31.08.2023A piece of history in scale 1:12 by CMR

Today's blog post is about the Ford GT40 that, driven by Ken Miles, crossed the finish line at the 1966 24-hour race in Le Mans and wrote history that was even filmed in Hollywood. The model in scale 1:12 was made exclusively for modelissimo and ck-modelcars by the label CMR. In addition to the classic version, the model is also available in a "dirty version" for those who want to have the GT40 in their collection as it might have looked after 24 hours of racing. The model, which impresses with its outstanding size and level of detail, can be a focal point of the collection for both motorsport fans and collectors of film cars.

In the early 1960s, the Ford Motor Company was in poor shape. In Henry Ford II's eyes, the only way to polish the image and sell cars to the now adult post-war generation is to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But although Ford is one of the largest car manufacturers, the know-how is missing. Ford sees one way of changing this as quickly as possible in buying the Italian car manufacturer Ferrari, which was in financial difficulties at the time. They've already shown what they're capable of at Maranello with three consecutive wins at Le Mans. Contract negotiations took place on May 21st, 1963, the content of which was the sale of Ferrari to Ford. The Ford Motor Company is on site with several lawyers, Enzo Ferrari only comes with the municipal notary and a translator. And then Enzo Ferrari reads a passage of the text of the contract, and writes in purple ink: "No, non ci siamo!" (No, we don't!)
The clause concerns the future racing division, which he wants to retain control of, but would have to relinquish to Ford when the contract is signed.

Back home in Detroit, Henry Ford II is told about the failed negotiations and the insults that Enzo Ferrari dropped on him. Henry Ford II is certain that he now wants to beat Ferrari - where it hurts the most - namely at Le Mans.
Carroll Shelby, the only American up to that point to record a Le Mans victory, is hired to do this. The British race engineer and racing driver Ken Miles is also part of the party. He is considered a hothead and viewed critically by the conservative managers at Ford Motor Company. He is one of Shelby's closest confidants and has repeatedly demonstrated his driving skills on his cars. Miles, who is developing the Ford GT40 together with Shelby for Le Mans, knows the vehicle better than anyone else. Due to his bad image in the leadership of Ford, however, he was not nominated as a driver in 1965 and had to listen to the radio at home as the cars used in Le Mans were subjected to too much stress and therefore all had to drop out, which brought Ferrari the next victory. In 1966 Ford decided to give Miles a chance behind the wheel of the #1 GT40.

After difficulties early in the race, two Ferraris were leading by nightfall and four of the eight GT40s were out of the race. The message from the Ford team bosses is: drive carefully, don't push the cars too hard. But Ken Miles doesn't care about this order. He sets several lap records and secures the lead until morning. Meanwhile, all Ferraris suffer gearbox or engine failures or accidents. On the afternoon of June 19th, 1966, all three front seats are taken by Ford. In the final hours of the race, Henry Ford II ordered the three GT40s to cross the finish line together for a media-effective photo. Although Ken Miles is against it and is at this point just under 4 minutes ahead of Bruce McLaren's (#2) GT40, he still joins in and waits until Bruce McLaren and the third-placed car of Bucknum and Hutcherson (#5) drove up to them.
But what Henry Ford doesn't know is that the regulations do not provide for a tie, which is why in such a case the vehicle that has covered the longest distance during the 24 hours wins. Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon's car started 20 meters behind Ken Miles and Denny Hulme. And although Ken Miles would have won the race by a wide margin and set some course records, he was therefore classified as second place.
Two months later he was killed while testing the latest version of the GT40 at Riverside Circuit in Southern California.

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	Ford GT40 #1 2nd 24h LeMans 1966 Miles, Hulme 1:12 CMR	158,36 €
	Ford GT40 #1 2nd 24h LeMans 1966 Miles, Hulme Dirty Version 1:12 CMR	178,16 €