think the endurance is just better racing. I’ll be watching Lemans and next week going to see the IMSA race at Watkins glen Nee York. Thanks for all the racing history.

[@micodyerski1621]

Keep doing what ur doing. Max enjoyment

[@Pablo668]

Great vid as always. Yeah those GT40’s are awesome cars.

[@damo3303]

Fellow Ford fan from AU here...love the vids mate 👍 You should do one on the Falcon GTHO Phase III, would love to hear your take on it.

[@LiamNI]

Worth checking out the new Hagerty/Camissa video. Drag race with the Caddy LM car.

[@bcswalkman]

As father's day is tomorrow, how about a retrospective on famous F1 dads Jos Verstappen (was a hot F3 prospect, had a middling career, became father to Super Max) and Jan Magnussen (stellar F3 career, tip by Jackie Stewart to the be next Senna, mediocre career, became father to K Mag)

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

I have to have a GT40 in my life... I am going to have a GT40 in my life.

[@philiptownsend4026]

I have a plastic model kit of one. Will that do?

[@dascooter8287]

Very nice work Ade.

[@T.E.S.S.]

Your intro music has increasingly become fused in my mind with RM Brown's intro music. But boy howdy, that is where the similarities end. I get confused every time.

[@grahamcrackergaming1540]

It’s kinda interesting cause like u can say “Ford won Le Mans 4 years in a row” to probably non sports car fans or non race fans or people just getting into sports car racing and they’d say “wow Ford had one of the best cars those years” or “sounds like they had a very dominant car as Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, and Toyota” when there’s a bit more to it. ‘66 Le Mans they just got wicked lucky with all the Ferrari 330 P3s either having problems or privateers being off the pace and Ford managed to have 3 cars finish 1-2-3 even with lots of the mk1s and mk2s dropping out in some way. ‘67 Ford really had to work for it since they got too confident at Daytona, all the Fords were dropping like flys and Ferrari was able to win 1-2-3 mocking Ford with the same finish Ford did at Le Mans with all 3 Ferraris crossing the line at the same time. Ford won Sebring but then came Le Mans and while the mk2s were having their own issues, the mk4s were having trouble with brakes cause of the extra weight. Ferrari would’ve gotten redemption if it wasn’t Ford’s saving grace Dan Gurney with his engine braking trick that Andretti adapted to and get Ford a 2nd win. ‘68 the only year Ford was able to win with a cakewalk. ‘69 Porsche was the fastest with the early 917 and 908LH but of course the 917s were doing early 917 things, while the 908LHs were having reliability issues themselves. Though a 908 was gonna win Le Mans if it wasn’t for the surviving 908LH having brake issues which helped the Ickx and Oliver Ford GT40 run with and eventually beat the 908 of Herrmann and Larousse since the Porsche was fast in a straight line but then the Ford was able to beat it in the braking zones.

[@rhino7735]

I've seen a couple of documentaries on the tsar bomba extremely scary 😮

[@jeff119990]

there was a video declassified a few years ago that show the effects. scary is an understatement.

[@vince065us.2]

Mauro Bianchi was injured, not killed at Le Mans in 1968.Note: Between 1958-67 5 American drivers stood on the top step of the podium at Le Mans. You should do a video on the 1969 race. It was the begining of one era and the end of another.

[@davidtucker8369]

Very interesting video, always good to see endurance racing content. I'd love to see a video on the Porsche Le Mans winners if you are taking suggestions?

[@spudgunn8695]

I saw the pole lap from this years LeMans, and if it had been GranTurismo 7 he would have had at least 3 seconds of penalties for ignoring track limits! Lol

[@Eagleracer38x]

I'm a BMW fan from the days of PTG running the works North American GT cars, so I'm sticking with BMW to win. This is the first year the hypercar has raced in WEC, but they do have a win last year in IMSA.

[@brianpack5479]

Is there any sexier sports car than a GT40 in Wyer Gulf colors? I'll wait.

[@bowelrupture]

Mercedes AMG GT3

[@davidfreiboth1360]

This Yank is rooting for Caddie.

[@mannacler]

This Camry owner is rooting for Toyota.

