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Once Ford GT production ended in late 2006, and along with it the opportunity to own a new Ford GT, I couldn’t resist and bought this new supercar/machine in early 2007. I kept it new; didn't remove the interior wrap, didn't open the numbering kit and only drove it once a month to keep all the components and systems in good working condition. A limited production run of 4,038 Ford GT’s were made from late 2004 to 2006; approximately 300 in this Heritage color (same as the Gulf Oil sponsored GT40’s in the 60’s). With life’s changes, I’ve decided to sell it even though it was a great friend to be around and I miss taking it for a short spin every month. Some general info on these cars follows.
Ford wrote motor racing history in 1966 by becoming the first American manufacturer to win the gruelling 24 Hours of LeMans race. The epic victory was scored by the Ford GT (commonly known as the GT40), which went on to win another three times at LeMans. Today that victory is still considered the highlight in Ford’s rich racing history and it holds a special place in many racing enthusiasts’ hearts. To celebrate their centennial anniversary Ford decided to give this legendary design a rebirth, almost forty years after it first roared down the long straights of LeMans.
Though the new production GT and the original race car both carry the Ford GT name and look very similar, on closer look they have many differences. The new Ford GT features many new and unique technologies, including super-plastic-formed aluminum body panels, roll-bonded floor panels, a friction-stir welded center tunnel, a “ship-in-a-bottle” gas tank, a capless fuel filler system, one-piece door panels and an aluminum engine cover with a one-piece carbon-fiber inner panel. Braking is handled by four-piston aluminum Brembo monoblock calipers with cross-drilled and vented rotors at all four corners. When the rear canopy is opened, the rear suspension components and engine become the car’s focal point. The precision-cast aluminum suspension components and 19-inch Goodyear Supercar tires are stunning. The front fenders curve over 18-inch wheels and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires.
The 5.4L DOHC powerplant is all-aluminum and fed by an Eaton screw-type supercharger. It features four-valve cylinder heads and forged components, including the crankshaft, H-beam connecting rods and aluminum pistons. The finishing touches are Ford blue cam covers, each featuring an aluminum coil cover imprinted with the words “Powered by Ford.” The resulting power output is 550 horsepower and 500 foot-pounds of torque. Power is put to the ground through a Ricardo six-speed manual transmission featuring a helical limited-slip differential.
In the tradition of original Ford GT racers, the doors cut into the roof. Prominent on the leading edge of the rear quarter panel are functional cooling scoops that channel fresh air to the engine. Looking in through the back window, one finds a stunning view of the modular 5.4-liter DOHC supercharged V-8 engine.
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