Ford’s dominating win of the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race is celebrated with this stunning classic Bronco.
While the 1966 Ford Bronco has nothing to do with the GT40 race cars that dominated the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race, this classic SUV looks right at home in the vintage racing livery. Best of all, it isn’t just a looker. With a drivetrain and suspension built to perfection, this Bronco performs just as great as it looks.
This gorgeous 1966 Bronco ‘Heritage’ comes to us from Galpin Auto Sports. They built this custom Bronco for SEMA in 2015 as a cool nod to Ford’s racing history. And it is currently for sale.
Le Mans: 1966
Back in 1966, Ford Motor Company sent a trio of GT40 race cars to France to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Motor Company’s goal was to put up a strong showing against the long-dominating machines from Ferrari. The GT40 teams didn’t just put up a strong showing, they crushed it. One of the Ford’s GT40s, won the legendary endurance race, and two other team cars took second and third place. Ford swept the podium in the world’s greatest endurance race–a feat that Ford and racing fans still talk about today.
To commemorate that incredible domination at Le Mans, this 1966 Bronco was built from the ground-up and finished with a paint scheme that copies those unbeatable endurance race cars.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
