Ultimate Ford GT40 – The Definitive History (Volume 2)

Ultimate Ford GT40 is a four-volume series which tells the story of the GT40 in unparalleled detail. From the car’s roots in the early 1960s through the challenges of its formative racing career, to its triumphs at Le Mans, every aspect of the GT40 and its remarkable history is documented and analysed.

Volume 1 provides chassis records, competition histories and photos for every GT40 built. Written by Ronnie Spain, who is acknowledged as the world’s foremost expert on the GT40, it is the culmination of more than 46 years of research and was published in December 2024.

Volume 2 begins the chronological history of the GT40, investigating the origins of the car, including Ford’s initial plan to buy Ferrari, the story of the Lola Mk6, from which many design cues were taken, and the subsequent development of the Ford GT project.

It details the design and build of the prototypes and early production cars, the extensive testing programme, and the full story of the GT40’s races in 1964 and early 1965:

• 1964 Nürburgring 1,000Kms
• 1964 Le Mans 24 Hours
• 1964 Reims 12 Hours
• 1964 Nassau Tourist Trophy
• 1965 Daytona Continental 2,000Kms
• 1965 Sebring 12 Hours
• 1965 Le Mans test weekend
• 1965 Monza 1,000Kms
• 1965 Targa Florio
• 1965 Silverstone International Sports Car race
• 1965 Nürburgring 1,000Kms
• 1965 Le Mans 24 Hours

The authors have obtained unique access to thousands of pages of original 1960s documentation produced by Ford and its agents Ford Advanced Vehicles and Shelby American. Complemented by previously unpublished interviews with many of those involved with the GT40 in period, this newly discovered material has enabled them to describe the GT40 and its history in unparalleled detail, providing much new insight and analysis.

With the enthusiastic cooperation of the Ford Motor Company, many previously unseen photographs have been made available to illustrate the GT40 throughout its design, build and racing career. Additionally, other photographers and agencies have delved into their archives to come up with pictures which hitherto have not been seen in print.

The result is a spectacular large-format volume with 576 pages, extensively illustrated with over 1,000 period photographs and documents.

Volume 3 will continue the story, starting after Le Mans 1965 and detailing the pivotal 1965/66 racing programme, up to and including the GT40s dominant 1966 Le Mans victory.

Volume 4 will cover the period from post-Le Mans 1966 to 1970, detailing the GT40s subsequent development including the Mark IV and Mirage cars.

Together, these four volumes will provide the most detailed and comprehensive study of the GT40’s history ever undertaken, and throw new light on many of the mysteries and controversies surrounding these revered cars.

• Limited to 750 copies
• 340mm x 245mm
• Cloth-bound hardback
• 576 pages
• Over 1000 images
• ISBN: 978-1-913089-72-6
• Publisher: Porter Press International
• Publication date: August 2025
• Authors: John S Allen, Graham Endeacott and Mark Cole with Mike Teske