Meet Ken Miles' family: wife, Mollie Miles, and their child, Peter Miles
Ken Miles, a legendary American race car engineer and driver, was best known for his career in the World Sportscar Championships. He amassed a huge fan base worldwide thanks to his racing talent. Since his demise, his fans have been curious about the whereabouts of his wife, Mollie Miles, and their child, Peter Miles. This article is all about Ken Miles' family.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Ken Miles' profile summary
- Who are Ken Miles' family members?
- Ken and Mollie's courtship and marriage
- Did Ken Miles have a son?
- How did Ken Miles die?
- What happened to Ken Miles' wife after his death?
- Did Mollie Miles remarry after Ken Miles' death?
- How old was Mollie Miles when she died?
- Who played Ken Miles' wife in Ford v Ferrari?
- Is Peter Miles still living?
- Does Peter Miles have kids?
- Is Ken Miles' wife, Mollie Miles, on Wikipedia?
- When was Ken Miles born?
- Ken Miles's career education
- Ken Miles's career
- Ken Miles' net worth
- What is the relationship between Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles?
- Who was Ken Miles' best friend?
- Did Carroll Shelby help Ken Miles' family after his death?
- Facts about Ken Miles' family
Key takeaways
- Ken Miles and his wife, Mollie Miles, were married from 1951 until he died in 1966.
- Mollie was his pillar of support during the highs and lows of his career.
- Their son, Peter Miles, was 15 years old when Ken died in an accident.
- Mollie and Peter were present at most of Ken's races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans events.
- Peter was close to his father and witnessed his death.
Ken Miles' profile summary
| Full name | Kenneth Henry Jarvis Miles |
| Famous name | Ken Miles |
| Date of birth | November 1, 1918 |
| Place of birth | The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, UK |
| Date of death | August 17, 1966 |
| Place of death | Riverside International Raceway, California, USA |
| Age | 47 years (at the time of death) |
| Cause of death | Accident |
| Gender | Male |
| Nationality | English |
| Parents | Eric Miles and Clarice Jarvis |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Mollie Miles |
| Children | Peter Miles |
| Profession | Sports car racing engineer and driver |
Who are Ken Miles' family members?
The British race car driver was married to Mollie Miles, and they had a son called Peter Miles. Mollie was also British, born in England, just like her husband. They both later became naturalized American citizens after moving to the States.
Ken and Mollie's courtship and marriage
Ken and Mollie were happily married for approximately 21 years. They met when Ken was 15, and he reportedly turned to a friend and declared he would marry her.
Miles and Mollie's courtship was so consuming that it even caught the attention of his school headmaster, who called his parents and asked if there was something they could do about it.
Nonetheless, the two still went ahead with their relationship, had a son, Peter, in 1950 after World War II, and got married in 1951. In the same year, Ken emigrated to California and set up a home with his wife and their young son in Los Angeles.
Mollie shared her love of cars with her husband and even enjoyed driving herself. Their love story was cut short when Ken Miles died in 1966.
Source: Original
Did Ken Miles have a son?
He had only one child, Peter Miles, who is known for his involvement in the motorsports world, particularly regarding his father's legacy and the Ford GT40.
A few months after Ken's death, Peter went to work for Ken's friend Dick Troutman at the Troutman and Barnes custom car shop in Culver City, California, and stayed at the workshop for four years.
In 1986, Peter joined Precision Performance Inc. (PPI), the Cal Wells-owned Toyota off-road racing operation, starting as a fabricator and then a mechanic before becoming the crew chief.
He was the crew chief for Ivan Stewart when Stewart won the 1991 Nissan 400 in Nevada. Peter even participated in events like Daytona in a Ford GT Heritage Edition, where his father had raced.
Peter also oversees the development and production of Ken Miles Limited Edition 427 Cobra replicas and is involved with a vintage car collection valued at over $80 million.
The last time he went to Le Mans was in 1965 with his father Ken, and he has not returned since. Nonetheless, there are accounts of him meeting with Christian Bale, who portrayed Ken Miles in the movie Ford v Ferrari.
How did Ken Miles die?
On August 17, 1966, Ken Miles' son witnessed his fatal crash during a test drive of Ford's 'J-car' at Riverside International Raceway. The 47-year-old was driving at a speed of 200 miles per hour when he approached the end of track one.
The car suddenly experienced brake failure, flipped, crashed, and caught fire. Miles was ejected from the vehicle, and he died on the spot. His wife, Mollie, was left to raise their 15-year-old son Peter as a single mother.
Ken Miles' autopsy report is not publicly available, but the cause of his death was determined to be extensive head injuries sustained after being ejected from his test car. It was the darkest hour in Ford's 1960s Le Mans campaign.
Lessons from the crash led directly to the Ford Mark IV, which went on to win Le Mans in 1967. Miles was buried at the Abbey of the Psalms Mausoleum of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California.
Source: UGC
What happened to Ken Miles' wife after his death?
After Ken Miles' death, his wife, Mollie, continued to live in California and focused on raising their son, Peter. While information about her later life is scarce, she published a tribute to him in Road and Track Magazine in late 1966, shortly after Miles' passing, that helped to keep his legacy alive and offered insight into her life after his death.
