(Yet Another) Ford GT Update
Discussion
First 3 cars completed. One is a very dark blue (almost purple). 
More here:
Production Shots
ErnestM
More here:
Production Shots
ErnestM
dick dastardly said:
How much are these going to cost?
I don't mean over there Earnest, where you could probably get one for about 12 bucks, but in our silly country
It been my observation that, if a car cost $100,000 US, for example, that you can simply remove the $ sign and put a pound sign in front...
ErnestM
PS: $150,000 US is target price currently
ErnestM said:
First 3 cars completed.
I have it on good authority, these are "non-saleable production prototype versions of the car"
Check out www.FordTeamRS.com for more Ford stuff, or www.fordvehicles.com/FORDGT/ for the GT40 site.
From a friend of a friend, who is the Controller of the Laguna Seca track in California, where they´ve been testing the GT:
We just had the Ford GT's on track for testing and pre-Historic track
shakedown at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. They are still testing suspension and
tire compounds for the street. It was some very interesting work to watch Ford
and Roush had a number of people there. One of the guys had been Rahal's
suspension person for 6 years in CART ChampCar. Ford's chief engineers on the
project were there too.
A few interesting facts learned:
Neil, the head engineer is a fast driver, and is about 2 seconds quicker then
the other drivers on the team. Tom, would just say that's my boss, he pushes
it hard than I do... Nice boss to have...
I got my ride in the Ford GT with Neil at the wheel. Smooth and quick. My
comments were great braking and horsepower. Laguna is much shorter in this
car!!! The 500 horsepower Roush unit is sweet. The car does not feel like it
is going as fast as it is. Nothing dramatic, just flat out hallin'. Brakes are
like the School formula cars. You can go much deeper with them. They are still
working out the finer details of suspension to make the stick even better,and
it is excellant now! The car we were out in, CP4 (Confirmation Prototype), is
met to be a show car, and Bill Ford says it is his!!! Probably was the car at
the Detroit Auto Show, blue with white stripes (humm, I like the colors...).
The real testing work horses were CP1 and Workhorse 1. CP1 had the latest
suspension and cooling tricks in it, and that one is even faster...
CP1 was the car that they did most of the testing and changes. Workhouse 1 is
the first Ford GT built from molds taken from an original car, then cut up to
fit the new design, then a fiberglass body was created. The frame is correct,
but the body is "early". The roof sections are drawn in, and don't open out
with the doors, etc. But it does have a helmet hump on the drivers side. Mark,
one of the chief engineers is 6'4". Guess that says real sized people can fit
in this car, as opposed to the GT40. WH1 has a SVT Cobra power plant. So
suspension design testing is applicable, but the HP is not the same. WH1 had
all the data acquisition hardware and was gathering a lot of design and
engineering data. CP1 and CP4 are part of the 15 CP's that have the correct
aluminum bodies, and the Roush power plant. Last night I kept the garages open
for them to replace the suspension in CP1. So my reward was a very nice
ride...
Bushing crush is planned and the design varies with the cars needs. Did you
know Porsche designs in bushing crush roll out in the front suspension to
counter the oversteer effects of the rear engine weight? The bushing is only
crushing at the limits with the right pressure to provide the designed
effects.... Testing proves which bushings are correct.... All kinds of
suspension testing was going on with the GT's.
They were very impressed with the special Extra edition of Driven. They took
my copy to show it around at HQ!!! They loved the coverage, and liked that it
looked like the rain and water does not show in pictures. Proud to be part of
NorCal and say this nice piece was done by group.
(Editorial comment--I wrote an article for the Nor-Cal Shelby Club newsletter
on the recent Ford Centennial event, and they elected to generate a special
edition consisting solely of this article and attendant photos. Dennis Begley
has the article and photos also, and will put them up somewhere; similarly,
they will also appear in the next POCA magazine).
The Ford GT's will be back for Historics. They have dealer and special
customers rides planned, but how that works I have no idea, and probably not
available to us. Though these guys love Ford product.....
Ford/Roush asked to not mention this testing until they were done. So I could
not make a general announcement earlier, but I must admit I have been tardy to
the office the last few days, since they were running before and after the
Skip Barber school sessions Wednesday to Friday this week. The cars are in the
haulers and headed back to MI now, but that was a fun way to finish the week
after SuperBike.....
We just had the Ford GT's on track for testing and pre-Historic track
shakedown at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. They are still testing suspension and
tire compounds for the street. It was some very interesting work to watch Ford
and Roush had a number of people there. One of the guys had been Rahal's
suspension person for 6 years in CART ChampCar. Ford's chief engineers on the
project were there too.
A few interesting facts learned:
Neil, the head engineer is a fast driver, and is about 2 seconds quicker then
the other drivers on the team. Tom, would just say that's my boss, he pushes
it hard than I do... Nice boss to have...