[@nowind37]

HE'S THERE

[@christopherwheeler2694]

I think the whole dead heat tiebreaker story is a bit of a stretch. If you look at the photo it wasn’t much of a dead heat. McLaren goosed it at the finish and had a good car length on Miles. The McLaren web site says Miles was “protesting.” Yeeeeah, right.

[@rustyturner431]

Errata: Ford lost some market share in the late '50s and early '60s, but the company never dropped behind Chrysler. The racing team was never to become exactly a Ford adopted child, but the company wanted to have a demonstrative say in which series were contested - IE they wanted Ferrari to go to Indy. The MAIN complaint of Ferrari was that Ford sent in an army of accountants, and those fellows wanted a proper audit of Ferrari's expenses and inventory; Enzo would hear none of it and the deal blew up. A major problem with Lotus to build the new car was that Chubbie Chapman decided he had the inside line and could hold Ford's feet to the fire; he figured to finance his GP team for about a decade on the proceeds. Didn't work, as Colin had already pissed off several higher-ups in Dearborn. Broadley not only had a car, he was CHEAPER! FYI - Holman Moody did quite a bit of work on the engines, especially the big blocks, which they knew better than anybody on earth. I know, as I worked for them at that time doing PR. HM was the darling of Ford because they had done so well organizing the NASCAR efforts and they worked (to Ford's coprorate mind) cheap. I always thught that accounting was an odd point of concern as regarded Ferrari, because at HM we pretty much did as we wanted and ordered watever was needed and Ford wanted results far more than money. Beebe WAS a terrific fellow; the "dead heat" was a PR idea at the spur of the moment. And there was not a soul in the Ford camp who'd thought to examine the ACO rulebook...if Ford even had one, it would most likely have been in French!

[@kallekas8551]

I did not know Steve Winwood was from Birmingham.🤔

[@AidanMillward]

He’s from Handsworth.

[@kallekas8551]

@@AidanMillward 🤣👍Cheers mate! I’m in Australia and ❤️your sense of humour and your work!

[@stephenbritton9297]

It's hard to vote against Penske lately....

[@francoisdvanderwesthuizen]

14.05, that's the whole F1 grid of those years, or at least the drivers who didn't drive for Ferrari 😂😂

[@Dzointek]

I've always thought that the "they finished even but Mclaren/Amon started further back" was a myth - if you see the photos, No. 2 Ford is clearly ahead at the finish line, so he wins anyway

[@astonwards7236]

I've read or heard there was 2 finish lines, 1 actual finish line where it was a dead heat, and the other flag waving finish line where it's just ceremonial, just imagine the controversy if the Miles/Hulme car was ahead at the flag waving point.

[@davidciesielski8251]

Why would only 8 percent of people hit the like button !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????????? WTF

[@GeorgeShaw-zt8pk]

What happened to your what if Imola 94 never happened/what if Senna survived video?

[@GeeShocker]

Toyota ✌

[@meerkat5818]

Gawddayyyum Aidan look at all the hot ladies in the comments who love your videos!!! 😋

[@bmstylee]

Useless knowledge but the Tsar Bomba was only 50 megatons. If they used uranium as a tamper instead of lead it would have been 100 megatons.

[@henkormel5610]

Ford I do like the cars are or good or bad there is nor really a mèh Ford.

[@NORAPYOUNGLEGEND]

Endurance racing is in a new golden age. I want Cadillac, but I bet BMW win Le Mans after sand bagging.

[@bladeshad0w284]

omg the bot spam lol.

[@AidanMillward]

Better they be complimentary than posting links.

[@elithornton6276]

T 🐦

[@sandalogaming6766]

Okay… so did the fact that Ford owned Cosworth, who were building the DFV, who were also kicking Ferrari’s big ‘ol V12s to the kerb, had any influence in Ferrari letting Ford buy them after all?

[@paulreilly3904]

I presume you know that Ford didn't buy Ferrari

[@AidanMillward]

No. Because the DFV wasn’t until 1967

[@paulreilly3904]

@@AidanMillward Wow, that was quick Aiden, I'm only just finishing watching the video. Very impressive. 👍

[@palm92]

@@paulreilly3904 I thought Ford didn't own Cosworth outright until 1998, yeah?

[@ruddgrandprix-speedrunraci8515]

They have a stallion Killing American race car, a race-winning Ford GT40, Carol Shelby's middle finger to Enzo. and now they wanted to race at Lemans 24 with a pony car.

