The Ford GT returns. Its triumphant march to @24hoursoflemans began with a win at the first @Rolex24Hours in '66. pic.twitter.com/ycXmQJLq85
— Ford Performance (@FordPerformance) January 26, 2016
Ford Motor Company has always had a complicated, often spiteful, relationship with racing.
The original Henry Ford became involved with motor racing Model Ts. In fact, the "Tin Lizzie" nickname may have derived from a winning race car dubbed Old Liz. However, Henry looked disdainfully on racing, and only participated because it was the best way to gain publicity at that time.
The Ford GT supercar also has vindictive origins.
In 1963, Henry Ford II was strung along by Enzo Ferrari on a business deal that Enzo backed out of at the last minute. To get revenge, Henry Ford II vowed to hit Ferrari where it hurt -- the race track.
The Italian luxury line had enjoyed a long winning streak at the world's most renowned international race, 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford developed the Ford GT with the express purpose of crushing that streak.
After a few wobbly years, Ford found its footing, and stole first, second, and third place in 1966. It was the first time in six years that Le Mans wasn't won by a Ferrari, and the first time it had ever been won by an American-made car.
The Ford GT went on to win the next three years in a row, and then vanished.
In 2016, the Ford GT is making a comeback, and returning after a 50-year hiatus to Le Mans.
Have a need to crush your rivals at the track? Contact David McDavid Ford to inquire about the 2016 Ford GT, which will hit market later this year. Explore the rest of our new inventory for more powerful performance for every day driving.
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