Ford vs. Ferrari – more than just a movie!
Similar to “Rush” a few years ago, “FORD v Ferrari” is also based on true events. In the mid-1960s, Henry Ford II wanted to buy Ferrari. However, the takeover failed. The American automaker launched a wide-ranging sports program with the goal: to beat Ferrari!
Until the mid-1960s, Ferrari was the dominant force in endurance racing. From 1958 to 1965, the Italian sports car manufacturer won the 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times, with Aston Martin interrupting the winning streak only in 1959.
However, motorsport was expensive even 60 years ago. Enzo Ferrari was willing to sell his company to continue his success story with the money of new owners. Lance Reventlow, the son of Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton and founder of the Scarab car brand, offered ten million US dollars for Ferrari. Enzo Ferrari used the offer to pressure the Italian government and his main sponsor SHELL, knowing that motorsport was merely a hobby for playboy Reventlow.
The negotiations with Henry Ford II were intense!
Henry Ford II aimed to transform the automaker founded by his grandfather into a global corporation. Ferrari was intended to be the crown jewel of the American's auto empire. At one point, the acquisition seemed certain but ultimately failed due to the egos involved. Enzo Ferrari expected to become the global motorsport chief of the entire Ford group after the takeover, but Henry Ford II had no such plans, envisioning only a ceremonial role for the Italian.
The partners also clashed over the company's future name—Ferrari-Ford or Ford-Ferrari. Realizing the differences in their visions, Enzo Ferrari broke off the negotiations in 1963, declaring his company unsellable. Enraged, Henry Ford II vowed revenge!
Henry Ford II Struck Back!
The American decided to defeat Enzo Ferrari at his "home turf" in Le Mans. Henry Ford II commissioned Harley Copp to develop a suitable racing program. In collaboration with Lola, the Ford GT40 was created—and the rest is history. Ford won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in 1966 and repeated the triumph in 1967, 1968, and 1969. Ferrari resisted with all its might, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona in the USA in 1967, but ultimately, Henry Ford II emerged victorious in the duel against Enzo Ferrari.
The film “FORD v Ferrari” loosely depicts the origins of this conflict and the development of the Ford GT40 up to the victory at Le Mans in 1966. The central figures are Carroll Shelby, portrayed by Matt Damon, and Ken Miles, played by Christian Bale. Shelby won Le Mans as a driver in 1959 and took over the stalled GT40 project for Ford in mid-1964. His predecessor, John Wyer, had acquired the rights to the Lola Mk6 chassis in 1963 to develop the Ford GT40. However, when the race car fell short of expectations in its early races, Henry Ford II became nervous.
The initial failure at Le Mans in 1964, where all Ford GT40s retired, particularly stung the company head. Shelby revised the GT40 and, with the help of British driver Ken Miles, turned the car into a winning machine. Miles, long considered a reckless driver, matured into an outstanding endurance racer under Shelby's guidance. In 1966, Miles shared a GT40 with New Zealander Denis Hulme at Le Mans.
Did “FORD v Ferrari” solve the mystery of the dead heat finish?
The duo finished second due to a controversial decision by the Le Mans organizers (ACO). Ford had planned for the GT40s driven by Bruce McLaren/Chris Amon and Ken Miles/Denis Hulme to cross the finish line side by side to emphasize their dominance. Miles, who had been leading comfortably, slowed down to let McLaren catch up for the spectacle. However, the ACO awarded the victory to McLaren and Amon, as their car had started from a worse grid position and thus covered a greater distance over the 24 hours.
Ken Miles was deeply disappointed, especially since he had led by nearly four minutes before slowing down. Despite the result, Ford had secured a historic 1-2 finish. Tragically, Miles died just two months later during a testing accident.
The film “FORD v Ferrari” highlights how Shelby and Miles turned the GT40 project into a success, emphasizing their collaborative effort and personal sacrifices. Directed by James Mangold, known for his biographical storytelling, the movie brings to life this iconic motorsport rivalry.
Picture credits: Ford