The red #20 racecar that was on display at DETROIT AUTORAMA is a replica of the Ferrari 330 P3 used to feature that vehicle as it races in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the movie. This vehicle is considered the top in automotive racing as a perennial winner of Le Mans during the 1960s. After Enzo Ferrari rebuffs and insults Henry Ford II regarding the Detroit automaker purchasing his company, the Blue Oval strives to show its American Muscle by winning Le Mans (considered the pinnacle of motor sports racing accomplishments) with its own vehicle.
That vehicle is the Ford GT40 and one of the replicas used in the movie was also on display at DETROIT AUTORAMA this year. This green #95 car was used in a number of race scenes during the movie to show that Ford has a number of different drivers involved in races. The #95 car as seen currently was also green during the 24 Hours at Daytona sequences but during production was additionally painted to be shown as the red #3 and yellow #8 race cars in Le Mans scenes during FORD VS FERRARI.
Because getting original cars would be astronomically expensive, reproductions were created to be used in filming the movie. These two cars were both created by Race Car Replicas of Fraser, Michigan specifically for use in FORD VS FERRARI. Ironically, both of these cars sport Chevy engines underneath their replicated Ford and Ferrari exteriors.
FORD VS FERRARI teams up Academy Award-winning actors Matt Damon and Christian Bale for a movie based upon the true life story of how visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) and the rebellious British-born driver Ken Miles (Bale) built an iconic race car. Together they confront office politics, physics and personal demons in building a revolutionary racecar for Ford Motor Company to challenge Enzo Ferrari's domination of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. FORD VS FERRARI is rated PG-13 for language and peril.
Motor sports fanatics will obviously appreciate this movie filled with great car racing scenes, but you don't have to be a gearhead to find this movie appealing. It is filled with drama especially involving a tension between Ford corporate executive Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas) and Ken Miles (Bale) which becomes a central plot point of the story. It really has you rooting for Miles as Beebe constantly screws him over. You wonder how much is creative embellishment because Ford Motor Company really comes off as a buffoonish corporate culture and Beebe is portrayed as a real dick. It makes for good drama though!
The cars are the star of this show but they are complimented with a stellar cast that also includes Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead / The Punisher) as Lee Iacocca, Caitriona Balfe (Outlander) as Ken Miles wife Mollie, Tracy Letts (The Post) as Henry Ford II, and Italian actor Remo Girone as Enzo Ferrari. You'll enjoy the race scenes but witty humor such as Shelby dropping a lugnut in the Ferrari pit area during Le Mans to make them think the crew installed a tire wrong will also have you chuckling.
The personal conflicts and character struggles taking place throughout the story add emotional investment as you watch the movie. So while it has a heavy focus on an important moment in automotive history, you don't need to be a car guy or gal to enjoy FORD VS FERRARI. I found it to be a very entertaining movie.
FORD VS FERRARI is available to watch digitally via online services such as Movies Anywhere and Vudu or you can purchase it on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray or DVD from stores like Best Buy. If you buy FORD VS FERRARI from an affiliate link above this dad blogger will receive a small commission at no additional expense to you. Thanks for your support of a Geek Daddy!
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