Postwar

1949-1959. 1949-1959. Jaguar D-Types, the Mercedes 300 SLR tragedy of 1955, Aston Martin's 1959 crown. The race rebuilds.

Part of Le Mans 24 Hours

20 moments in this segment.

1. 1949-06-25 — 1949 · Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta. Ferrari's first ever Le Mans win — Chinetti driving 22½ of the 24 hours himself, Lord Selsdon for the remainder.
2. 1950-06-24 — 1950 · Talbot-Lago T26 GS. Louis Rosier drove 23 hours and 35 minutes of the 24 — handing over to his son for two laps.
3. 1950-06-24 — 1950 · Talbot-Lago T26 GS. 📹 Upscaled to HD 60FPS - Louis Rosier wins the 1950 Le Mans race driving a record 23h30mins! Year: 1950 · Winner: Talbot-Lago T26 GS · Drivers: Louis Rosier · Jean-Louis Rosier Louis Rosier drove 23 hours and 35 minutes of the 24 — handing over to his son for two laps.
4. 1951-06-23 — 1951 · Jaguar C-Type. Jaguar's first Le Mans victory. The C-Type's disc brakes (introduced 1952) would soon define the era.
5. 1952-06-14 — 1952 · Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. Mercedes' first postwar racing victory at Le Mans, the gullwing 300 SL W194 prototype.
6. 1953-06-13 — 1953 · Jaguar C-Type. First Le Mans win with disc brakes. Hamilton famously celebrated the night before with a heavy session at the bar.
7. 1953 — 1951 · Jaguar C-Type. 📹 1953 Le Mans | Jaguar C-Type | Joy Spring | Brown & Roach Year: 1951 · Winner: Jaguar C-Type · Drivers: Peter Walker · Peter Whitehead Jaguar's first Le Mans victory. The C-Type's disc brakes (introduced 1952) would soon define the era.
8. 1954-06-12 — 1954 · Ferrari 375 Plus. José Froilán González — "El Cabezón", the Argentine — outduels the Jaguars in the rain.
9. 1954-06-12 — 1954 · Ferrari 375 Plus. 📹 1954 24H of Le Mans (Rare French Film) Year: 1954 · Winner: Ferrari 375 Plus · Drivers: José Froilán González · Maurice Trintignant José Froilán González — "El Cabezón", the Argentine — outduels the Jaguars in the rain.
10. 1955-06-11 — 1955 · Jaguar D-Type. 📹 Le Mans Motor Racing Disaster (1955) | British Pathé Year: 1955 · Winner: Jaguar D-Type · Drivers: Mike Hawthorn · Ivor Bueb The 1955 disaster — Pierre Levegh's Mercedes 300 SLR launched into the crowd at White House, killing 83 spectators. Mercedes withdrew during the race; Hawthorn drove on to victory amid the worst tragedy in motorsport.
11. 1957-06-22 — 1957 · Jaguar D-Type. Ecurie Ecosse repeats. D-Type's third Le Mans win, fifth Jaguar victory in seven years.
12. 1958-06-21 — 1958 · Ferrari 250 TR58. Phil Hill — future Formula 1 World Champion — and the Belgian Gendebien begin a five-year partnership of three Le Mans wins.
13. 1959-06-20 — 1959 · Aston Martin DBR1. Aston Martin's only outright Le Mans victory. Carroll Shelby, the future Cobra and GT40 architect, drives a third of the race wearing his cowboy hat.
14. 1997 — 1959 · Aston Martin DBR1. 📹 Aston Martin DBR1: The 1959 Le Mans Victory That Launched Carroll Shelby's Legacy Year: 1959 · Winner: Aston Martin DBR1 · Drivers: Carroll Shelby · Roy Salvadori Aston Martin's only outright Le Mans victory. Carroll Shelby, the future Cobra and GT40 architect, drives a third of the race wearing his cowboy hat.
15. 2013-09-10 — 1952 · Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. Gullwing W194 Race Car 24 Hours of LeMans Winner!! Year: 1952 · Winner: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL · Drivers: Hermann Lang · Fritz Riess Mercedes' first postwar racing victory at Le Mans, the gullwing 300 SL W194 prototype.
16. 2016-02-10 — 1957 · Jaguar D-Type. On The Track! Year: 1957 · Winner: Jaguar D-Type · Drivers: Ron Flockhart · Ivor Bueb Ecurie Ecosse repeats. D-Type's third Le Mans win, fifth Jaguar victory in seven years.
17. 2016-07-13 — 1956 · Jaguar D-Type. 📹 Jaguar D-Type: 24 Hours Of Le Mans Champion Year: 1956 · Winner: Jaguar D-Type · Drivers: Ron Flockhart · Ninian Sanderson Ecurie Ecosse — the Scottish privateer team — beats the works Jaguars. Restricted-fuel race after the prior year.
18. 2018-06-15 — 1949 · Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta. 📹 Luigi Chinetti's 1949 Ferrari | Legends of Le Mans | Eurosport Year: 1949 · Winner: Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta · Drivers: Luigi Chinetti · Lord Selsdon Ferrari's first ever Le Mans win — Chinetti driving 22½ of the 24 hours himself, Lord Selsdon for the remainder.
19. 2019-02-24 — 1958 · Ferrari 250 TR58. 📹 1959 Ferrari 250 TR Tribute - Jay Leno’s Garage Year: 1958 · Winner: Ferrari 250 TR58 · Drivers: Olivier Gendebien · Phil Hill Phil Hill — future Formula 1 World Champion — and the Belgian Gendebien begin a five-year partnership of three Le Mans wins.
20. 2024-08-28 — 1953 · Jaguar C-Type. 📹 Tom Talks: The Greatest and Most Important British Car of all-time? Year: 1953 · Winner: Jaguar C-Type · Drivers: Tony Rolt · Duncan Hamilton First Le Mans win with disc brakes. Hamilton famously celebrated the night before with a heavy session at the bar.