What do you think?
Rate this book
Return to Glory: The Story of Ford’s Revival and Victory at the Toughest Race in the World
In January 2015 at the Detroit Auto Show, Ford unveiled a new car and the automotive world lost its collective mind. This wasn’t some new Explorer or Focus. Onto the stage rolled a supercar, a carbon-fiber GT powered by a mid-mounted six-cylinder Ecoboost engine that churned out over 600 horsepower. It was sexy and jaw dropping, but, more than that, it was historic, a callback to the legendary Ford GT40 Mk IIs that stuck it to Ferrari and finished 1-2-3 at Le Mans in 1966. Detroit was back, and Ford was going back to Le Mans.
Journalist Matthew DeBord has been covering the auto industry for years, and in Return to Glory he tells the recent story of Ford. A decade ago, CEO Alan Mulally took over the iconic company and, thanks to a financial gamble and his “One Ford” plan, helped it weather the financial crisis and a stock price that plunged to $1 a share, without a government bailout. It was enough for the company to dream of repeating racing history. DeBord revisits the story of the 1960s, details the creation of the new GT, and follows the team through the racing season, from an inauspicious debut at Daytona where the cars kept breaking down, to glimmers of hope at Sebring and the team’s first victory at Laguna Seca in Monterey.
Finally, DeBord joins the Ford team in Le Mans in June 2016. This fabled twenty-four-hour endurance race is designed to break cars and drivers, and it was at Le Mans, fifty years after the company’s greatest triumph, that Ford’s comeback was put to the ultimate test.
Journalist Matthew DeBord has been covering the auto industry for years, and in Return to Glory he tells the recent story of Ford. A decade ago, CEO Alan Mulally took over the iconic company and, thanks to a financial gamble and his “One Ford” plan, helped it weather the financial crisis and a stock price that plunged to $1 a share, without a government bailout. It was enough for the company to dream of repeating racing history. DeBord revisits the story of the 1960s, details the creation of the new GT, and follows the team through the racing season, from an inauspicious debut at Daytona where the cars kept breaking down, to glimmers of hope at Sebring and the team’s first victory at Laguna Seca in Monterey.
Finally, DeBord joins the Ford team in Le Mans in June 2016. This fabled twenty-four-hour endurance race is designed to break cars and drivers, and it was at Le Mans, fifty years after the company’s greatest triumph, that Ford’s comeback was put to the ultimate test.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published June 6, 2017
14 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 7, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
If you love Le Mans or Ford then this is a book for you.
A great story,well written with plenty of background information.
Really enjoyable.
If you love Le Mans or Ford then this is a book for you.
A great story,well written with plenty of background information.
Really enjoyable.
October 26, 2017
This book opens up with the Ford company winning the Lemans 24 HOUR race in June of 2016. This was historic marking 50 years since they won in 1966. Beating Ferrari which they had been battling with the entire race and took the lead in the 20th hour, another Ford team came in third and another ninth. The author then takes you back in time when the company had fallen on bad times and their stock prices had tumbled to $1.00. Without any assistance from the government the only car manufacture that did not take a bailout. They made the comeback themselves. Redesigning engines and models. The author also goes into the auto industry itself. For me personally and I know there are books out their already but really an in-depth look into the Mustang, and their Triton engine that has been in most of their trucks would have added to the story. Having both a mustang, and a vehicle with a Triton, our Triton engine has over 225,000 miles and is still performing great. Overall a good book but probably geared for a geared head, pun intended. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
June 9, 2022
Return to Glory The Story of Ford's Revival and Victory at the Toughest Race in the world- the book is more of a business case than a out and true look at the so-called GT.
Further,I am far from a blue oval fan however I must acknowledge that Henry Ford II did a great job getting revenge on Enzo, and taking Eric Broadley's (Lola cars) Lola GT and turning into the Ford GT later Ford GT40 AND Now ful circle again. A car based off originally A British Car not a Ford Idea unless you are refering to the Improved car done by Ford the MKIV. One of the original GT's even went to Mecom with A Chevy Engine from Traco. Fast Forward to now and after a few years hiatus,The Ford GT sans 40 is back. But the magic isn't there, I love the MKIII street car look and the original whole style about it. Now the new GT is a V6 really not a GT by Ford at all,and sandbagging in racing. A car that isn't even a street car that does not belong in Racing. The Real GT40s long ago have come and gone.
Further,I am far from a blue oval fan however I must acknowledge that Henry Ford II did a great job getting revenge on Enzo, and taking Eric Broadley's (Lola cars) Lola GT and turning into the Ford GT later Ford GT40 AND Now ful circle again. A car based off originally A British Car not a Ford Idea unless you are refering to the Improved car done by Ford the MKIV. One of the original GT's even went to Mecom with A Chevy Engine from Traco. Fast Forward to now and after a few years hiatus,The Ford GT sans 40 is back. But the magic isn't there, I love the MKIII street car look and the original whole style about it. Now the new GT is a V6 really not a GT by Ford at all,and sandbagging in racing. A car that isn't even a street car that does not belong in Racing. The Real GT40s long ago have come and gone.
July 30, 2017
Gear heads will love this account of Ford's introduction of a new GT model and its path to winning Le Mans in 2016. And there's enough here for the rest of us (no specialized knowledge is assumed) to make it interesting, but far from essential reading. Debord's story is also the story of Ford's comeback after the darkest years of the recession, but at times it seems like a separate story. There's even a chapter on Tesla that comes out of nowhere, which may have been Debord's apology for the gas guzzling that goes on in the rest of the book.
July 18, 2017
"Going 'like hell' in a race car is a mind-set that you want to visit only at the right time and place."
DeBord does a nice job in an overview (without getting bogged down in too many arcane details) of the rivalries at Le Mans, the recent American auto industry crisis, and the introduction of the 'GT' model. Highly recommended for those with an interest in cars or racing, especially loyal 'First On Race Day' admirers, although you don't necessarily have to be a gear-head to enjoy this book.
DeBord does a nice job in an overview (without getting bogged down in too many arcane details) of the rivalries at Le Mans, the recent American auto industry crisis, and the introduction of the 'GT' model. Highly recommended for those with an interest in cars or racing, especially loyal 'First On Race Day' admirers, although you don't necessarily have to be a gear-head to enjoy this book.
August 24, 2017
An engaging automotive tale, but not the book promised by the title. I read DeBord's work to understand in detail how Ford designed and developed a car to win the 2015 Le Mans race. Instead, I found considerable background on the US auto industry, FOMOCO, and the famed French race, all complemented by a slim story of the Ford GT's creation. That said, the author's vivid description of the 2015 race alone is worth buying the book.
August 11, 2017
Don't follow the automobile industry as close as I once did but still have a soft spot in my heart for the Ford Motor Company and people who like to get in cars and go like hell. Know many car guys who chatted up and were enamored of the Ford GT so decided find out what it was all about.
January 22, 2025
As a car and motorsport enthusiast, I don’t really think I was the targeted demographic; but it was still solid. Could definitely have done without all the build up and backstory on Ford’s executive side.
July 26, 2020
The book is good for those wanting to understand the Ford-Ferrari war and how Ford regained its racing soul after a long gap. Not much business insight though, but a good story
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews