The BMW 1500 retrieved the fortunes of the company and was the first of the so-called Niue Classed. Previous models had just broken the economy of the mark, but as 1500 began the transition from a slightly unable BMW with high levels of engineering, to become the world power it is today in the manufacture of automobiles.

The car was first exhibited in 1961 and immediately received glowing praise from motoring magazines. His good looks had something previous design Albrecht Goetz 700 that put him in the fantasy sports 507.

Somehow this car combines prestige with quality without resorting to excessive chromatics in some designs. In fact the 1500 was designed almost entirely in his own BMW; there were only some help from the Italian house Michelet.

Its 4-cylinder engine camshaft head was totally new and completely reliable. The gearbox and axles were not initially so successful, so that almost destroyed the good reputation of the brand quality. Fortunately the 1500 survived these early problems and BMW increased the series with a 1600, an 1800 and a 2000 always with the same bodies of two and four doors. They all had a great success.

It is difficult to see the Ferrari 250 LM as a car derived isolated and more when one of the most legendary cars of all times the 250 GTO. For the 1964 season, Ferrari first sought the approval of the 250 LM, replacing the 250 P. It was a mid-engine car and brand new. 275 LM should have been named as the rider on the 3.3-liter engine. The design as it could be otherwise Pininfarina was achieved in 1965 its highest award, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The drivers Jochen Rindt and Masten Gregory NART part of the team owned by Chinetti, although he could not match the pace of the GT40, were faster than them, eventually rising to victory and placing three on the podium 250 LM. It would be the last time Ferrari won this famous series. It is an invaluable vehicle, and not as an expression we made the last 250 LM was sold in 2008 for seven million dollars.

Ford GT 40

Ford tried to buy Ferrari in 1963 and when he failed, the war moved to the racetrack. Ford joined the Lola to convert the prototype GT Ford GT. In 1964, they released the GT40, so called because it raised floor 1,016 mm (40 inches). The car was not very successful. But with some great resources the program continued with Carroll Shelby at the helm, and in 1965 began the approval to manufacture the GT40 to GT40 road and won his first race. In 1966, 427 large engines were installed in three GT40 that won the first three places in the competition at Le Mans, beating Ferrari. After that, the car used a smaller V8 engine of 4,735 cc, but with such good results as the other. They had a semi-monologue steel sheet substructures separate the rear engine and gearbox.

Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

In 1963, after the Europe launch the Cobra, Shelby is proposed to launch a coupe version for competition, the result was a Cobra Daytona Coupe. In his first appearance at Le Mans was in fourth place, leaving behind the Ferrari 250 GTO, the stronger the acceleration, it took only 4 seconds to reach 100 km / h.

In the U.S., things went better, despite burning out in his first series in Daytona, the Cobra Coupe dominated, shortly after he won the 12 Hours of Salem defeating Ferrari. These successes have served to Carol Shelby Ford selected him to head the GT40 project. 1965 was a successful year for Shelby; the Cobra Coupe did win the European GT Championship title, becoming the first European brand does not get it, and once again beating the Ferraris. Unfortunately two projects the development of motor 427 and the program had to Carol Shelby GT40 busy ignoring the Cobra Daytona Coupe project.