Ford GT 40 and GT: Books - History and Models

Ford GT : How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari and Conquered Le Mans

Henry Ford II, "the Deuce," wanted a race car capable of winning top-flight sports car events in Europe. Specifically, he wanted to win Le Mans.
Ford learned that Enzo Ferrari would consider selling his company and negotiations quickly ensued. But after Ford spent considerable time and money reviewing Ferrari's operations and negotiating with Enzo, Ferrari abruptly backed out of the talks.

The Deuce took Ferrari's actions as a personal insult. Word was sent down from on high: beat Ferrari. Ford settled on UK-based Eric Broadley's Lola GT, a cutting-edge car that featured a mid-engine chassis and small-block Ford V-8 power. The Lola GT would morph into the Ford GT.
Carroll Shelby helped shape it into the "Mark II" GT40. The result was one of the most legendary wins in racing history: Ford's 1-2-3 sweep of Le Mans in 1966. In fact, GTs went on to win Le Mans each year through 1969.

"Ford GT" celebrates the 50th anniversaries of Ford's iconic victories, providing the detailed back story leading to that historic 1966 win, as well as Ford's follow-up win in 1967.
The GT40's last two competitive seasons in 1968 and 1969 are also covered, as well as Ford's triumphant return to Le Mans in 2016 for a complete review of this remarkable era in racing.

Author Preston Lerner details the ups and downs of Ford's GT program, accompanied by Shelby American photographer Dave Friedman's historic images. Come re-live one of the most exciting stories in all of racing history!

Information

Author:	Preston Lerner
Details:	232 pages, 31.5 x 26.5 x 2.7 cm / 12.4 x 10.4 x 1.06 in, hardback
Illustrations:	223 b&w and 77 colour photos
Publisher:	Motorbooks International (USA, 2015)
ISBN:	9780760347874

GT40 Photo Archive

The GT40 was one of the finest racing automobiles ever built, a supreme effort on the part of Ford Motor Company. Featured is the GT40, Mk. I - Mk. IV, from design to construction, in both racing & street clothes.

Pictured are the cars of such racing greats as Bob Bondurant, Phil Hill, Masten Gregory, Ritchie Ginther, Rob Walker, Bruce McLaren, Peter Reveson, Dan Gurney, Denis Hulme, and Mark Donahue at venues that include Le Mans, Daytona, and Sebring.
In his foreword, Bob Bondurant, world racing champion, reminisces about his days behind the wheel of the GT40.

Information

Author:	Brian Winer, Wallace A. Wyss
Details:	128 pages, 21.5 x 26 x 1.3 cm / 8.5 x 10.25 x 0.51 in, paperback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w photos
Publisher:	Iconografix (USA, 1997)
ISBN:	9781882256648

Ford GT40 Mark II : The remarkable history of 1016 (Exceptional Cars)

This book tells the story of Ford GT40 Mark II, chassis no. P/1016, one of the trio of cars that crossed the finishing line together at Le Mans in 1966 to score Ford's first victory in the 24 Hour race.
The Mark II was a development of the original Ford GT with a monstrous 7 litre V8 engine. 1016 made its racing debut at Daytona in January 1966 and was entered at Le Mans by Holman & Moody with a distinctive gold and pink colour scheme.
Driven by Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson, it finished in third place behind the similar cars of Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon and Ken Miles and Denny Hulme.

- The drivers at 1966 Daytona 24 Hours, Ronnie Bucknum and Richie Ginther, had played a big part in the development of the Mark II, the car that gave Ford its first Le Mans win in the third year of trying.
- Bucknum also drove the car in the Sebring 12 Hours (with AJ Foyt) and at Le Mans (with Dick Hutcherson). It ran at Daytona the following year driven by Mark Donohue and Peter Revson and at the Le Mans Test Weekend with Bruce McLaren and Mark Donohue driving.
- After the Le Mans tests, 1016 was retired from racing and became a star exhibit at the famous Harrah Motor Museum in Reno, Nevada. It is now in the fine collection of Claude Nahum, restored to its specification and appearance as it was at Le Mans 1966.

This book covers the car's development, its technical details and specification, the role of the Holman & Moody engineering team and biographies of its drivers. It is profusely illustrated with period photographs, documents, and a gallery of studio photographs of the car as it is today.

