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The film "Le Mans 66 - Ford v Ferrari" is a homage to a true story. Apart from a few details, director James Mangold has oriented himself on the events as they had happened in 1966 and the years before. Of course, we have the most important models that appear in this story available in our shop.
In the early 1960s, the Ford Motor Company was in bad 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 biggest 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. Ferrari has nevertheless shown what they are capable of at Maranello with three consecutive victories at Le Mans. On May 21st, 1963, contract negotiations actually took place, the content of which was the sale of Ferrari to Ford. The Ford Motor Company is on site with half an army of lawyers, Enzo Ferrari only comes with the city notary and a translator. And then Enzo Ferrari reads this one passage of the text of the contract and writes the death sentence for the sale in purple ink: No, non ci siamo! (No, we don't!)
The clause deals with the future racing department, which he wants to retain control of and which he would have to give over to Ford if signed.
Back at home in Detroit, the emissaries report to Henry Ford II about the failed negotiations and the insults Enzo Ferrari dropped on him. From this point at the latest, it was clear to Henry Ford II that he wanted to beat Ferrari – and that was where it hurts the most – namely in Le Mans.
In order to achieve this, the only American up to that point in time who could record a Le Mans victory was hired. This is the car builder Carroll Shelby (played by Matt Damon). The British racing engineer and racing driver Ken Miles (played by Christian Bale) is also part of the game. Miles is one of Shelby's closest confidants and has already proven his driving skills on his cars several times. Miles, who is developing the Ford GT40 together with Shelby for Le Mans, knows the vehicle better than anyone else. However, due to his bad image at the management of Ford in 1965, he was not nominated as a driver and had to listen to the radio at home as the cars were being pushed beyond measure and therefore all retired, giving Ferrari the next victory. To get Miles in the cockpit after all, Carroll Shelby offers Henry Ford II a bet. If Ken Miles wins the 24 Hours of Daytona, he then will be the driver at Le Mans in 1966. If Miles loses, then Shelby hands over his company, including all trademark rights, to Ford. Miles, who knows nothing about the bet, wins Daytona and thus competes for Ford in Le Mans in 1966.
After difficulties at the beginning of the race, two Ferraris are leading by nightfall, four of the eight GT40s are out of the race. The message from the Ford team bosse is: drive carefully, don't push the cars too hard. But Ken Miles doesn't give a damn. He sets several lap records and secures the lead until morning. Meanwhile, all Ferraris suffer gearbox or engine damage 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 (car number 1) is against it and is at this point just under 4 minutes ahead of Bruce McLaren's (car number 2) GT40, he still joins in and waits until Bruce McLaren and the third-placed Bucknum/Hutcherson car (starting number 5) caught up with him.
But what Henry Ford does not know is that the statutes do not provide for a tie, which is why the vehicle that has covered the longest distance wins in such a case. Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon's car had 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.
In our shop you can find many modelcars in the scales 1:18 and 1:43, which can bring the unbelievable story of Ford, Ferrari, Ken Miles and Carrol Shelby to your home into the shelves and showcases.
[11.05.2023] The shooting continues: CK Racing TV is coming!
[11.05.2023] The shooting continues: CK Racing TV is coming!