I got my ride in the Ford GT with Neil at the wheel. Smooth and quick. My
comments were great braking and horsepower. Laguna is much shorter in this
car!!! The 500 horsepower Roush unit is sweet. The car does not feel like it
is going as fast as it is. Nothing dramatic, just flat out hallin'. Brakes are
like the School formula cars. You can go much deeper with them. They are still
working out the finer details of suspension to make the stick even better,and
it is excellant now! The car we were out in, CP4 (Confirmation Prototype), is
met to be a show car, and Bill Ford says it is his!!! Probably was the car at
the Detroit Auto Show, blue with white stripes (humm, I like the colors...).
The real testing work horses were CP1 and Workhorse 1. CP1 had the latest
suspension and cooling tricks in it, and that one is even faster...
CP1 was the car that they did most of the testing and changes. Workhouse 1 is
the first Ford GT built from molds taken from an original car, then cut up to
fit the new design, then a fiberglass body was created. The frame is correct,
but the body is "early". The roof sections are drawn in, and don't open out
with the doors, etc. But it does have a helmet hump on the drivers side. Mark,
one of the chief engineers is 6'4". Guess that says real sized people can fit
in this car, as opposed to the GT40. WH1 has a SVT Cobra power plant. So
suspension design testing is applicable, but the HP is not the same. WH1 had
all the data acquisition hardware and was gathering a lot of design and
engineering data. CP1 and CP4 are part of the 15 CP's that have the correct
aluminum bodies, and the Roush power plant. Last night I kept the garages open
for them to replace the suspension in CP1. So my reward was a very nice
ride...
Bushing crush is planned and the design varies with the cars needs. Did you
know Porsche designs in bushing crush roll out in the front suspension to
counter the oversteer effects of the rear engine weight? The bushing is only
crushing at the limits with the right pressure to provide the designed
effects.... Testing proves which bushings are correct.... All kinds of
suspension testing was going on with the GT's.
They were very impressed with the special Extra edition of Driven. They took
my copy to show it around at HQ!!! They loved the coverage, and liked that it
looked like the rain and water does not show in pictures. Proud to be part of
NorCal and say this nice piece was done by group.
(Editorial comment--I wrote an article for the Nor-Cal Shelby Club newsletter
on the recent Ford Centennial event, and they elected to generate a special
edition consisting solely of this article and attendant photos. Dennis Begley
has the article and photos also, and will put them up somewhere; similarly,
they will also appear in the next POCA magazine).
The Ford GT's will be back for Historics. They have dealer and special
customers rides planned, but how that works I have no idea, and probably not
available to us. Though these guys love Ford product.....
Ford/Roush asked to not mention this testing until they were done. So I could
not make a general announcement earlier, but I must admit I have been tardy to
the office the last few days, since they were running before and after the
Skip Barber school sessions Wednesday to Friday this week. The cars are in the
haulers and headed back to MI now, but that was a fun way to finish the week
after SuperBike.....
mechsympathy said:
Beautiful car, it's just a shame they've stuck a blue oval on it.
Why do you say that? Given that the original GT40's are stunning looking cars and were built by the 'blue oval' to beat the prancing horse (which they did!!) seems a bit strange to slam the car for who makes it !!
d_drinks said:
Beautiful car, it's just a shame they've stuck a blue oval on it.
Why do you say that? Given that the original GT40's are stunning looking cars and were built by the 'blue oval' to beat the prancing horse (which they did!!) seems a bit strange to slam the car for who makes it !!
Is this where we get pedantic and state it was really a Lola...?
d_drinks said:
Beautiful car, it's just a shame they've stuck a blue oval on it.
Why do you say that? Given that the original GT40's are stunning looking cars and were built by the 'blue oval' to beat the prancing horse (which they did!!) seems a bit strange to slam the car for who makes it !!
Only that the originals (if I'm not mistaken) didn't have the blue oval badge, just the natty Ford markings on the side. The blue oval is associated in my mind with more recent fords.
Why is ford continuing to TEASE us all with this car. I love the car but i know i CAN'T BUY ONE cos they are NOT MAKING ENOUGH!
Really winds me up. Look Ford.. just cos i like this car does not mean i'm going to buy a focus, ok?
Why only 80 cars for Europe? Why only left hand drive?!
Really winds me up. Look Ford.. just cos i like this car does not mean i'm going to buy a focus, ok?
Why only 80 cars for Europe? Why only left hand drive?!
rob.e said:
Why is ford continuing to TEASE us all with this car. I love the car but i know i CAN'T BUY ONE cos they are NOT MAKING ENOUGH!
Really winds me up. Look Ford.. just cos i like this car does not mean i'm going to buy a focus, ok?
Why only 80 cars for Europe? Why only left hand drive?!
Companies often do this... it's to do with the "halo effect". Never been convinced of it myself.. but apparently it works.
Bit like the StreetKa. We may mock it for being girly etc etc, but they could sell more units than they've produced... same with the Focus RS...
Gassing Station | Motoring News | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff