Page 94 - Experience_Magazine_Winter2022_Barrett-Jackson

LIVING LEGENDS

THE 2005-06 FORD GTS ARE STEEPED IN HISTORY

To any automotive enthusiast with a pulse, the While the new GT was strictly a road car without
Ford GT of 2005-06 continues to stand as a more racing pretensions, construction and bodywork was
than worthy successor to its legendary forebear. worthy of the latest endurance racers, including an
While clearly paying homage to the all-conquering extruded aluminum spaceframe at its core. Powering
GT40s that conclusively beat Ferrari at Le Mans in the new GT was a mid-mounted supercharged,
1966, the Ford GT of 2005-06 was a totally new fuel-injected 32-valve 5.4-liter V8 engine assembled
design with advanced engineering, construction at Ford’s Romeo, Michigan, facilities. Featuring
and materials throughout. Rooted in early design lightweight alloy block-and-head architecture and
sketches penned by Camilo Pardo in the “New competition-type dry sump lubrication, this potent
Edge” theme that resulted in the GT90 concept of mill was factory-rated at 550 brake horsepower.
1995, the new GT soon progressed through the Power was delivered by a 6-speed gearbox/rear
GT40 concept car, unveiled to acclaim at Detroit transaxle from Ricardo, supplier of transmissions for
in January 2002. A rolling showcase of Ford Motor international racing. All-independent suspension
Company’s design and engineering prowess, the and huge vented Brembo 4-wheel disc brakes
GT40 was greenlighted during the spring of 2002 rounded out the mechanical package.
for development to production-ready status. Production commenced in June 2004 and the last
Legalities soon forced a name change to simply GT was completed in September 2006. According
“Ford GT,” but the point was clear – the new GT to published sources, only 4,033 examples were
would electrify Ford enthusiasts and put Ford’s old produced in all, including 2,022 and 2,011 built
archrival Ferrari on the defensive once again. during 2005 and 2006, respectively. Demand

A major player in the project yielding the Ford GT far outstripped supply, with early cars selling for
was specialty performance car manufacturer Steve substantial premiums over the basic manufacturer's
Saleen, who hosted Ford engineering, marketing suggested retail price (MSRP) and prospective buyers
and design teams at Saleen’s southern California vying for vehicle-production slots. As always, there
facility for a month-long session to discuss is far more to the story, including a 211.89-mph test
bringing the car to production, under the strictest run conducted in March 2004 at the Nardo circuit in
secrecy. All great cloak-and-dagger operations have Italy, making the Ford GT the fastest vehicle in Ford
interesting codenames, and the new Ford supercar history to that point. In addition to its performance
was certainly no exception, with the Ford GT credentials, the 2005-06 Ford GT caused Ferrari to
project codenamed “Petunia.” In the autumn of take close notice, with one GT having been purchased
2002, just 100 days after the program kick-off, the new by Ferrari North America and shipped to Italy in
first “workhorse” Ford GT prototype was completed 2007, reputedly for evaluation – the sincerest form of
and operational. By May 2003, the first three flattery among automotive competitors!
cars were completed in time for the Ford Motor – David C. Neyens
Company 100th anniversary festivities. For up-to-date information on this vehicle, visit Barrett-Jackson.com

94 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE WINTER 2022