Fox News car editor Gary Gastelu discusses the replica classic cars used in the movie ‘Ford v. Ferrari. ‘
Ford racing driver Ken Miles did not officially win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but he grabbed Ford’s first 24-hour win in the legendary GT40.
2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition inspired by the victory of GT40 MK IIs in 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental race
Miles, whose role in the development of the race car and the groundbreaking finish in second place of Le Mans, was chronically featured in the film “Ford v Ferrari,” took the controlled flag on the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona a car co-driven by Lloyd Ruby to lead a 1-2-3 Ford whip, and set the stage for the car rehearsal at Le Mans later in the year.
Ford is now offering a version of its $ 450,000 GT supercar – which was inspired by the GT40 and lost on its own debut Daytona outing in 2016 before winning a class win at that year’s Le Mans race – with a graphics package that Miles celebrates achievements.
The white car has a black exposed carbon fiber hood, red striping and the number 98 of Miles and Ruby’s winning car on the hood and both the outside and inside of the doors. The black interior is contrasted with red seats and red paddles on the steering wheel that can be used to shift manual gears with the GT’s 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, as its 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 sends 660 hp to the rear wheels .
Lloyd Ruby (L, blue racing suit) and Ken Miles (R, tan jacket) celebrated their Daytona victory in victory lane. (ISC images and archives through Getty Images)
Ford has previously released legacy editions based on the 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969 Le Mans winners, but this is the first Daytona-inspired version. Ford will offer it on a maximum of 50 cars for the years 2021 and 2022.
When the GT was first launched in 2017, it was planned to build 1,000 by 2020, but Ford extended the drive to about 1,350 cars due to popular demand, with production currently ending in 2022.
Miles did not get the chance to defend his Daytona title because he was killed in a test crash in August 1966.
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