You could say this was deja preview all over again, as we leap into action to tell you about the arrival of yet another commemorative model of a car that is itself a commemorative model of another car.
The car in question is of course the Ford GT, which was created to remind the world that Ford was once a real power in international racing, in the form of the GT40 that dominated the Le Mans 24-hour race in the late 1960s.
Then a few months back Ford released a Tungsten Silver iteration of the modern version of the car as an early warning reminder about the 40th anniversary of the original car's first win in France, on June 19, 1966.
This past weekend, as part of the collector car congress in Pebble Beach, Ford revealed step two in the special editions. That would be the 2006 Ford GT "Heritage" model which features the livery (a poofed-up racing word for paint scheme) of the car that would Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.
Specifically, that means the limited-edition Ford GT Heritage model painted to look like the JW Automotive/American Gulf Oil-sponsored car. This paint scheme is called "one of the most memorable looks in Ford racing history," and it's hard to argue that description when it applies to a car with a Heritage Blue with Epic Orange-striped exterior and four white 'roundels' that allow customers to apply the number of their choice.
Carter Balkcom, the marketing manager for the Ford GT, says "We're very proud to offer the 2006 Ford GT in these timeless colors to celebrate our historic racing achievements and the high-performance and innovative technology behind our supercar."
When it comes to performance these days, Ford is mostly concentrating on giving its regular customers vehicles that are too powerful and too nimble to be appreciated on North America's roads (at least legally) through its Special Vehicle Team (SVT).
Phil Martens, the group vice-president of product creation at Ford, maintains that the long-ago domination of Le Mans once again informs the way that Ford designs its cars. "Sweeping Le Mans proved to the world that Ford Motor Company could beat the most prestigious manufacturers in the world. Those two events helped establish a culture of performance at Ford that to this day benefits our products, engineering expertise, and brand loyalty. Today, that culture is embodied in the Ford GT, aptly titled the pace car for the entire company."
The Ford GT delivers 550 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, and is good for a certified 330-kmh top track speed rating, Martens promises, and "with styling inspired by the historic racecars and a comfortable and contemporary interior." But it will cost you big time, as Ford of Canada has decided to jack up the sticker on GT to $200,000, versus US$128,506 south of the border.
We can only assume they're going to want even more for the application of "heritage livery."
photo:Ford Motor Company
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| Ford GT Heritage (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
Then a few months back Ford released a Tungsten Silver iteration of the modern version of the car as an early warning reminder about the 40th anniversary of the original car's first win in France, on June 19, 1966.
This past weekend, as part of the collector car congress in Pebble Beach, Ford revealed step two in the special editions. That would be the 2006 Ford GT "Heritage" model which features the livery (a poofed-up racing word for paint scheme) of the car that would Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.
Specifically, that means the limited-edition Ford GT Heritage model painted to look like the JW Automotive/American Gulf Oil-sponsored car. This paint scheme is called "one of the most memorable looks in Ford racing history," and it's hard to argue that description when it applies to a car with a Heritage Blue with Epic Orange-striped exterior and four white 'roundels' that allow customers to apply the number of their choice.
Carter Balkcom, the marketing manager for the Ford GT, says "We're very proud to offer the 2006 Ford GT in these timeless colors to celebrate our historic racing achievements and the high-performance and innovative technology behind our supercar."
 |
| Ford GT Heritage (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
Phil Martens, the group vice-president of product creation at Ford, maintains that the long-ago domination of Le Mans once again informs the way that Ford designs its cars. "Sweeping Le Mans proved to the world that Ford Motor Company could beat the most prestigious manufacturers in the world. Those two events helped establish a culture of performance at Ford that to this day benefits our products, engineering expertise, and brand loyalty. Today, that culture is embodied in the Ford GT, aptly titled the pace car for the entire company."
The Ford GT delivers 550 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, and is good for a certified 330-kmh top track speed rating, Martens promises, and "with styling inspired by the historic racecars and a comfortable and contemporary interior." But it will cost you big time, as Ford of Canada has decided to jack up the sticker on GT to $200,000, versus US$128,506 south of the border.
We can only assume they're going to want even more for the application of "heritage livery."
photo:Ford Motor Company
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