To anyone interested in this movie/story, I wholeheartedly recommend "Go Like Hell" By A.J. Baime. Great book that goes over the story in detail, along with the magnitude of the development the Ford GT40.
Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans
An fantastic breakdown of the history between Ford and Ferrari at LeMans, and the inception of the Ford GT. Written well, and the story itself is super interesting! A must read in my opinion.
There's a great biography written about this by author A.J Baime, titled "Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans.
It gives very detailed accounts from both sides of this epic rivalry, and how badly Henry Ford II and Carroll Shelby wanted to beat Enzo Ferrari. Worth the read.
Link: Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans https://www.amazon.com/dp/0547336055/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zXj9CbJQXZM27
The history of cars is great fun and this is one of the best chapters. Of course the wikipedia pages are good but this book is a pretty complete retelling as well.
More like everyone has now copied this book...
> Go Like Hell: Ford, Ferrari, and Their Battle for Speed and Glory at Le Mans
https://www.amazon.com/Go-Like-Hell-Ferrari-Battle/dp/0547336055
Read the book years ago, it's a great story: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0547336055/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ekw8CbVKW0N6F
This is an excellent novelization of the events leading to the development of the GT40: https://www.amazon.com/Go-Like-Hell-Ferrari-Battle/dp/0547336055/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1503290284&sr=1-1&keywords=go+like+hell
However, my favorite book on the car is from an engineer, John Horsman, who worked with John Wyer at Aston Martin, and went on to help him develop, race, and build the GT40 and Mirage programs (AND Porsche 917 - this is the man who developed the K tail that made the car successful). https://www.amazon.com/Racing-Rain-Brilliant-Legendary-Dedicated/dp/1893618714/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1503290404&sr=1-10&keywords=racing+in+the+rain
The wikipedia page has great information on the car's history and development, and most car websites have some summary story http://jalopnik.com/5976102/the-amazing-history-of-fords-greatest-supercar/
BTW, if anyone here has not read Go Like Hell, I highly suggest it. Absolutely awesome story of the Ford/Ferrari battle.
http://www.amazon.com/Go-Like-Hell-Ferrari-Battle/dp/0547336055/ref=tmm_pap_title_0