Overnight AEST, Ford and LEGO® Speed Champions announced the release of the Ford GT Race Cars that won the 1966 and 2016 (GTE-Pro Class) Le Mans 24 Hour Race. The project had been hinted at earlier in the year when this video appeared around the inter webs, before the famed endurance race had started. Featuring #66, it was in fact #68 that ultimately took the donors in the GTE-Pro class this year.
This new set features the #2 GT40 Mark II driven by theNew Zealand Drivers Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon in 1966 and #68 Ford GT of Sébastien Bourdais (FRA), Joey Hand (US) and Dirk Müller (GER) from 2016.
Looking at both vehicles, they appear to be afflicted with the Speed Champions love of stickers, but unlike the current Ford GT Model, these appear to mainly involve the corporate livery and GT stripes, rather than key mechanical details of the vehicles such as the engine intakes and lights. I commend the design team for this.
The design of the front of the GT40 also features some interesting work to achieve the correct angle (and unfortunately a couple of teeny tiny stickers. There are some fantastic examples of finger blistering details in the construction.
I might even buy this set just for the vehicles…
See an interview with the Design Lead, and rapid assembly of the set in the video below :
Craig Callum: Speed Champions Design Lead Interview
The set will be available to order on 1st March 2017 from shop.lego.com. The set will be priced at £29.99 and €34.99 at that time. Australian, US and rest of the world pricing is yet to be announced.
What do you think of this commemorative car set? Does it already have you regretting your purchases over Black Friday?
Play Well
The Full Press release can be seen after the break…
PRESS RELEASE
Designed to Inspire Tomorrow’s Racing Drivers, Engineers and Designers – Ford’s Le Mans Victories in LEGO® Bricks
- Ford race cars that won 1966 and 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours will be available as part of the exclusive LEGO® Speed Champions range of models
- New kit brings to life iconic Ford GT40 and today’s Ford GT race car. Minifigures, chequered flag and trophy will help to bring famous victories to life again and again
- Designing the exclusive kit was a “dream project” for LEGO design lead Craig Callum, a former car designer who races Fords in his spare time
COLOGNE, Germany, Nov. 29, 2016 – It’s a gift 50 years in the making that could set your child on the path to becoming a racing legend. The iconic Ford GT40 and new Ford GT that won Le Mans 24 Hours in 1966 and 2016 are being brought to life in LEGO® bricks.
The new LEGO Speed Champions set will include both cars as well as racing driver minifigures, a chequered flag and even a trophy to make it easy to recreate those history-making victories.
“Many people in my team grew up with the legend of Ford’s history-making 1966 victory – and experienced the excitement of building and design for the first time through LEGO bricks,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “This kit is a powerful way to tell our Le Mans story, and will hopefully inspire the race drivers, engineers, and designers of the future.”
Ford won at Le Mans earlier this year after returning to the scene of what was a historic 1-2-3 clean sweep 50 years previously. The LEGO Group worked closely with Ford’s design and licensing teams on every detail of the 1966 winning car, and the new Ford GT race car.
“This was a dream project – with a lot of pressure. The Ford GT40 is one of the most iconic race cars of all time, and the new Ford GT is just incredible,” said Craig Callum, head of design, LEGO Speed Champions. “Designed for children, but with grown-ups fans in mind too, we know these models will be closely scrutinized for authenticity.”
Callum, who in his spare time races a Ford Model A hot-rod, and started out as a designer of full-sized cars, helped develop ten prototypes before the final versions of each model were selected, all created from existing LEGO bricks.
You can watch Callum assemble the new kit in record time here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lauf-iym1zM
The new 2016 Ford GT and 1966 Ford GT40 set will be available to order at LEGO.com/shop from March 1, 2017, with a recommended retail price of €34.99 (£29.99). A Ford Mustang set is on sale now, alongside a Ford F 150 Raptor with trailer and Ford Model A hot rod.
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Editor’s notes
- Le Mans 2016 race win
The #68 Ford GT of Sébastien Bourdais (FRA), Joey Hand (US) and Dirk Müller (GER) crossed the finish line as the winner in the GTE-Pro class of the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
- Le Mans 1966 podium sweep
The #2 Ford GT40 Mark II driven by Bruce McLaren (NZ) and Chris Amon (NZ) took first place at Le Mans in 1966 – leading a Ford clean sweep of the three podium positions. The 1966 race was Ford’s first ever win at Le Mans, and the first of four successive victories at the iconic endurance race.
- The 2016 Ford GT
The ultra-high-performance Ford GT supercar is the most advanced Ford production vehicle ever, featuring the latest in lightweighting, aerodynamics and EcoBoost engine technology – an innovation showcase for the Ford brand.
- The 1966 Ford GT40 Mark II
The Ford GT40 Mark II featured a lightweight aluminium chassis, rear-wheel drive and a 7.0-litre Ford V8 engine. The car was named the GT (Grand Touring) with the 40 representing its height at the top of the windscreen in inches.
- LEGO® Speed Champions
LEGO Speed Champions puts children in the driver seat, as they build and race some of the most famous cars ever produced, with authentic designs and exciting accessories to inspire young imaginations.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 68,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 8 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
LEGO, the LEGO logo and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2016 The LEGO Group.