By: Brandon J. O'Brien 
Images By: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images unless otherwise specified

In the early 1960's Ferrari dominated international sports racing.  Henry Ford II had a vision to change that by using a V8 engine, an English chassis, and a 40-inch tall body designed in Dearborn. The new car, which arrived in 1964, was dubbed the GT40.  The first 2-years of racing did not go as planned with reliability being the primary issue.  This was to change in 1966 when Ford with the help of Carroll Shelby came to Le Mans that July.  The battle between Ford and Ferrari was to begin in earnest.