Promoted | Build your own 1:8-scale Ford GT40

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 | 8 Apr 2020
Build your own 1:8-scale Le Mans-winning Ford GT40

Celebrate one of the most iconic racing cars of all time by building your own highly accurate model replica of this iconic Le Mans 24 Hours winner

When it comes to endurance racing, the Ford GT40 is undeniably a legend. The story of its success in the Le Mans 24 Hours is fuelled by competition, passion, revenge and hard work – all captured brilliantly in the James Mangold film, Ford v Ferrari.

Now it’s your chance to build a 1:8-scale model of the car that was the star of this tale. Constructed from quality die-cast metal and injection-mould plastic, this highly accurate Ford GT40 replica lets you own a part of this car’s incredible history.

To order your own 1:8 Ford GT40 model, head to model-space.com

“Go to Le Mans and beat his ass”

The spark that ignited Ford’s desire to race in Le Mans came from revenge. It was May 1963, and Ford and Ferrari were in the final stages of a deal that would see the Italian marque bought out by its US counterpart. But it all crumbled when Enzo Ferrari refused to sell.

When Ford’s Don Frey returned to Detroit with nothing to show, the grudge was formed. Frey was told to “go to Le Mans and beat his ass”. And that’s exactly what they did.

Ford wasted no time in bringing together a team to achieve greatness; Bruce McLaren was brought in to assess the first GT40 prototype. With a 4.2-litre V8 inside a steel body, the car was heavy yet durable, and after further development it touched 200mph.

But with a propensity to get airborne at 170mph, the Ford GT40’s first major races at the Nürburgring 1000km, Le Mans 24 Hours and the Reims 12 Hours resulted in DNFs.

Shelby brings the winning touch

Though the initial results were disheartening, a key hire in the form of motorsport icon Carroll Shelby offered a much-needed boost. 

Shelby was a legendary driver and automotive designer, who had winning form, thanks to a Le Mans 24 Hours victory with Aston Martin in 1959. His involvement helped the Ford GT40 achieve its first major win at the 1965 Daytona 12 Hours, where it was driven by Lloyd Ruby and Ken Miles. 

Ford’s next Le Mans outing resulted in further failure, with all five cars recording DNFs. But 1966 marked a turn of luck for the American manufacturer. Miles and Ruby claimed first place at Daytona again, and Miles also won at Sebring International Raceway. This was the catalyst that saw Miles and the GT40 go for gold at Le Mans.

Scoring the sweetest victory

Ford spared no expense for their third shot at Le Mans glory, with nine cars, seven extra engines, and a team of 100. With wet weather playing its part, Ford demolished its Ferrari competition to claim a famous 1-2-3 finish. 

This sparked a string of dominance for Ford, with the Blue Oval going on to win the next three years as well. Combining savvy engineering with a never say die attitude, it’s no surprise the Ford GT40 reached such incredible heights. A legend? That’s not the half of it.

Create your own racing icon

Now it’s your turn to capture the same glory in your next scale model. Decked in the iconic Gulf Oil livery of Wyer Racing, this 1:8-scale model is a perfect representation of the car that was driven to victory in the 1969 Le Mans 24 Hours by Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver – the Ford GT40’s fourth and final win in the classic endurance event.

The 51cm-long design features steerable die-cast wheels with rubber tyres, rear bodywork that lifts up to reveal a meticulously modelled 4.9-litre Ford V8, and doors that let you see inside the highly detailed cockpit. Because it comes pre-painted with all of its stickers accurately applied, you can be sure of a quality finish.

Subscribe now, and each month you'll receive all the parts you need to complete each stage of the build of your own 1:8-scale Ford GT40. Assembly guides are completely free and ready to download. You can find out more on ModelSpace – the place for all scale modelling enthusiasts. 

To order your 1:8 Ford GT model, head to model-space.com