The Real Story Behind the Film "Ford v Ferrari"

The Real Story Behind the Film Ford v Ferrari

"Ford v Ferrari" is a 2019 American sports drama film directed by James Mangold and starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale.

The movie tells the story of car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles who the Ford Motor Company hires to build a race car to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Man's race in 1966.

The film received critical acclaim for its performances, direction, and racing sequences and was nominated for several awards, including Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

How historically accurate is Ford vs Ferrari?

Ford v Ferrari is generally considered to be a mostly accurate portrayal of the events surrounding the development of the Ford GT40 and Ford's efforts to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1966. However, as with any historical drama, some details have been changed or fictionalized for the sake of storytelling.

For example, in the film, Beebe is depicted as a corporate stooge who is determined to prevent Miles from winning at Le Mans and who ultimately plays a role in Miles being denied the victory. However, some critics have argued that this portrayal is unfair to Beebe and that he was not solely responsible for the decision to have Miles slow down and let the other Ford GT40s catch up.

Similarly, the film takes some liberties with the timeline of events, and condenses or omits certain details in order to streamline the narrative. However, overall, most reviewers and historians agree that the film captures the spirit of the real-life events and provides an engaging and entertaining look at a pivotal moment in automotive history.

The Real Story Behind Ford v. Ferrari'

Here are some details about the true story of Ford v Ferrari that were not included in the film:

The rivalry between Ford and Ferrari began in the early 1960s when Ford attempted to purchase Ferrari, but the deal fell through, and Enzo Ferrari insulted Henry Ford II. This led Ford to develop a racing program with the goal of beating Ferrari at Le Mans, which they eventually achieved in 1966 with the Ford GT40 Mark II. This was a historic achievement for American racing and a major blow to Ferrari's dominance in endurance racing.

While the film focuses on Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, there were many other people involved in the development of the Ford GT40, including engineer Roy Lunn and driver Bruce McLaren. While the film necessarily had to simplify and condense the story for the purposes of storytelling, it is important to recognize the contributions of all those involved in this historic achievement.

The 1966 Le Mans race was not without controversy. Ford wanted a photo finish with all three of their cars crossing the finish line together, but Miles was leading the pack and was told to slow down so the other two Fords could catch up. However, due to a technicality related to the distance calculation method used at Le Mans at the time, Miles and his co-driver, Denny Hulme, were not declared the winners of the race. Instead, the win was awarded to Miles' teammate, Bruce McLaren, and his co-driver, Chris Amon. Unfortunately, Miles did die in a racing accident just two months after the 1966 Le Mans race, while testing a Ford J-car prototype at the Riverside International Raceway in California.

While there is some controversy over Leo Beebe's role in the decision to slow down and create a photo finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, it is widely acknowledged that the decision was made collectively by a group of Ford executives, including Beebe, and was based on the company's desire to have a dramatic and memorable finish to the race. While Beebe may have played a role in the decision, it is unlikely that he was solely responsible for it, as the decision was likely made by the Ford team as a whole.

The Ford GT40 went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans four years in a row from 1966 to 1969, cementing its place in automotive history and helped to establish Ford as a serious competitor in the world of endurance racing. Today, the Ford GT40 is considered a classic sports car and is highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. In recent years, Ford has released a modern version of the GT40, known simply as the Ford GT, which pays homage to the original car's design and performance.

Conclusion

"Ford v Ferrari" is an entertaining and engaging portrayal of one of the greatest rivalries in automotive history, even if it takes some creative liberties with the true story.

The film takes some liberties with the true story, including the portrayal of Ford executives as villains and the depiction of a controversial finish to the race that is not entirely accurate.

However, overall the movie is praised for its attention to detail in recreating the cars and racing scenes, as well as for its strong performances by Matt Damon and Christian Bale.