Tuesday 28th June 2016

Ford GT '66 Heritage Edition

Le Mans victories historic and contemporary celebrated in special edition GT

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No secret of course the original Ford GT40's job was to beat Ferrari at its own game on the track, Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon leading the famous 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966 in the first of three Ford wins on the trot. And 50 years on the new GT managed just the same the other week, the #68 car prevailing in a tit-for-tat fight with the Ferrari 488 GTE that saw the cars separated by just a minute after 24 hours of hard, back and forth racing.

Now Ford seems keen to beat Ferrari at its own game again, namely by using historic racing victories as a means of convincing customers to part with more money for race-themed extras on their road cars. Meaning a set of silver on black stripes with stylised #2 graphics on a limited '66 Heritage Edition for the new Ford GT, evoking memories of the similarly liveried winner driven by McLaren and Amon. As such it gets a choice of Shadow Black paint (matt or gloss) with the 'exposed carbon fibre package' and a tasteful gold tint to the 20-inch forged wheels. Inside there's lots of Ebony leather on seats, dash and headlining with blue-webbed seat belts and - inevitably - a plaque confirming its limited edition status. OK, so it's cashing in shamelessly on a historic victory. But it carries the look rather well.

No surprise when you hear project figurehead and development boss Raj Nair on the subject. "Celebrating the anniversary of Ford's historic victories at Le Mans has always been a part of the return of the Ford GT," he says in the press release. "The 2017 Ford GT '66 Heritage Edition is a stunning tribute to the car that kicked off Ford's string of Le Mans victories in 1966." Note the 'kicked off' and expect plenty more stripe-themed celebratory special editions to come. If you can't wait for that you can build your own on the configurator. Share your chosen spec in the thread below!

See Ford's promo vid* here

 

*OK, it's basically the still images compiled in video form...

Archive photo: LAT

[shoestring7]

I congratulate Ford; winning Le Mans against GM, Ferrari and Porsche isn't easy.

However, I'm also a bit worried; the 488, RSR and Corvette are clearly racing versions of a road going GT car that anyone (with the money) can buy. I'm not sure the same thing can be said of the Ford, who have admitted designing the car to be primarily a racer - decisions which drove the choice of engine and aerodynamics.

The last time manufacturers started producing race optimised 'GT' cars only fit for the track prices rapidly escalated and within a few short years GT racing disappeared up its own chuff.

SS7

[9e 28]

You can't buy it so whats the point. Personally I'd stop penning info about cars like GT3 RS, Ford GT etc. You can't walk in to Porsche or Ford and buy them. They're using them as halo cars to help sell other sports cars and raise brand image with the unobtainable. Not cricket.

Also agree with comment above. Tad unfair to put a new car developed specifically as a race car up against road cars turned into race cars. Also not cricket.

[RobGT81]

If these don't get delivered by Le Mans 2017, Ford should have their names taken off the 2016 results. The way Ford/Ganassi approached Le Mans 2016 doesn't sit well with me.

[torchy6]

Congratulations Ford - whipped Ferrari again, that heritage I want more than any other car in existence.

[s2000db]

Anyone got notice of an allocation yet?

[mjlloyd]

but its a v6 boring

[redroadster]

I for one am really pleased ford built this car ,it's more relevant than a p1 or laferrari ,far cheaper and looks better in my opinion ,the fact they won with a v6 is also a great achievement so instead of knocking ford we should congratulate them on a great effort.

[lestiq]

I think its a real shame that the ACO obviously wanted it to be ferrari (1 car) vs ford (4 cars) as judging by the balance of power applied.. Aston, Porsche & Chevrolet never stood a chance. They'll need to make a new class soon for racing cars designed for the road. they won alright and I congratulate them, but they didn't win it fairly in my opinion and that can only be a bad thing for the sport. What happens if the others all pull out, we'll have 2 cars in GT again and we'll be back to square one.

Edited by lestiq on Tuesday 28th June 21:34

[samoan attorney]

Four wins in a row at Le Mans for Ford I think you will find.

[wowman]

They win in 2016, but celebrate a 40 year old triumph with their special edition model. Really?

[RobGT81]

PW said:

There were 3 488s in PRO and 5 458s in AM.

I'm confused as to why everyone suddenly has a problem about Ford bringing 4 cars this year - 5 Astons wasn't a problem, with factory backed AM cars too.

I don't think many people have a problem with the number of cars, it's more the way they have conducted themselves this season and with the waivers that the GT requires to race.

Turning up at Silverstone, Spa and the LM test day, with a "road car" they haven't built yet and intentionally not racing doesn't sit well.

[chilled901]

So many butt hurt European fanbois in here. Just accept the fact Ford won and your Master race lost.

[mjlloyd]

i love yank motors but the aco gave them the win having no restrictions on there car

[torchy6]

mjlloyd said:

i love yank motors but the aco gave them the win having no restrictions on there car

Bull**it! The ACO put more restrictions on them and Ferrari when they were faster than expected (sandbagging?)

[FIREBIRDC9]

Does it come with a V8

[405dogvan]

I know I'm in a minority of 1 perhaps, but I really do prefer the last GT40 over this one.

This is too fussy/faffy/swoopy, the rear end is an ugly monster with nostrils and no V8 is more than a bit disappointing.

Exclusivity and fancy aero is not enough to demand huge money imo?