The 24 Hours of Le Mans began in 1923 as a test of endurance, durability, and innovation. Held annually near the town of Le Mans, France, it’s the oldest active endurance race in the world. Early entries were purpose-built prototypes and modified touring cars, long before brands like Ferrari and Porsche became household names. In the 1930s, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, and Bentley dominated. Post-war, Ferrari entered the picture, winning its first Le Mans in 1949. Through the ’50s and ’60s, the race evolved fast: Jaguar’s lightweight racers, Mercedes’ brief and tragic involvement, and eventually the legendary Ford vs. Ferrari battles of the late ’60s. Cars started to get faster and Porsche arrived with relentless efficiency, winning more overall titles than any manufacturer in history. Porsche set a new standard in the 1970s and ’80s, winning repeatedly with purpose-built prototypes like the 917 and later the 956 and 962 during the Group C era. These decades saw the rise of aerodynamics, ground effects, and advanced engineering that pushed endurance racing into a new era, all while maintaining the raw mechanical character that defined Le Mans from the beginning. Period Correct x 24 Hours of Lemans 6 / 13 / 25 12:00pm PST *Photos belong to 24 Heures du Mans* #periodcorrect #24hoursoflemans