1966 Ford GT40 Mk II Le Mans Finish 0401-2313

Three Ford GT40 Mk IIs running together on a wet track at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, cars 2, 1 and 5 formed up for the finish.

What Is in This Photograph?

A high, grainy black-and-white view down onto a soaking straight. Car 2, dark with broad pale centre stripes, leads on the inside; car 1, light-coloured with stripes and a dark nose panel, runs alongside and slightly behind it; car 5 is further back up the road on the right. Spray hangs under all three and the track surface throws a hard reflection. Along the left-hand barrier the crowd is packed several deep, some in raincoats, with a marshal in white standing out on the verge. On the right the grass bank falls away with more spectators along it. The camera has moved with the cars, so the crowd and the barriers are blurred while the cars stay sharp.

What Was Happening?

Ford's first overall victory at Le Mans, and the most argued-about finish in the race's history. Ford took first, second and third in 1966, with Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon declared the winners over Ken Miles and Denis Hulme after the team ordered a formation finish and the organisers ruled on distance covered from the staggered grid positions (1966 24 Hours of Le Mans). This photograph is that formation, in the rain.

Why Does the Weather Matter?

Because it explains the picture's texture. Rain flattened the light, so the image has almost no shadow and the cars read as shapes; the wet surface doubles each car in reflection; and the closing speeds that made the formation possible were far lower than they had been in the dry. It also tells you why the crowd is dressed as it is at the end of a June weekend.

Who Is This Print For?

This 1966 Le Mans print suits GT40 and endurance racing collectors, Ford motorsport historians, garages, offices and bars, and anyone who prefers a documentary racing photograph to a studio portrait. The grain and the wet monochrome give it the look of period press work, which is exactly what it is. Choose framed print, stretched canvas, ChromaLuxe metal or Giclée.

Photograph Details

• Event: 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, Circuit de la Sarthe
• Cars: Ford GT40 Mk II, race numbers 2, 1 and 5
• Result: Ford first, second and third; McLaren and Amon declared winners
• Conditions: Wet track
• Archive reference: 0401-2313

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.