In a time of upheaval for the Ford Motor Company, Lee Iacocca proposed an ambitious strategy to Henry Ford II: acquire Ferrari, the reigning champion of endurance racing, to elevate Ford's own car sales. Yet, Enzo Ferrari proved unyielding, leveraging Ford's offer to broker a deal with Fiat, which allowed him to maintain control over his beloved Scuderia Ferrari team. This affront ignited a fierce resolve in Henry Ford II to compete with Ferrari on their own turf.
Meanwhile, Iacocca recognized the potential in collaborating with Carroll Shelby, a legendary driver and founder of Shelby American, who famously clinched victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. Shelby, in turn, called upon his friend Ken Miles, an audacious British racing driver and mechanical engineer known for his candid observations. Together with Iacocca, they gathered at Los Angeles International Airport to develop the Ford GT40 Mk I prototype, dedicated to crafting a vehicle that could rival Ferrari's supremacy.
As the highly anticipated Ford Mustang debuted, Ken Miles didn't hold back, delivering a sharp critique that disappointed Leo Beebe, Ford’s senior vice president. Beebe's subsequent campaign against allowing Miles to represent Ford at Le Mans—viewing him as a potential public relations disaster—led Shelby to make the tough decision to opt for Phil Hill and Bruce McLaren instead. The outcome was predictable; none of the Ford cars finished the race.
Undaunted, Shelby threw himself into perfecting the GT40 Mk I, achieving an astonishing speed of 218 mph (350.8 km/h) on the Mulsanne Straight, albeit it was soon halted by mechanical failure. Noticing this success, Shelby leveraged it to broker an agreement with Henry Ford II: if Miles could secure a win at the 24 Hours of Daytona, he would earn a place at Le Mans; otherwise, Ford would assume full control of Shelby American.
At Daytona International Speedway, Beebe fielded a second GT40 backed by a NASCAR crew, boasting faster pit stops. However, Shelby permitted Miles to push his vehicle beyond the 7,000 RPM redline, leading him to accomplish victory and secure his spot at Le Mans. With the green flag unfurling at Le Mans, Miles encountered a significant challenge as a malfunctioning door affected his speed during the initial lap. The pit crew sprang into action, making critical repairs, allowing Miles to return and shatter lap records, closing in on the formidable Ferraris.
A gripping contest unfolded between Miles and his rival Lorenzo Bandini in their respective GT40 and Ferrari prototype 330 P3, neither willing to concede as they raced on the famed Mulsanne Straight. Yet, fate took a twist when Bandini’s Ferrari suffered mechanical issues, causing him to withdraw from the race. Upon crossing the finish line, Miles found himself in a tense scenario, with Fords holding the top three places. Team owner Beebe urged Shelby to instruct Miles to slow down, facilitating a coordinated finish for the press. Shelby chose not to enforce Beebe's request, leaving the choice to Miles, who initially resisted the idea of letting off the throttle, preferring to maintain his furious speed.
Ultimately, Miles made a surprising decision to abide by Beebe's wishes. Although McLaren crossed the finish line first, after completing more miles despite starting behind Miles, Shelby’s driver was granted second place. This event stirred controversy, with Shelby accusing Beebe of intentionally undermining Miles’ chance of victory.
Philosophically, Miles accepted the outcome, reminding Shelby that he had been promised a drive, not a guaranteed win. As they left the track, an unexpected show of sportsmanship from Enzo Ferrari added an unexpected touch of grace to the tournament. Tragically, months later, a mechanical fault took Miles’ life during testing at Riverside International Raceway.
In the wake of his death, Shelby paid a heartfelt visit to Miles' widow Mollie and their son Peter, gifting the young boy a wrench once thrown at him by Miles during an argument. This poignant moment served as a striking reminder of the camaraderie woven tightly into the fabric of racing.
In honoring Miles’ lasting impact on the sport, Ford achieved remarkable victories at Le Mans in 1967, 1968, and 1969, while Miles was posthumously inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2001.
