What if Ford had bought Ferrari?

[CNR]

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6256247/...ari/index.html

Almost exactly 45 years ago this month, Henry Ford II thought he had a deal. Nine months of negotiation were over, and on July 4, 1963, Hank the Deuce was planning to be in Maranello signing a $10 million deal with Enzo Ferrari that would give Ford Motor Company a half share in the storied Italian sports-car maker. As Time reported in its May 24 issue of that year: "To mark the partnership, the two companies have already started design work on a new, prestigious 'Ferrari-Ford,' which will have a powerful 12-cylinder engine in a Ford sports chassis."






http://image.motortrend.com/f/editor...vs-ferrari.jpg
The deal never happened. The 'Ferrari-Ford' was never built. Enzo Ferrari pulled the pin on the deal at the last minute, leaving Ford high and dry.

We all know what happened next: An enraged Henry authorized the development of the Ford GT40, with the express goal of humiliating Enzo's blood-red sports racers in the Le Mans 24 Hour race. Which it duly did, four times in a row from 1966.

[Valve Bounce]

It must have been something ioan said.

[maxu05]

That was in 1963, when Ford had some decent cars. Nowadays, a Ferarri built by ford would fall apart

[leopard]

This is awesome if true.

[Mark]

Of course it's true, it's well documented.

[Valve Bounce]

Some great footage can be seen in the French Film "A Man and a Woman". It was a great film also.

[Roamy]

puke this would be like somalia buying belgium

[trumperZ06]

Henry the Duce... was PO'ed when Enzo weaseled out on his agreement to sell Ferrari to Ford... at the very last minute.

After the sale was agreed to...

Enzo demanded control (and ownership) of Ferrari racing.

Henry the Duce left the meeting red-faced and told his inner circle to...

"Beat that Son-Of-a-Bitch... no matter what it CO$T "!!!

Now fast forward to Ford's latest escapade... financing and then taking over Jackie Stewart's F-1 effort (became team Jaguar), and we see an entirely different Ford management committment.

Maybe if Rahal had stayed... Jaguar might have been more sucessful.

[Mad_Hatter]

There would never have a GT40.

[Bagwan]

There would never have a GT40.

It might have been a FGT40 .