Gulf Oil - Wyer Ford GT 40 Chassis 1075
Double 24 Hours of LeMans Winner (1968 / 1969)
In 1968 driven by Pedro Rodriguez and Lucien Bianchi.
In 1969 driven by Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver.

These images are Copyright/ 2003 Photos@VectorTrust.com.
Thanks to the Ford Motor Co. for making this vehicle available to our clients during the FORD 100 years celebration.

In the 1969 race, Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver piloted the number 6 GT40/1075 to the closest (un-staged ) Le Mans victory in history. Despite being an outdated chassis (by that time ), and being hampered by the rules (changes made after the '67 race) in both aerodynamics and horsepower, the GT40 bested the "modern" #64 Porsche 908 of Herrmann and Larrousse in 2nd, within reach of the repeat winner. Our friend David Hobbs finished 3rd in the Number 7 GT40. John Wyer's privateer team Gulf Oil GT40/1075 also won the 1968 24 Hours of Spa-Franchorchamps race with Jacky Ikx driving.

Engine: 4942 cc, bore x stroke: 101.6 mm x 76.2 mm.
Power: 425hp@6000rpm
Torque: 396ftlb@4750rpm
Performance: 0-160 kph - 8 secs (0-100 mph 8 secs)
Max. speed: 380 kph (210 mph)

       In the early 60's, The leadership at Ford Motor Co. wanted to expand the brand prestege by winning races, especially in Europe. The quickest way to win races was to buy a company that was already winning. The big winner of the day was the independant Ferrari. In 1960-61, Ford offered a deal to Enzo Ferrari. The offer was simple. Ford would manufacture the street / production cars and Enzo would continue to direct the (at this time) dominant and hugely successful racing operation. Ford management knew that Enzo Ferrari was a racer who tolerated selling cars as a way of funding his racing efforts. Mr Ferrari was widely known (at this time in the company history) for his lack of what today would be called "customer relationship skills". He disliked the street / touring car sales process and frequently refused to sell cars to customers that he felt weren’t "the right kind of people" to own one of "his" automobiles. Years later, this refusal to sell a car to an "unworthly" local farm tractor company owner would directly lead to the creation of another exotic car building company by the name of Lamborghini.

      Enzo Ferrari noted the attraction of the Ford arrangement, but he hesitated unendingly, continually asking for more time to think about consummating the deal. One of his conditions to sign the deal was that Ford would stop offering support to an up and coming rival by the name of Carroll Shelby. Ford recognized that Shelby’s growing success in GT racing (using Ford engines) could be used as a lever to make the Ferrari deal happen. Discussions at Ford became tense because Carroll Shelby had many supporters in both the Ford racing and marketing camps. After all, Shelby's race cars, called Cobras, were beginning to win races too. The problem was that these Cobras were pieced together hybrids. The engines may have been Fords, but the body was English and other parts were hand-built. The management at Ford wanted a "real" Ford to be seen winning races. This thought process was beginning to create second thoughts about the Ferrari deal too. Even if a Ferrari carried the Ford flag, it wouldn't be the same as a "real" Ford winning the races. When the conversations between Henry Ford II and Enzo Ferrari advanced to an out right Ferrai purchase, the deal fell apart.

      Almost instantly, Ford Advanced Vehicles was announced. The team went to see the 1963 LeMans race first hand and view the competition. In a fateful decision, the FAV team included Carroll Shelby. The Ford contingent saw Ferrari dominate the race that year, finishing in the first 6 places. Little noted at the time (except by Ford), a Shelby Cobra placed 7th. The FAV trip to LeMans in ‘63, resulted in the now legendary Ford GT, that enthusiasts quickly labeled GT40, because it stood 40 inches high. This new coupe carried that "nom de plume" in France (and across the rest of Europe and the world) through the late-1960s. The Ford GT40 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four years in a row - 1966 through '69.
             The Races
      The 1966 victory was spectacular for Ford. All three driver teams on the podium were in Shelby American Ford Mark II GTs. Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon got the big trophy. This first winning GT40 car was powered by a 428-cubic-inch Ford V8. Henry Ford II had gotten his marquee winner. It was also the first overall victory for an American automaker at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.  In 1967, the Mark IIs were not competitive with the Ferraris during the season opening 24 Hours of Daytona. Losing at home, so soon after the first "big win" at LeMans was embarrassing. In a whirl of activity, The Ford team redeveloped the car into the Shelby American Ford Mark IV It was driven to the 2nd LeMans win by a couple of young guys by the name of Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt. Both were new stars of the day, coming from the open-wheel cars of Formula 1 and USAC Indy cars.  After winning Le Mans for the second time, Ford withdrew from competition and the GT40 banner was carried on by privateers like John Wyer’s JW Automotive (with significant support from Ford, it must be noted). In 1968, there were 5 GT40s listed to compete, three entered by JWA plus two more by private European entrants. Wyler brought Ford it’s last two wins at LeMans and got into the record books in interesting way too.

      The 1968 and 1969 LeMans victories came to Ford from John Wyer's privateer Gulf Oil team. The now famous Gulf Oil livery of light blue body paint with a single bright orange stripe debuted with the JWA GT40s. That color scheme is to this day almost as famous as the cars. The photos here are of this GT40 chassis number 1075. The 1968 and 1969 wins by GT40/1075 were significant in the history books. It marked only the second time the same car had won LeMans twice in a row. A Bentley Speed Six won both the debut race in 1929 and again in1930. Since the GT40 wins, the record books would wait 35 years until the Audi R8 arrived to see the record repeated. The "Gulf Oil" paint scheme would return to LeMans in 2001 too.... on another legendary LeMans contender run by a privateer , an Audi R8.

      One Ford GT40 or another won every one of the world's major endurance races, Daytona, Sebring, Spa, LeMans, Silverstone, etc. It brought Ford the International Championship for Sports Cars in 1966 and '67, the International Trophy for Sports Prototypes in 1966 and '68 and the FIA Manufacturers' World Championship in 1966 and '68.       As a side note, GT40/1076 had a sister chassis that all movie racing fans owe a debt too. GT40/1074 was used as a test vehicle during development, but saw fame in a different way. GT40/1074 had its roof ingloriously removed, and was used as a camera-car for the filming of the Steve McQueen movie "Le Mans". Read more about the history and the cars raced at the 24 Heures du Mans by visiting the official Automobile Club de L’Ouest ( ACO ) web site.

      For news and history about the LeMans 24 Hours race, visit www.maisonblanche.co.uk.    Named after the once famous "maison blanche" (little house in white) used as a landmark by drivers in the race, this site contains a wealth of historical infomation and pictures.    Learn more about the design, engineering and aerodynamics of contemporary LeMans entrys at Mulsannes Corner.com . The mulsanne straight is another famous landscape aspect of this historic race. Mike Fuller’s site pays tribute to the longest straight in motorsports lore, the 8 mile long, maximum speed roadway from Terte Rouge to the sharp right turn at Mulsannes Corner. This is where the "maison blanche" is located, by the way. See photos of various LeMans events elsewhere on this web site and read about the "wettest" race in LeMans history in our archives.