Rare Wheels: Vintage Racer That Beat Mr. Enzo Ferrari Auto Racing at 1966 1967 Le Mans 

Just The Facts:

In the spring of 1963, Enzo Ferrari was interested in selling his factory to Ford Motor Company. 

The corporation spent several million dollars in an audit of factory assets and in legal negotiations, only to have talks unilaterally cut off at a late stage due to disputes about the ability to direct open wheel racing. 

Enzo wanted to remain the sole operator of his company's motor racing division (that won at Le Mans six times in a row from 1960 to 1965) and was angered when he was told that he would not be allowed to race at the Indianapolis 500 if the deal went through (Ford fielded Indy cars and didn't want the competition from Enzo). 

Out of spite, Enzo cut the deal off... Enraged, Henry directed his racing division to do "whatever it takes" to build a Ferrari-beater on the European long-distance racing circuit.

The result was the Legendary GT (for Grand Touring) 40 (representing its overall height of the racer, in inches)...winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times in a row, from 1966 to 1969.

It featured a large displacement Ford V8 engine (4.2 liter, 4.7 liter and 7 liter) compared with the Ferrari V12 power plant (which displaced 3.0 liters or 4.0 liters).

It became the first (and so far) the only American constructor (a British-built chassis and only the engine came from America) to win (overall) that the World’s Most Famous Endurance Event in Motorsports.