The Procter Gamble

In 1964, British racing and rally driver Peter Procter joined newly formed Alan Mann Racing, and together with Scotsman Andrew Cowan won the gruelling 6000-kilometre, 10-day endurance rally, the Tour de France Automobile, in a Ford Mustang. It was the first competition victory for the Mustang and the event which placed the still-new pony car from Ford in the limelight of international motorsports.

During the early Sixties, just as GM were outlawing corporate involvement with racing, Ford started to get serious about it. The ‘Total Performance Fords’ campaign did much to enhance the Ford Motor Company’s image, and therefore sales. In 1963, it was the big 427 Galaxies that first upset the British racing establishment when Jack Sears ended Jaguar’s supremacy on the track by winning two races on the trot, first at Silverstone, and then Aintree, both in a Ford Galaxie. Also in ’63, the compact Falcon started to collect European trophies, with class wins