Information

Author:	Mark Cole
Details:	128 pages, 25 x 28.5 x 2.1 cm / 9.8 x 11.2 x 0.83 in, hardback
Illustrations:	135+ b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Porter Press International (GB, 2017)
ISBN:	9781907085642

Ford GT40 - The autobiography of 1075 (Great Cars)

Always raced in Gulf's iconic blue-and-orange colours, this Ford GT40, known by its chassis number '1075', won the Le Mans 24 Hours not just once but twice, in 1968 and 1969, and the second victory came after the closest fight ever seen at the finish of this great endurance race.
Four other championship wins - at Brands Hatch, Spa, Watkins Glen and Sebring - add to this GT40's distinction as the very best of its breed, driven by 'greats' such as Jacky Ickx, Pedro Rodríguez and Brian Redman.

The car's entire competition life is covered in fascinating detail, together with biographies of its drivers and insights into John Wyer's crack team that ran it, all supported by a fine collection of period photographs.

Key content:

- Early in 1968, after two non-finishes in Florida, at Daytona and Sebring, Jacky Ickx and Brian Redman overcame Porsche's challenge in the six-hour BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch.
- At the Spa 1,000Km in Belgium, torrential rain allowed Ickx to demonstrate his wet-weather mastery on his home circuit and take a second win for '1075', ably supported by Redman.
- Back in the USA, with Ickx now partnered by fellow Belgian Lucien Bianchi, Watkins Glen brought a third win amid controversy about team orders.
- With Ickx sidelined by injury, Mexican ace Pedro Rodríguez was drafted in to join Bianchi at Le Mans - and they won comfortably after Porsche's four-car works challenge collapsed.
- The second of three outings in 1969 saw a return to the Sebring 12 Hours and an unexpected success for Ickx and Jackie Oliver against formidable new opposition from Porsche, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari.
- And so to Le Mans again: in this old warhorse's final race Ickx and Oliver again achieved the unexpected by putting themselves in strong contention for victory - but it was only decided on the last lap.

Information

Author:	Ray Hutton
Details:	320 pages, 29.5 x 24.5 x 3.6 cm / 11.6 x 9.7 x 1.42 in, hardback
Illustrations:	300+ b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Porter Press International (GB, 2017)
ISBN:	9781907085680

Ford GT - A la conquête du Mans

"Ford GT40" celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of this iconic Ford victory, providing a detailed history of the events leading up to this victory, as well as the one that followed in 1967.
The GT40's final two seasons in competition, in 1968 and 1969, are also covered to provide a comprehensive view of this remarkable journey.

Author Preston Lerner chronicles the ups and downs of Ford's racing program, illustrated with period images by Shelby American photographer Dave Friedman.
Relive one of the most exciting pages in racing history! The final pages give a nod to the new model that will compete in the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans...

Information

Author:	Preston Lerner
Details:	224 pages, 31 x 25.5 cm / 12.2 x 10 in, hardback
Illustrations:	300 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2016)
ISBN:	9791028301187

Ford GT - Wie Ford die Kritiker zum Schweigen brachte, Ferrari demütigte und Le Mans eroberte

The entire history of the Ford GT - from the beginnings to the victories at Le Mans. The book for the 50th anniversary of the last racing season of the most legendary of all racing cars: a dream car that basically no one could fit into. Modern versions are bigger, more comfortable, heavier.
The original Ford GT40, on the other hand, has its greatness in its successes: winner at Le Mans in 1966 1967 1968 and 1969, against all expectations and despite the experience advantage of Ferrari and Co.

Learn the full story of this groundbreaking success, from the rebellious Henry Ford II who, angry with Ferrari, gave his designers only one task: "Win Le Mans, humiliate Ferrari. Cost is no object".
With historical photographs by Dave Friedman, the official photographer of Shelby American.

Information

Author:	Preston Lerner, Dave Friedman
Details:	232 pages, 31 x 25.5 x 2.5 cm / 12.2 x 10 x 0.98 in, hardback
Illustrations:	420 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	GeraMond Verlag (D, 2019)
ISBN:	9783964530455