Ford vs. Ferrari Review

Ford vs. Ferrari chronicles the battle Ford and Ferrari had at the 1966 24 hours of Le Mans. Ford Motor Company attempted to establish a racing pedigree in order to transform their brand.

The History

At the time, there was no manufacturer that had more racing lineage than Ferrari. The Ferrari brand was based off of unstoppable race cars that could be purchased and driven by everyday people. Enzo Ferrari had such a passion for racing, that he put the well-being of the business aside. Ferrari was broke and Ford needed Ferrari’s success in order change their brand. Henry Ford II attempted to acquire Ferrari. Ford structured an offer that dictated that they would take majority stake in production while Enzo control majority of racing. When Ford executives went to Maranello, they were quickly sent off by Enzo because a clause in the contract stated that he didn’t have final stake in racing decisions. The Ford execs were kicked out as Enzo was screaming insults towards Americans and Henry Ford II.

Frankly, this angered Henry Ford II. He was willing to throw any amount of money into production of a car, that would be taken to Le Mans, to beat Ferrari. Ford didn’t have any racing experience outside of NASCAR so they needed to bring in outside help.

Meanwhile Carroll Shelby was across the country, tuning and redesigning American sports cars. Shelby, along with his engineer and driver, Ken Miles, were successful racing Shelby’s cars. Shelby was exactly the guy that Ford needed. The production of the GT40 began. There was a lot of differing opinions between Ford engineers and Shelby’s team. Ford was able to finish and enter the GT40 into the ’65 Le Mans but they chose another driver against Shelby’s advice. Ken Miles took a major part in the development and testing of the car. The car was unable to complete the grueling race after Ford went against the advice of Miles. The next year came around and Ford reluctantly allowed Miles to race. Through some crafty tactics, Shelby and Miles were able to outlast Ferrari in the ’66 Le Mans. Ford was able to repeat, at Le Mans, for years after, before Shelby eventually broke away.

The Movie

I thought that the movie was excellent. I went in knowing most of the history, and for the most part, the imagery and plot were accurate. The imagery is really where this movie shines. The racing scenes are action packed and immersive. There is the perfect amount of fiery crashes that cut the long stretches of 3rd person camera work. Everything is crisp and feels well thought out; from the racing, to the plot heavy background. Overall, the movie presents itself as being authentic to mid ‘60s America. The scenery and culture presented were indicative to mid-century America. The cast really allowed this movie to thrive. Matt Damon played Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles was played by Christian Bale. They physically embodied the characters well, but performances were notably good. The plot is structured to have Shelby and Miles emerge as the good guys. This allows for Damon and Bale to shine.

Some people may not be drawn to this movie, as it heavily focuses on racing. I, however, think that this movie that anyone can enjoy. The subject matter may not be for everyone, but the movie presents it in a simple and appealing manner. It obviously focuses on cars, but it isn’t in an overly complicated or pretentious way. A large portion of the movie doesn’t deal with the racing, but rather the friction between the two companies as well as strains on personal lives. I think that it doesn’t only appeal to racing fans, but rather anyone who likes action and dramatic movies.

There are some evident flaws with the movie. My biggest issue was the large American bias that existed. There inevitably has to be an American bias simply because it is a story of American success, but I think at some points it becomes a little much. Anyone who isn’t American, whether it be Germans at Porsche or the Italians of Ferrari, are shown to aggressors and the bad guys. The movie is aiming to show post WWII American bias, but this isn’t clear. Enzo Ferrari, as well as his drivers, are shown as men looming over the Americans with hate. Ferrari is known for passion that is carried in their cars and racing pursuits. This is presented as a misguided passion in the movie which is a controversial idea because Enzo Ferrari is often regarded as one of the most important figures in automotive history.

The movie is mostly historically accurate but there were some key plot points that are just completely made up. Firstly, is that there was tension between Shelby and Ford but in the movie that tension was significantly ramped up. It becomes a major plot point that allows for Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles to emerge as the good guys. Secondly, Enzo Ferrari wasn’t even present at the ’66 Le Mans. The portrayal of him, at the race, is already controversial by itself, so incorrectly placing him there to create more tension is a mistake.