Think You Know the Ford GT40 ? These 15 CRAZY Facts Will Prove You Wrong !

The Ford GT40 is one of the most celebrated racing cars in automotive history -- a machine born from corporate revenge, forged in failure, and ultimately responsible for four consecutive victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1966 to 1969. But behind the legendary record lies a far more complex and surprising story than most people know. In this video, we uncover 15 genuinely shocking facts about the Ford GT40 that most fans have never heard. You will learn why Ford never actually owned the GT40 name -- and how that oversight came back to haunt them fifty years later when they tried to revive the car. You will discover how a single rejected business deal between Henry Ford the Second and Enzo Ferrari in 1963 launched one of the most expensive and ambitious racing programs in history. You will find out why Dan Gurney -- one of the greatest drivers of his era -- could not physically fit inside the car without a custom modification that went on to change the vocabulary of motorsport and aviation forever. We also cover the heartbreaking story of Ken Miles, the British driver and engineer who did more than almost anyone to make the GT40 competitive, only to be robbed of a historic triple crown victory at Le Mans in 1966 by a corporate publicity stunt -- and who lost his life testing the car's successor just two months later. And we reveal how Dan Gurney's spontaneous reaction to winning the 1967 Le Mans accidentally started the champagne spraying tradition that every sports fan in the world recognizes today. From the car that changed international racing regulations simply by going too fast, to the single chassis that won Le Mans twice in different eras with different drivers, to the name dispute that forced Ford to rename its own tribute car -- this is the full, unfiltered story of the Ford GT40. Whether you are a longtime motorsport enthusiast, a classic car collector, a fan of the Ford versus Ferrari rivalry, or someone who discovered this car through the 2019 film, this video covers ground that goes well beyond what most documentaries and articles explore. Ford GT40 history, Ford GT40 Le Mans, Ford GT40 facts, Ford versus Ferrari, Ken Miles Ford GT40, Dan Gurney Le Mans 1967, Carroll Shelby GT40, 24 Hours of Le Mans history, Ford GT40 Mark II, Ford GT40 Mark IV, GT40 champagne tradition, GT40 name trademark, Henry Ford II Ferrari rivalry, classic racing cars, endurance racing history, American motorsport history, Le Mans 1966, Le Mans 1969, Jacky Ickx Le Mans, GT40 road car, Ford GT40 chassis 1075, Gurney bubble, GT40 facts you did not know, greatest racing cars ever made, Ford racing history #FordGT40 #GT40 #LeManS #FordVsFerrari #KenMiles #DanGurney #CarrollShelby #24HoursOfLeMans #ClassicCars #RacingHistory #EnduranceRacing #AmericanMotorsport #HenryFordII #EnzoFerrari #FormulaOne #MotorsportHistory #GT40Facts #LeMans1966 #LeMans1969 #JackyIckx #GurneyBubble #FordRacing #ClassicRacingCars #CarFacts #AutomotiveHistory #SportsCars #RaceCar #FordGT #LeMansLegend #GreatestRacingCars Sources Ford Motor Company Corporate Archives -- "The Origins of the Ford GT40 and the Victory at Le Mans," Ford Motor Company History Series, corporate.ford.com Wikipedia -- "Ford GT40," en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GT40 The Henry Ford Museum -- "GT40 Number 1075: A Two-Time Le Mans Champion," thehenryford.org Motor Sport Magazine -- "Foul Play in Ford's 1966 Le Mans 24 Hour Photo Finish," motorsportmagazine.com Racing Vintage Cars -- "Glory Stolen? Ken Miles and the 1966 Le Mans Race Finish Controversy," racingvintagecars.com Dan Gurney / RACER Magazine -- "LM24: Ford GT40 Stories -- Dan Gurney," racer.com Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. I do not own some or all of the video materials used in this video. In the case of copyright issues, please contact me at [email protected] for credit or removal.