The Legacy of Ford vs. Ferrari Lives On...in Irvine, California

I have long been a fan and amateur scholar of Carroll Shelby’s legendary automotive creations as well as Ford and Ferrari’s titular, almost Shakespearean, Le Mans rivalry. I have read A.J. Baime’s excellent book, Go Like Hell four times and am always impressed how the book speaks with authenticity to an audience of automotive enthusiasts. After seeing the major motion picture Ford vs. Ferrari, my interest in these cars was further piqued. I began to do research about the cars used in the movie; I was doubtful that they were the stratospherically valued originals from the 60s given the aggressive driving taking place on the screen. I soon learned that the cars featured in the movie were faithful reproductions brought to life by Superformance and displayed by local Hillbank Motorsport in Irvine, California, just a few miles from my home. This fascinating company produces nearly identical reproductions of Shelby Cobras, Ford GT40s, and Corvette Grand Sports, all while preserving that almost mythical driving experience you get from a 60s sports car in which your blood pulses in unison with the mighty thumping of the V8 and the analog feedback creates a symbiotic bond between driver and machine.

As an unashamed fanboy, I couldn’t pass up a visit to Hillbank and showed up unannounced on a quiet weekday afternoon. The exterior of the facility is industrial in nature and has an uncanny ability to blend in with its surroundings (similar to its neighbor the Mercedes Benz Classic Center, another favorite of mine). However, upon closer inspection you see a garage bay door slightly ajar, and just faintly, your eyes catch the sun reflecting off the bonnet of a Superformance Cobra sensually peeking out as if a siren beckoning you to come closer. Upon entering the garage, I was taken aback by a gleaming, and expansive space packed with every imaginable permutation of these amazing cars, and to my delight the exact cars used in Ford vs. Ferrari were stationed right in front, a formidable triumvirate, greeting me with their aggressive racy stance.

I was welcomed by Rich MacDonald, the son of legendary Indy 500 racer Dave MacDonald. Dave was a gifted driver, well-versed in all the languages of the sport at the time, including every permutation of Carroll Shelby’s legendary machines. Dave helped to develop and race the sleek aerodynamic Daytona Coupe to a class victory at the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring. Pre-dating the mighty Ford GT’s great duel with the prancing horse, but the Daytona was a challenging match for Ferrari’s equally beautiful and iconic 250 GTO. Dave’s son, Rich is happy to be a part of his fathers’ legacy and keep it alive for the next generation such as myself. Rich’s knowledge of the cars was incredible and completely compelling. As he told the story behind each car, I couldn’t help but be transported to the paddocks of the 60’s, hearing in my head the sonorous sounds of a 427 rumble and the rich fragrance of a heady mixture of spilled petrol and exhaust fumes.

Rich showed me around the incredible inventory that consisted of the deep blue Cobra driven by Matt Damon in Ford vs. Ferrari, as his character Carroll Shelby’s daily driver, as well as the white mkII Cobra driven by Ken Miles played by Christian Bale. In addition, the legendary mkII GT40, toiled to perfection by Ken Miles, the real star of the movie, looked amongst the other cars as if it were the regal potentate, presiding over collective automotive excellence. Rich shared with me that the Cobras used in the movie were legacy cars in more ways than one. One of the cars belonged to Carroll Shelby’s grandson, and the other was made for Peter Miles, son of visionary Ken Miles. It was touching to hear that these cars were not just props for a film but continue to be meaningful time capsules representing the golden age of motorsport. I was heartened to see Peter Miles’ signature on the dash of a GT40 with his penmanship forming the words, “My father’s legacy lives on!”

Rich was proud to show me a beautiful black and yellow liveried Cobra that was an exact replica of his father’s race car that brought him so many sweet victories on the track. And here in lies the importance of Hillbank, they provide cars that stand for much more and give people the magical experience of driving an analog, red-blooded American machine free from the cloying nanny assists present on modern sports cars. All the while standing for a legacy bigger than the cars themselves, a legacy of the people who brought these vehicles to fruition and gave their all, and sometimes their lives, racing these machines to their full potentials.

Left: the impressive inventory at Hillbank's Irvine Headquarters

Right: A very special room, Superformance founder Lance Stander's personal collection including a curvaceous bare aluminum Daytona recreation and the latest Ford Le Mans star, the 2016 Ford GT

Rich MacDonald pointing up to his father Dave, amongst his fellow great racing drivers that made up the fabric of the Shelby legend.

Top: A faithful re-creation of Ken Miles victorious 1966 mkII GT40 driven in Ford vs. Ferrari by Christian bale

Bottom: The car belongs to Ken Miles son, Peter and bears his signature and message.

Top Left: Re-creation of Ken Miles mkII 289ci Cobra shown in the film Ford vs. Ferrari racing to victory at the famed Willow Springs raceway

Top Right: Re-creation of Carroll Shelby's daily driver, a mkII slab side Cobra piloted in Ford vs. Ferrari by Matt Damon

Bottom Left: The interior of the mkII slab side signed by actors Matt Damon and Christian Bale

A re-creation of my personal favorite GT40. Although its history is post that of the Ford vs. Ferrari saga, the mkI Gulf-liveried GT will always be my favorite. For the 1968 and '69 Le Mans, new regulations effectively disqualified the big block 7-liter displacement of the mkII and mkIV making the already homologated mkI with a smaller 4.9 liter V8 a competitive choice. Bearing the iconic blue and orange colors, the mkI went on to win overall consecutively at the 1968 and 1969 Le Mans, continuing Ford's impressive dominance of the event.

With considerable effort I eventually did have to leave Hillbank and the company of these amazing cars. During the drive home I continued to marvel that such great automotive history is so close to where I have lived all my life. If you love cars as much as I do and you live in Orange County, you must visit Hillbank at least once, it is an experience you won’t soon forget.

Also, for those looking for some representation from across the pond, Hillbank is Orange County’s distributor of the wonderfully analog Colin Chapman incarnate Caterham 7. One of my personal favorite cars and a prime example of the other side of the spectrum of motorsport, in which bare-bones lightness and balletic handling are equally as formidable as brute force.