In the mid-60s, the Ford GT40 was born with the goal of defeating Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The GT40 stunned the world with excellent performance at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, where three examples swept the podium. 1965 would be the last year Ferrari won overall at Le Mans, and the GT40 would go unbeaten through 1969.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company, Ford decided to revive the legendary supercar. The first delivery examples of the Ford GT finally reached their eager owners in late 2004 as 2005 models, and it proved to be worth the wait. At a fraction of the price of other supercars, it could outrun the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR and Porsche Carrera GT, and it could be perilously close to the Ferrari Enzo in top speed. With performance credentials and clear lineage to the original GT, it was obvious that Ford had created a modern classic.
While most GTs reside in their home market of the United States, this 2006 model is one of very few that made their way across the Atlantic. Only 343 units wear the desirable Heritage livery, recalling the JW Automotive/ American Gulf Oil-sponsored GT40 that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1968 (photos below). When new, this was a $ 13,000 option. In addition to the Heritage livery, this GT is equipped with optional BBS wheels, painted brake callipers-gray, and a McIntosh stereo system. Ford GT's have proven to be highly collectible. The Heritage Edition shines above-the-rest in terms of desirability, and as only 343 examples built, they represent just 17% of all the Ford GTs produced. The Ford GT is powered by a 550 bhp, 5.4 L, 32-valve DOHC V-8 engine with supercharger, six-speed manual transmission, four-wheel independent suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes.
An example of the model was sold for € 336,000 ($357,000) in an RM auction in 2014. (rmauctions.com)
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(Photos from rmauctions.com, autogespot.ca, drivenwithpassion.com & autowp.ru)
1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/ Mirage Lightweight Race Car
The purposeful mid-engine sports coupe is the finest Anglo-American supercar of the last century, with four straight victories at the Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race between 1966 and ’69. In 1966 alone, it finished 1-2-3 against Ferrari, in one of the most memorable photo finishes in the race’s distinguished history, cementing the car’s place in motorsports history and on the postered walls of teenaged bedrooms the world over.
It was painted in powder blue Gulf livery, with a distinctive, constant-width, marigold center stripe. 440 bhp at 6,800 rpm, 289 cu in OHV V-8 engine, four 48 IDA Weber carburetors, ZF 5DS25/1 five-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension with unequal-length A-arms and Koni adjustable shock absorbers, independent rear suspension with trailing arms and four-wheel stage II Girling ventilated disc brakes. This car was sold for $11M in a RM auction in 2012. (rmauctions.com)
It was painted in powder blue Gulf livery, with a distinctive, constant-width, marigold center stripe. 440 bhp at 6,800 rpm, 289 cu in OHV V-8 engine, four 48 IDA Weber carburetors, ZF 5DS25/1 five-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension with unequal-length A-arms and Koni adjustable shock absorbers, independent rear suspension with trailing arms and four-wheel stage II Girling ventilated disc brakes. This car was sold for $11M in a RM auction in 2012. (rmauctions.com)
(Photos from boldride.com)