Legendary Ford Driver Dan Gurney Passed Away At 86

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Seven IndyCar wins, five NASCAR Cup wins, four Formula One wins and the 1967 24 Hours Of Le Mans win fill résumé of one of America’s most famous and successful race car drivers —Daniel Sexton Gurney. The man, who spent most of his time on the track behind the wheel of a Ford-bodied or Ford-powered race car, crossed the finish line for a final time. He passed away Sunday from complications of pneumonia at the age of 86.

(Photo Credit: Allamericanracers.com)

Dan is one of only three drivers to have won races in NASCAR, American IndyCar, Formula One, and sports cars along with Juan Pablo Montoya and Mario Andretti. All of his NASCAR Cup wins came at the wheel of a Ford, first for Holman-Moody in 1963, then for the Wood Brothers in 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1968. All five wins came at the now defunct Riverside Speedway in California.

Seven of his nine Indianapolis 500 starts came in a Ford-powered race cars, including both his second-place finishes in 1968 and 1969. Dan also had 83 Formula One starts in various makes of car, winning four races. That ranks him second in wins among American Formula One drivers behind only Mario Andretti.

Arguably, Dan Gurney’s greatest performance behind the wheel came in 1967 at the 24 Hours Of Le Mans. It was in this race that he, alongside rival and fellow American A.J. Foyt, became the first and only all American team of drivers in an American owned and manufactured car to win the legendary race. The duo piloted the number 1 Ford GT40 Mark IV to a fairly easy victory over the Ferraris.

Dan’s sports car career also included victories in the 12 Hours Of Sebring and the Daytona Continental (the race that would later become the 24 Hours Of Daytona).

(Photo Credit: Allamericanracers.com)

Aside from his driving career, Dan was also successful as a car builder and owner. His All- American Racers started out in 1965 as a joint effort between he and fellow Ford legend Carroll Shelby. All American Racers and Dan would go on to field and build cars in a wide variety of motorsports including Indy, Formula One, Trans Am, and several variations of sports cars. The team earned one Formula One win (in 1967 with Dan behind the wheel), 22 IndyCar wins, including the 1975 Indianapolis 500 with Bobby Unser at the wheel, and over 50 sports car wins and 11 wins in the Trans Am series.

(Photo Credit: Saleen)

The younger generation will probably associate the Gurney name the most with the 2008 limited edition Ford Mustang produced by Steve Saleen in Gurney’s honor. The Dan Gurney Signature Edition Mustang paid tribute to Dan’s 1969 Boss 302 race car he campaigned in the Trans Am series. The car featured a supercharged 4.6 making an impressive 465 horsepower. It received a wide variety of visual and suspension mods as well. The car was finished off with Gurney’s signature on the dashboard. Saleen only produced 300 examples of this car.

(Photo Credit: Allamericanracers.com)

A full series of books could be written on Dan Gurney’s accomplishments in racing, mentioning them all here would be impossible. He will go down in history as one of the most successful American racers of all time. His ability to race and win in such a wide variety of automobiles all over the globe is something that is almost unheard of today and will probably never be duplicated again.

We leave you with this statement from Dan Gurney’s family on his death. “With one last smile on his handsome face, Dan drove off into the unknown just before noon today. In deepest sorrow, with gratitude in our hearts for the love and joy you have given us during your time on this earth, we say Godspeed.”

About the author

Jeff Southard

Growing up with a dad who loved Corvettes, I was destined to be a gearhead from day one. Beyond that, my dad owned an auto parts business for over 25 years. There, I learned the automotive basics as a child, then began my professional career working there after high school. From Corvettes and Superbirds to Hemis and Cobra Jets, my dad has owned a little of everything over the years, so I've had my chance to get some quality seat time behind the wheel of some rare, unique, and sometimes, just odd automobiles. I have owned my share of toys, including over 20 Mustangs. I guess to make a long story short, if you look up "car crazy" you will probably find my photo listed pretty close to it!
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