Did The Ford GT-40 MK IV Really Go 220 mph at Le Mans


FordGTGuy

Well-known member
Aug 1, 2005
636
Norfolk, VA
Hey Guys,

Trying to do a little research here and i'm looking for proof that the Ford GT-40 MK IV went 220 mph at Le Mans. So far i've uncovered this page of information:

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/maxspeed.htm

Which says that the maximum speed any Ford got up to was 212.6 mph at Le Mans in 1967.

Could anyone contribute some more information to this?
 

cobraownr

GT Owner
Jul 16, 2007
90
Annapolis, MD
I know the owner of original Mk-IV GT40 J-6 through the GT40s.com forum and having met him at a couple of events. He is an extremely knowledgeable owner and has done lots of research on his car, which finished 4th at 1967 Le Mans. I will give him a shout and see what he thinks about the 220 mph claim and let you know what I find out. I have a recollection that Leo Levine, in his massive Ford history "Ford: The Dust and the Glory," said that the big Mk IVs got all the way up to 232 on the Mulsanne in 1967. Even though the Mk IVs had 16" rims and a very tall final drive ratio in their 4-speed transaxle, 232 mph seems out of reach. Even 220 seems a bit high, but I will see what an actual owner of a Mk IV who has put over 20,000 road miles on his car says and report back. I can also do a simple calculation using tire diameter, final drive ratio, etc., and see if 220 mph was mechanically possible.
 

FordGTGuy

Well-known member
Aug 1, 2005
636
Norfolk, VA
Thanks man! That sounds great.
 

RALPHIE

GT Owner
Mar 1, 2007
7,278
Le Mans Data

The fastest lap and highest speed records at Le Mans for the Ford GT40's are listed below:

CIRCUIT DE 13.461 KM
Fastest Lap
1967 M. ANDRETTI-D. HULME (Ford - 6 980 cc) 3’23’’6 = 238.014 km/h = 147.894 mile/h
1966 D. GURNEY (Ford - 6 982 cc) 3’30’’6 = 230.103 km/h = 142.979 mile/h
1965 P. HILL (Ford - 6 982 cc) 3’37’’5 = 222.803 km/h = 138.443 mile/h
1964 P. HILL (Ford - 4 181 cc) 3’49’’2 = 211.429 km/h = 131.375 mile/h

Highest Speed:
Tests
1967 FORD 340 km/h = 211.27 mile/h
1966 FORD 320 km/h = 198.84 mile/h
1965 FORD 310 km/h = 192.62 mile/h
Race
1967 FORD 343 km/h = 213.13 mile/h
1966 FORD 325 km/h = 201.94 mile/h
1965 FORD 302 km/h = 187.65 mile/h

In 1968, the circuit was changed to 13.469 km and the fastest lap speeds and highest speeds were set by Porsches.
 

RALPHIE

GT Owner
Mar 1, 2007
7,278
The data source for the previous post is:

http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/
 

Gulf GT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Feb 9, 2006
1,539
California
Excellent post! Thank you Ralphie.