GRR

This Ford GT May Not Be '40' But It's Still A Winner

26th June 2016
Ethan Jupp

The story of the Ford GT40 is perhaps one of the most iconic stories in motor racing ever. Some would give convincing arguments for it taking the top spot, but the legend of Henry Ford’s ultimate act of vengeance goes beyond that 1-2-3 win in 1966. In 1967, there came this. The Ford MK IV. It was the final phase in Henry Ford’s plan to prove a point: 1966 saw Ford stick it to Ferrari, 1967 saw him go on to twist the knife.

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The previous GT40s were the result of a British and American engineering collaboration. For 1967, Ford’s last crack at Ferrari had to be homegrown. The car, and therefore the victory, would be all American.

Aside from the engine and transmission, the Ford MK IV shares very little with its predecessors. A lightweight aluminium honeycomb chassis and a meticulously re-designed slippery body design were all new. Indeed, it doesn’t resemble what most of us understand as a Ford GT. It was, besides the heart within, an all-new car, and thus did not adopt the GT40 name. Incidentally, the MK IV was two inches lower (although that’s not inclusive of Dan Gurney’s roof bump), so the GT40 name wouldn’t speak of anything about the MK IV anyway.

The previous GT40s were the result of a British and American engineering collaboration. For 1967, Ford’s last crack at Ferrari had to be homegrown. The car, and therefore the victory, would be all American.

Aside from the engine and transmission, the Ford MK IV shares very little with its predecessors. A lightweight aluminium honeycomb chassis and a meticulously re-designed slippery body design were all new. Indeed, it doesn’t resemble what most of us understand as a Ford GT. It was, besides the heart within, an all-new car, and thus did not adopt the GT40 name. Incidentally, the MK IV was two inches lower (although that’s not inclusive of Dan Gurney’s roof bump), so the GT40 name wouldn’t speak of anything about the MK IV anyway.

Photography by Tom Shaxson

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