[@DiogeneDeSin0pe]

I want Andretti to win!

[@gordonwallin2368]

It was a super cool car, but I was a Chevrolet guy-still am as far as American cars go- and all my friends were Ford guys, so Ford beating Ferrari wasn't what I wanted. They weren't even Le Mans followers, just proFord fans, I and I liked anything other than Fords, so Ferrari loosing wan't a happy few years. Thank God for the Can-Am series when those big Chevy L-88's kicked Ford's ass, but by then I was into motorcyle racing and girls. Not a bad movie though, few technical mistakes and good acting, but casting was off IMO. I'm still a Corvette fan, and they're doing well in endurance racing. And Corvette are finally rear engined like a Ferrari and priced at about the same as a Ferrari. They used to be such a value for their price/performance. Your videos are really fun, thanks. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

[@678rwhp]

It's a great story because ford played fair and beat him at his own game. Basically just saying pfft this lemans stuff is easy. We're not impressed. If it had happened today it would have been handled with some underhanded business situation. Takeover, litigation, supply chain disrupting, something shit. This was a much more upstanding shot at ferrari. No politics.

[@SoftBank47]

You know what Ford stands for, right? First On Race Day.

[@Berchol]

Factory Ordered Road Disaster

[@mannacler]

Fix or Repair Daily.

[@mannacler]

Found on Road Dead.

[@AndrewGeierMelons]

Since you asked 🇨🇦 Hunaudières pronunciation: H is silent because French (it's a pattern) Un - like Kim Jong Un Odd - like the English word Eeee - say cheeeeeeeese Air - like the English word Un-odd-eeeee-air

[@AndrewGeierMelons]

If you want to sound extra Canadian 🇨🇦: The odd becomes odds - for some reason you put a z sound on any D sounds in Canadian. Also make sure to say the "Un" like a drunk Spaniard getting punched in the stomach. Oh, and the "air" at the end becomes more like a Brummy saying "ya there?" without the th sound. "Un-odds-eee-ya-airrrrrr" If you want to sound truly French 🇫🇷 you could put on a very posh accent and really emphasize the vowels. Make it sound like you've got a mouth full of baguette but you still want to be understood. Uun-ooodd-eeeeeee-aaaaair

[@lordracer7743]

In the film, miles said: you garanteed me a drive, you never garanteed me a win.

[@mercoid]

👶🏻😃👶🏻

[@tturi2]

24 seconds gang

[@SuperFanBrad]

AMERICA!

[@micodyerski1621]

We don't care abput noise

[@micodyerski1621]

Sorry. Best race car every.

[@lashss]

The GT40 Mk1 was wind tunnel developed at the University of Maryland in College Park!

[@stephendrake8145]

Remember Ford got together with Cosworth & rubbed Enzo nose in the doodoo for the next 15 years in Formula 1. The Deuce really won this battle…

[@danielmcallister4816]

Cuban missile crisis was in 1962 mate. Great Vid regardless!

[@moreheff]

What a car 💗

[@Ultegra10SPD]

Mauro Bianchi did not die in Lemans 68. Heavy crash but he is still alive today. -U10

[@mannacler]

Lucien Bianchi was killed at LeMans in a test session.

[@Ultegra10SPD]

@@mannacler did not say lucien.

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

Please do more remakes, the stories are all worth a rewatch. I have _no_ idea of favourites to win this weekend. I usually spend time looking on the WEC app before the race, looking for a combination of fave drivers & car makers in each class. I usually get at least one on the podium! This is *my* weekend. The boys can go do whatever they like and I'm in my room, door shut and thoroughly enjoying myself. I always record it though, because despite my insomnia, I can guarantee that I'll drop off at some point, and because it usually swaps between the two Eurosport channels (haven't looked at the timing yet), the replay function doesn't always cover it. That way I usually get to skip ads for a fair proportion of the race too! Have fun, folks!

[@simontravers2715]

Here we go!!! My favourite race car in history!!

[@Bourne246]

P-51 Mustang.. British engine, Yankee plane.. GT40.. Yankee engine.. car with British roots

[@AidanMillward]

There’s a Merlin engine at Cosford. It’s permanently surrounded by old men with beards.