Carroll Shelby with Ford Mark IV Race Car at Shelby-American Production Facility, Los Angeles, California, June 1967

Carroll Shelby was vital to Ford Motor Company's success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His Shelby American racing team fielded the winning GT40 Mark II in 1966, and the winning Mark IV in 1967. The latter triumph was especially sweet. An American team, an American car, and American drivers Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt meant an all-American victory.