1966 Le Mans 0001-4462

The black number 2 Ford Mk II in the Le Mans pit lane in 1966, crew and officials crowded around it beneath the Ford pit boxes.

What Is in This Photograph?

A low three-quarter rear view taken from the pit lane itself. The car's number roundel, the exposed rear bodywork vents and the wide rear tyres fill the lower half of the frame. Behind and above, the Ford pit boxes run along the wall with their numbered signs visible, and the crowd on the terracing is packed in behind them. Men in team shirts, photographers and officials stand within touching distance of the car, which is how pit lanes worked in 1966 and no longer do.

What Was the Number 2 Car?

The Shelby American Mk II shared by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, the car credited with the win in the closest and most argued-over finish in the race's history (Sports Car Digest, 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans). It was one of eight seven-litre Mk IIs entered that year, run across three teams, and Ford's first outright victory at Le Mans came from it.

Why Does 1966 Matter?

It was the year Ford's effort finally worked. Two previous attempts had ended in retirements, and 1966 produced not only the win but a Ford sweep of the podium. Photographs from the pit lane rather than the track show the part of that campaign that made it possible: a very large number of people working on a very small number of cars for twenty-four hours.

Who Is This Print For?

This Le Mans print suits Ford GT collectors, endurance racing enthusiasts, motorsport historians, restoration shops and dealership showrooms. Pit lane images carry the atmosphere of the period in a way a panned track shot does not, and the crowd behind the wall dates the picture immediately. Choose framed print, stretched canvas, ChromaLuxe metal or Giclée.

Photograph Details

• Event: 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1966
• Vehicle: Ford Mk II, race number 2
• Drivers of this car: Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, winners
• Setting: Pit lane, Circuit de la Sarthe
• View: Low three-quarter rear
• Archive reference: 0001-4462

This archival photograph is made available through Fordimages.com, the official Ford archive imagery licensee operated by Richard Weedn LLC. Each image is digitally restored before printing and handcrafted to order.

Available as:

• Framed Print — museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, hanging hardware included
• Stretched Canvas — hand-stretched over 1.25-inch pine bars, heavy cotton poly matte finish
• ChromaLuxe Metal Print — image infused directly onto sheets of alloy metal for maximum vibrancy and durability
• Giclée Art Print — 260gsm satin finish paper, finest archival inks, white border

Made in the USA or Europe depending on your location.

About the Artwork

Artwork in this collection comes from the Ford Motor Company Archives, The Henry Ford Museum, the Carroll Shelby Archives, and the collections of acclaimed photographers and painters from around the world. Reproduction rights are reserved by the respective copyright owners.

Our framed prints feature a black, hand-stained solid wood frame with a white mat, museum-quality paper, archival inks, Acrylite glazing, and hanging hardware. The frame features a slim 0.8-inch face and projects 1.3 inches from the wall, creating a clean, contemporary shadow-box effect. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our stretched canvas prints are produced on acid-free, pH-neutral, and fade-resistant canvas. Each canvas is hand-glued to solid wood stretcher bars and stretched over 1.25-inch-thick pine bars. Mounting brackets are included. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

Our Giclée prints are produced using premium 200gsm semi-gloss paper and high-quality archival inks. Each print includes a white border around the perimeter.

For the 40 x 60 size, we use 250gsm museum-quality archival paper with an off-white, uncoated finish.

The listed size refers to the overall paper dimensions. The image is printed proportionally within the selected paper size. Made in the USA or Europe, depending on your location.

ChromaLuxe prints use a state-of-the-art coating process that infuses the image directly onto sheets of alloy metal. The result is photography with an exceptional combination of vibrancy, clarity, and durability.

Each print arrives ready to hang. An alloy subframe on the back allows the artwork to float away from the wall for a sleek, modern appearance. This is the finest-quality print we offer. Made in the USA.

All images are digitally restored before printing. Production location varies by product and destination. Shipping is calculated at checkout.