Jalopnik: Ford Gt40

This is the first bottle of champagne sprayed after winning a race

Peter Orosz — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EDT

You'd think that the tradition of spraying a bottle of champagne from the winner's podium after a race was as old as sports itself. It's not. It didn't start until 1967 when Dan Gurney did it for the first time after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This was the bottle he used. More »

The Ford GT40's dirty little Chevy secret

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:30:00 EDT

When the Ford GT40 cruised to victory at Le Mans in 1967 it was the first all-American car with all-American drivers to win. But the car was more American than people realized — thanks to a few lightweight Chevy parts. More »

How to kill the Gulf racing livery in one easy step

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EDT

Perhaps the most iconic racing color scheme in the history of motorsports: Gulf powder blue with marigold orange trim, first seen on the famous Mirage Ford GT40s during 1967. It shouldn't be some super-rich guy's version of paisley. More »

Dutch artist turns junk wood into realistic car sculptures

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:20:00 EDT

Dutch artist and car nut Diederick Kraaijeveld creates ridiculously accurate photorealistic mosaics out of salvaged wood that's already painted (he doesn't paint them). He also does household items (and Steve McQueen), but his cars are spectacular. More »

A drool-worthy look at Sports Car racing from 1967

Tom Joslin — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EDT

This video of the 1967 BOAC 500 Sports Car Race at Brands Hatch is ten minutes of pure retro awesome. The race sealed Ferrari as Sports Car Champions for the year, beating out the Ford GT40s and an amazing assortment of other vintage race cars for the victory. More »

How I built a supercar out of pixels

Luis Nieves — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EDT

Digital artist Luis Nieves wowed us last week with a rendering of the iconic Ford GT40 in Gulf livery so realistic we said it would make you dream in pixels. More »

A Ford GT40 render so beautiful it'll make you dream in pixels

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Digital artist Luis Nieves rendered this gorgeous Ford GT40 in Gulf Oil livery complete with a digitally enhanced driver using multiple programs including ZBrush. More »

Über collector buys 14 Gulf Oil race cars

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST

An unidentified collector with a fetish for classic liveries has assembled a collection of 14 famous cars that raced under the famous blue/white/orange colors, including the first Gulf-liveried car to race at Le Mans. Finally, a sheik with good taste. More »

Madrid Rings in 2011 With a Ford GT40

Peter Orosz — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

The pace of life in Madrid on the afternoon of January 1st is more like the aftermath of a nuclear strike which spares nothing but fur-clad ladies than a bustling Mediterranean metropolis. Plenty of time for GT40s. More »

Honey, Is That Your GT40 in Our Living Room?

Peter Orosz — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:45:00 EDT

How’s this for a dream home for car geeks: a large warehouse in Sydney converted into a home with ample space to park a car, any car, smack in the middle of the living room. More »

Ford Adds Le Mans Paint Jobs To Focus RS

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EDT

Ford's painted five Focus RS hot-hatches to match winning GT40s from its Le Mans victories in the '60s and they're offering 'em up for "exclusive sale." Why? Someone probably got up on the chav side of the bed one morning. More »

Porsche 956/962: Three Warped Minutes In Derek Bell’s Mach .3 Office

Peter Orosz — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST

It’s big. It’s fast. It’s held the lap record on the Nürburgring for 27 years. Ready? More »

Period Slot Cars with Creepy Kids for Post-Holiday Fun

Peter Orosz — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST

In the mood for some post-holiday shopping? These vintage Czech slot racers may come in handy to suck up your saved dollars. More »

Amazingly Accurate Historic Wooden Race Cars

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST

Gary Tatman builds models cars. More specifically, he carves replicas of the coolest race cars of all time from simple wood. Dazzlingly accurate models of the Lotus 33b, Porsche 917K, the Ford GT40, and the Tyrrell P-34 below. More »

Ford GT Wears Entirely Appropriate Vanity Plate

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

At one point in my past, I designed and proved-out the production line that built the Ford GT's giant throttle body. I still have two copies, so I'm something of a fan-boy. Thus, I agree with this guy's sentiment. More »

La Ronde Infernale: 24 Hours Of Le Mans 1969

Murilee Martin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EDT

Scroggs has worked his magic again, ferreting out this great documentary about the 1969 24 Hours Of Le Mans. More »

The Ford GT40: From Back When Exhaust Pipes Weren't Styled

Peter Orosz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EDT

Quick! Name something that looks cooler from the rear than a Ford GT40! More »

Mark Webber Celebrating His Maiden Formula One Victory

Peter Orosz — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:30:00 EDT

It took him 130 tries, mostly in inferior cars, but Australia’s Mark Webber has finally won his first Formula One grand prix on Sunday. Here’s a gallery of his supreme joy. More »

Jalopnik Guide to Meeting Your Boss's Boss in Petrolhead Style

Peter Orosz — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EDT

Jalopnik Guide to Meeting Your Boss's Boss in Petrolhead Style" alt="Click here to read Jalopnik Guide to Meeting Your Boss's Boss in Petrolhead Style" src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2009/04/gt40.jpg"/>

When in a city known for its extreme public displays of supercars, be extra wary when heading into a coffeehouse. You will come to regret what you’ll miss while inside. More »

A Visit To Holman Moody Makes 24 Hours Of LeMons Staff Reconsider $500 Limit

Murilee Martin — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EDT

When you've got a few hours to kill before catching your flight out of Charlotte, North Carolina, what do you do? Pound Retsina-and-Schlitz Boilermakers at the airport bar… or check out Holman Moody's shop? More »

How To Lap Le Mans In a Ford GT ...In 40 Years

Peter Orosz — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EDT

Motoring journalist Rich Truesdell became a car geek when he saw Phil Hill drive the Ford GT40 at Le Mans in 1964. Forty years later, he caught up with him. More »

Shelby Automobiles Remakes GT40 MKII For Carroll's 85th Birthday

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:20:00 EDT

The guy responsible for some of the most legendary cars in American racing history is turning 85 this year and Shelby Automotive has just the present for him. To celebrate the bought-and-paid-for-by-Ford main man's big birthday bonanza, 255 copies of the MKII GT40 will be remade in the original designs and colors complete with everything from the snorkel intakes to the Gurney bubble. What won't be included is the engine as this is a rolling chassis conveniently modded to accept a Shelby-built 427. Nonetheless, if you want a kit car that isn't a kit, here's the ticket. More »

Commenter of the Day: Why We're Here Edition

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:45:00 EST

Maybe story tellers get better with age. Or, perhaps the stories were that much more interesting back in the day. But is there a single one of us who wouldn't kill siblings for a time machine back to the early 60s just to watch the cars race? Imagine actually being able to see a Shelby Daytona Coupe being unloaded from a carrier; being able to smell the freshly welded metal and paint. I'm typically not one to look backwards, but certain cars are worth a 402nd look. And no matter how many books I read, ~~DVDs~~ ~~HD DVDs~~ Blu-Rays I watch or tales I get told, I will never tire of modern racing's heyday. More »