What make of car won the 1959 Le Mans 24 hour race?

The 24 Heures du Mans was the 27th 24 Hours of Le Mans, Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 20 and 21 June 1959, on Circuit de la Sarthe. It was also the fourth round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. The prospect of an exciting duel between Ferrari, Aston Martin and giant killers Porsche was enough to draw large crowds and some 150,000 spectators gathered for France’s classic sports car race, around the 8.38-mile course.

Aston Martin finally achieved the coveted outright win, doing it with a 1-2 finish. The marque had first entered the Le Mans race in 1928, running every race since 1931 and had finished second three times and third twice before this victory.

For the first time, the ACO was able to close the public roads in April which allowed a test day for teams to prepare their cars. Only 19 cars took up the opportunity to run for 6½ hours, and it was Phil Hill in the new Ferrari that set the pace. Surprisingly, Cabianca in the 2-litre Dino Ferrari was second fastest, ahead of the Aston Martins.

After scrutineering was held on the Monday and Tuesday, nine hours of qualifying were held over two sessions on the Wednesday and Thursday. Again the Ferraris were fastest and this time is was debutante Dan Gurney putting in the best time of 4:03.3. However Jean Behra had a major argument with team manager Romolo Tavoni who had imposed a 7500rpm rev-limit on the cars, limiting top performance, to protect the engines.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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13 Comments

Gemma

Excellent Movie Ford V Ferrari is about the 1966 race, Directed by Ron Howard great behind the scenes story

Cheryl Perkins

I would rather watch grass grow than watch motor racing.

filmnut

Absolutely Correct, In High School I loved to drive my Father’s “MG-B”. It was a consistent winner “In Class” at Le Mans. I owned a ‘55 Chevy w/a 327ci engine out of a wrecked ‘64 Corvette. Later in the year I graduated. I ordered and purchased the first “Pontiac 1966 GTO” literally a “Winner” on the American Stock Car circuit. (Catalina’s & Le Mans body styles). Driving that little English sports car made me a true “wheeler and dealer”.

filmnut

It’s not that obscure if you consider it was “Carrol Shelby” was at the ‘Wheel’ . . . this “ Speed Merchant” would quickly go on to mate an “AC Bristol” with Ford’s small block 289ci motor. This was the beginning of the “Cobra” dinesty and the subsequent “Ford GT-40”. With the backing and banking of Henry Ford Senior we would all soon see Enzo Ferrari, brought low, by the 1,2,3, victory by The beautiful “Ford GT-40s” in 1966. That era was the “Break-Out” of the ’641/2 Mustang and the Muscle Cars like the “1966 Pontiac GTO”. American “Stock Car” racers already recognized “The Big Pontiacs” as a breed apart. A whole life style of Surf, Speed & Style exploded on to the stage of modern society. All from this small, very fast, sports car.