Jeremy Clarkson tests original Ford GT40

From the video: Jeremy Clarkson Most Outrageus.

The story began back in the early 60's. Ford wanted to dominate all the branches of motorsport, and to win the famous 24 hours of Le Mans, they decided the easiest way would be to buy Ferrari, which had an inpressive and unchallenged streak of wins in this race.
But Enzo Ferrari came up with loads of new conditions for the sale all the time. The deal turned sour and after some time, Ferrari closed the negotiations.

Henry Ford II was furious! He ordered his best engineers to: "Create a car that would crush the red italians!"
After two years of developement, testing, failure and improvement, the GT40 dominated Le Mans in 1966, with both first, second and third place being taken by this incredible machine.
But it didn't stop there, all the three folowing years, the GT40 won the Le Mans, securing it a place in all proper gearheads hall of fame.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Ford
• GT40
• Le
• Mans
• Jeremy
• Clarkson

[cliffthelightning]

Countach?...

[VikingAmcar]

@cliffthelightning

Despite being one of the all-time supercar greats. The aerodynamically challenged Countach could only achieve a tad over 180 mph in its fastest stock form.

[trafficjam10]

After reading the description...well....I'm VERY glad Ford didn't buy Ferrari, but I'm also glad this allowed the GT40 to be made. :-)

[ace571970]

Great video Great car...the best Racer America made..Wish I had one!! watta sound.Jeremy cool car guy.......

[IsonycYaDig]

no dislikes? TIME TO CHANGE THAT

[vahahon]

Lol the guy speaks about his family

[Jerkk1221]

@teaandpie your gt-r was also turbo wich forces more air in so it makes the engine preform like a bigger engine.

[radioguy1620]

Honda has been trying to copy this look for 30 years!!! they are smart enough to know it's one of the greats, true Macho but still sexy . My info though says he has the speed in top gear wrong, the big block cars which looked different were geared for about 30 mph per 1000 rpm , that would be 7 grand for 210 mph, also the small block car won the lemans race two times !  the same car, impossible ever since, the car was so good they outlawed it! someday !

[tomsailas]

@teaandpipe then again if you really do the math, 40 inches tall (little wind resistance), and weighs 908kg (550bhp per tonne!! about the same as a veyron)....itll still be faster than many cars of today. Also the MK II which ive had the luck to be in had the 7 liter V8 engine....that is alot different :D

[hunghuge12]

@teaandpipe Now look at the entire engine (include all the shit like turbo's this doesn't need) size and weight and where that weight sits it the car. It may use more cc's for the power but it uses less size which allows a smaller car, less weight and has a far lower CofG for the motor. They built this thing to race - not to be a dyno queen.

[BlueAvenue22]

@teaandpipe yeah you're shit talking technology over 40 years old. good on ya!

[tomminator22]

best sounding car of all time!



[elputopez323]

@teaandpipe 1966 here duurrrrrrr