Ford GT 40 Driving Experiences

A classic racing thoroughbred that is a mix of British and American automotive design and engineering at its very best, the Ford GT 40 was launched by Ford Motor Company in the hopes of being able to compete with - and beat - Ferrari in long distance motorsport races.

And it did that in style and then some, notching up four consecutive wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans races between 1966 and 1969. The GT 40 is a product of both Ford’s UK and US bases, being designed and conceptualised at their Slough base in Berkshire and manufactured at their Wixom plant in Michigan.

What it adds up to is a distinct and vivid Grand Tourer racing car, quite unlike anything Ford has produced before or since, with a broad wheelbase of 95 inches, and a streamlined light weight of 1217 kg, making it more aerodynamic and tailored for the track.

For a car from such a golden age of motoring, the power from its humming V8 engine pumps out 485 bhp. It can reach top speeds of 130 mph whilst zipping from 0 - 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and 0 - 100 mph in 8.2 seconds.

The Ford GT 40 has gained a new fanbase in the last year, following the release of the 2019 film Le Mans ‘66, which stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale in a biopic that charts the genesis of Ford’s move into GT cars and subsequent victories at Le Mans, meaning that it’s now one of our most popular choices for our Movie Car experience packages.

But Le Mans wasn’t the only site of the GT 40’s numerous victories. It won the International Manufacturers Championship in 1966, the International Championship for Sports Cars two years running in 1966 and 1967, and the International Championship for Makes in 1968.