1967 Ford GT40 Victory

Lore & Background

In the 1967 Le Mans, the GT40 Mk IV car became the only car developed and assembled entirely (both chassis and engine) in the United States to achieve the overall win at Le Mans and this victory also remains the only all-American victory in Le Mans history — American drivers (Dan Gurney and A. J. Foyt), team (Shelby-American Inc.), chassis constructor (Ford), engine manufacturer (Ford), and tires (Goodyear).

In Their Own Story

The smell of high-octane fuel hangs heavy in the humid French night air. Inside the cockpit, Dan Gurney grips the wheel, eyes fixed on the glowing headlamps cutting through the darkness ahead. A.J. Foyt waits in the pit lane, engine ticking down as the team prepares for another stint. The roar of the V8 is a heartbeat against the silence of the sleeping countryside.

Reader's Guide

The GT40 effort began in Britain in the early 1960s when Ford Advanced Vehicles began to build the Mk I, based upon the British Lola Mk6, in Slough, UK. After disappointing race results, the engineering team was moved in 1964 to Dearborn, Michigan, US, to design and build cars by its advanced developer, Kar Kraft. All chassis versions were powered by a series of American-built Ford V8 OHV engines modified for racing.

Did You Know?

• The 'GT' in the car's name stands for grand touring, and the '40' its height in inches (1.02 m) measured at the top of the windscreen, the minimum allowed.
• The first 12 'prototype' vehicles carried serial numbers GT-101 to GT-112.
• Production GT40s (Mk I, Mk II, Mk III, and Mk IV) began with GT40P/1000.