Summary

• Leo Beebe, portrayed as the main antagonist in Ford v Ferrari, was actually a respected executive at Ford known for his marketing and motivational skills.
• The decision to have a photo finish at the expense of Ken Miles' win is attributed to Beebe in the movie, although the real decision maker is unknown.
• According to Beebe's friends, the film's portrayal of him as an ego-driven and unlikable character is far from the truth; they describe him as a tough, yet inspiring and highly regarded individual.

Ford v Ferrari is based on a true story with real characters, but was Leo Beebe really that bad? Directed by James Mangold, Ford v Ferrari is part of a long lineage of car movies. The film tells the story of the American automotive designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) who teams up with the British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) to build a race car for Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) and Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) that can defeat the perennial champion racing team Scuderia Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The film earned four Academy Award nominations, winning for Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing, while also picking up a Golden Globe nomination for Bale in Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. Ford v Ferrari primarily uses real historical connections in its story and is a fairly accurate representation of what led to the development of the GT40 Mk II, though there are, of course, some liberties taken with the tale. Characters from history are colored in certain ways to make them more interesting in the plot, particularly Leo Beebe (Josh Lucas), who is set up as the main antagonist.

Leo Beebe Was The Senior Vice President Of Ford

Leo Beebe was the senior vice president at the Ford Motor Company, and a Michigan native born in 1917, growing up and going to school in the same state as the automotive giant (via Hemmings). Beebe served in the Navy under none other than Henry Ford II. Impressed by his work ethic, Ford told Beebe to see him after the war ended. Beebe ended up being a key figure at Ford and was held in high regard for his marketing and motivational speaking skills, and even President Lyndon B. Johnson turned to him on multiple occasions.

In the film, Beebe is portrayed as the main opponent to Shelby and Miles, overly concerned with Shelby stealing the spotlight away from himself. Miles and Shelby immediately butt heads with the VP Beebe, and Beebe is responsible for ensuring Miles does not race at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, leading to Ford losing. When Beebe is put in charge of the racing division, it's only a last-minute gambit that convinces Ford to allow Miles to race with Shelby's car.

However, when it appears Miles is going to beat the rest of the field by a wide margin, Beebe demands he slow down so the three Ford cars in the top position can have a photo finish, effectively trading Miles' win for a marketing opportunity. This actually happened, though no one knows who was ultimately responsible for the decision. Shelby refuses but Miles concedes, just happy to have participated in the race, saying it was never about winning, proving the difference between those who love cars and the sport and those who only want to be responsible for victory.

Beebe's Real-Life Friend Called Him "A Gem Of A Human"

Ford v Ferrari depicts Beebe as a competent executive but also a man whose ego gets in his and his coworkers' way. But those close to him say this depiction is far from the real Leo Beebe. According to Beebe's friends Ed Cloues and Ron Jaworski, Ford v Ferrari gets the executive wrong. Jaworski told The Philadelphia Inquirer,

"You ask a thousand people here [Philadelphia] about Leo Beebe, you’re going to get a thousand positive opinions."

Cloues adds,

"I’ve dealt with a lot of people in the business world, and there’s nobody I hold in higher regard than Leo Beebe. He was tough, but a gem of a person. I call him a human engineer. He understood how to get the best out of people, and how to motivate people."

This paints a much more sympathetic and inspiring picture of Beebe than Lucas' portrayal in Ford v Ferrari. Perhaps the idea that Beebe was "tough" was enough for the filmmakers to stretch his character into someone unlikeable, which wasn't true. While Lucas does a great job as a slimy executive, it's important to remember that the real man was much more than that.

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