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1966 Ford GT40 Mk. II P/1046 - The Car That Won Le Mans For Ford and America

In 1966 there was a feud, a company, and more importantly a car that put America, for the first time ever, at the forefront of the international motorsports stage. After a deal to purchase Enzo Ferrari’s racing empire fell flat, Henry Ford II declared war and Ford Total Performance was born. Automotive legends like Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles, Bruce Mclaren, and Chris Amon rose to the occasion and spearheaded the racing campaign. As a result, the iconic Ford GT40 Mark II was born. Battle lines were drawn at the 1966 24 hours of Le Mans, which is widely considered one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world. Ferrari was dethroned as Ford absolutely dominated the track in what was the first ever American win at the 24 hours of Le Mans. Chassis P/1046, entered by Shelby-American and piloted by 'Kiwis' Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon took first place at the prestigious race. P/1046 was retired from the track shortly after the historic Le Mans win and passed through several owners and restorations. In 2014, Rob Kauffman, owner of RK Motors purchased the vehicle and became the current caretaker. The 1966 Ford GT40 Mark II underwent an extensive restoration with Rare Drive in New Hampshire. Not a detail was spared in the 4,000+ hour restoration and the champion was brought back to its race ready state. On the 50th anniversary of the historic win, Chassis P/1046 was in attendance at the 2016 24 hours of Le Mans, when Ford took the title again. The story continues with the November 2019 release of 20th Century Fox’s Ford V Ferrari starring academy award winners Matt Damon and Christian Bale. To celebrate the release of the film, Chassis P1046 was shipped to Los Angeles for the film premiere. In true star fashion, the iconic automobile shared the red carpet with the cast and crew. The legacy of one of the greatest automotive stories lives on.

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02:30
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11 nov 2019
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