The film Ford v Ferrari does not document what happened to her after the accident, but it does portray her as a strong, supportive figure in Ken's life.
Did Mollie Miles remarry after Ken Miles' death?
Mollie did not remarry after the death of her husband, Ken Miles. She faced the difficult decision of whether or not to remarry, a choice influenced by her love for Ken, her commitment to his memory, and her desire to provide stability for their son. As a result, Mollie remained a widow and passed away in 2018.
How old was Mollie Miles when she died?
Born on March 21, 1916, Ken Miles' wife was 102 years old when she died on December 4, 2018.
Who played Ken Miles' wife in Ford v Ferrari?
In the movie Ford v Ferrari, Ken Miles' wife, Mollie Miles, is played by Irish actress CaitrÃona Balfe. The film is about American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battling corporate interference and the laws of physics to build a revolutionary race car for Ford in order to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
Is Peter Miles still living?
Born on September 28, 1950, Peter Miles, Ken Miles' son, is in his mid-70s, still alive, and is married. He has followed in his father's footsteps by working on the mechanical side of car racing as a fabricator, mechanic, and crew chief.
He is also the subject of a book, The Book of Miles: Racing Through Legacy, which explores his relationship with his father and their shared passion for racing.
Source: UGC
Does Peter Miles have kids?
Peter and his wife, Patti Montgomery, have a daughter named Jamie Miles, who works as a school teacher, and she is married to Jeff Moore.
Is Ken Miles' wife, Mollie Miles, on Wikipedia?
Mollie Miles is mentioned on Wikipedia, specifically within an article about Ken Miles. It is not a separate biography page about her, but her presence is noted as Ken's wife and a supporting figure in his racing career.
When was Ken Miles born?
Kenneth Henry Jarvis Miles was born on November 1, 1918, in the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, UK, to Eric Miles and Clarice Jarvis.
Ken Miles's career education
Miles dropped out of high school at the age of 15 to work as an apprentice. His employer enrolled him in a technical school so that he could broaden his knowledge about vehicle construction.
Ken Miles's career
Before Ken became a famous sports car racing driver/engineer, he served in the military in North West Europe until the end of World War II, racing motorcycles. He was assigned the role of driving instructor in the Territorial Army and rose through the ranks to become a staff sergeant.
When the war ended, Ken relocated to the United States and settled in Los Angeles, California, in 1952. He began to race with the Vintage Sports Car Club, and the biggest break in his career came in 1953 when he won 14 straight victories in SCCA racing using an MG-based special of his design and construction.
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Carroll Shelby was instrumental in Ken's racing career with Ford, primarily through their collaboration on the Ford GT40 project and the development of the Shelby Cobra.
He recognized Miles' exceptional skills (driving and engineering) and brought him onto the team to help refine the GT40 and make it a competitive force against Ferrari at Le Mans.
Miles became a prominent member of the Shelby/Cobra race team in the early 1960s and was made the chief test driver of Shelby-American in 1963.
He and Carroll's combined efforts led to Ford's historic 1-2-3 finish at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, a monumental achievement in motorsport history.
Ken also became famous for developing the Ford GT40, which won at Le Mans in 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969. He was later inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame.
Ken Miles' net worth
According to Celebritynetworth, the British sports car racing engineer/driver had a net worth of $10,000 at the time of his death in 1966, which is equivalent to about $99,217.59 in 2025, an increase of $89,217.59 over 59 years.
The US dollar has had an average inflation rate of 3.97% per year between 1966 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 892.18%.
What is the relationship between Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles?
Car racer Ken Miles and Shelby Carroll (an American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur) first met during a race in Southern California, and their professional relationship soon took off. Eventually, Miles' association with Carroll and Shelby American Inc. was pivotal in the development and racing success of the Shelby Cobra.
Source: UGC
Who was Ken Miles' best friend?
Ken Miles' closest friend and professional collaborator was Carroll Shelby. They worked together on various racing projects, most notably at Shelby American, where they developed iconic cars like the Shelby Cobra and worked on Ford's racing program, including the GT40. Their friendship and professional partnership were crucial to their success in the racing world.
Did Carroll Shelby help Ken Miles' family after his death?
Carroll honored Ken Miles' memory and legacy in many ways, including supporting his family. Carroll Shelby International even created the Carroll Shelby Spirit award, which was presented to Ken Miles' son, Peter Miles, in 2021.
Additionally, Shelby expressed his desire to establish a foundation in Ken Miles' name to support causes that were important to him, such as assisting young people interested in racing and American Indians.
Facts about Ken Miles' family
- His wife helped him build and modify cars, including painting his first race car, "Nellie."
- After Ken's death, Mollie became a racing driver to honor his legacy.
- Ken's wife won several races and championships.
- Mollie also became a vocal advocate for women in racing.
- Ken's son is married and has a daughter.
- He works in the automotive industry as a fabricator, mechanic, and crew chief.
Ken Miles' family, specifically his wife, Mollie Miles, was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to her family and the sport of racing. As a pillar of support, providing unwavering support and encouragement throughout her husband's racing career, Mollie became an inspiration to many who knew her.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
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