Fords Greatest Car

Back in the 1960's racing cars were developing rapidly in terms of aerodynamics, suspension, motors, brakes, and speed. This was the most evident in endurance racing with cars going faster than ever before now reaching speeds in excess of 320km/h albeit without significant increases or developments in safety. One of the best examples is the prestigious, and legendary 24 hour race at Le Mans in France, a yearly race that has been taking place since 1923. Ever since the races inception in 1923 it had always been won by european racing cars, with companies like Jaguar, Ferrari, Bugatti and Porsche building their companies racing reputations on this event.

An American car had never finished first overall, In the early 1960s Ferrari was dominating the lemans race with classic Ferrari racing cars like the 275 gtb, during this time Ford had been in talks to buy Ferrari from Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari, the deal had gone sour and Enzo cancelled the deal just to Spite Ford Chairman Henry Ford II. This Angered Ford and he set out to do what no American car company had done before, Beat the Europeans at their own game. In the mid 1960s Ford developed a racing car known as the GT40, never had anything like it been attempted or done before by an American company. In 1966 Ford brought a race ready GT40 to lemans, measuring at just 40 inches in height, weighing in at 2000 pounds with a plethora of new technologies like fully independent suspension, disk brakes, fully closed cockpit, aluminium frame and a big old american midmounted V-8 in the car. Against All odds the car dominated and placed first overall with New Zealander Bruce Mclaren Driving the car. This was a massive victory for Ford proving that American designs and technology could compete with the best of Europe. The GT40 went on to place first overall at lemans for four years straight from 1966 to 1969, a feat that has never been matched and earned the car notoriety and a legendary status.

The car did not only race in lemans it raced in many other endurance racing events in which it enjoyed great success, however racing cars it not always the safe bet for a profession. In 1966 Vancouverite, Canadian Motorsports hall of famer, and family friend Bob Maclean Died racing a Ford GT 40 at the Sebring endurance race at Sebring racecourse in Florida. The car encountered catastrophic mechanical failure slammed into a pole and burst into flames claiming Maclean's life. Maclean was a talented driver and Canadian champion, also the so called King of Westwood, the the first permanent road course in Canada that operated until 1957-1990, where Westwood Plateau now is. Maclean's Funeral procession was attended by thousands of Vancouverites, with a funeral procession that was 2 miles long and included some of the best cars from all over Canada, a testament of respect from the Motorsports community.

Bob Maclean at Sebring Racecourse