This is the first Ford GT Heritage Edition, released as a tribute to the company’s famous performance at the 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental race, the company’s first ever endurance race win. The race was captured in last year’s ‘Le Mans ‘66’ movie starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon – AKA ‘Ford Vs. Ferrari’ in America, because that’s a more basic and easy-to-fathom title.
The movie does indeed explore the famous rivalry between Ford and Ferrari, with Ford desperate to break Ferrari’s dominance of the Le Mans 24 Hour race after a failed attempt to buy the company. The company succeeded, with co-drivers Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby leading a dominant 1-2-3-5 performance at Daytona in a GT40 Mk2, going on to win endurance races at both Sebring and, of course, Le Mans.
“For this Heritage Edition, the Ford Performance team went deeper into the Ford GT’s race history and crafted a limited-edition model that stylistically honours the 55th anniversary of the Daytona 24 Hour endurance race that would eventually lead to our successes at Le Mans,” said Mike Severson, Ford GT program manager. “Miles and Ruby led nearly every lap of the 24-hour race and outpaced the competition by 30 miles. The win was the first time anyone had threatened Ferrari’s dominance in sports car racing and represented a turning point in the Ford GT race program,” he added.
The car is stock other than the paint finish and some interior detailing, which means it retains an aluminium 3.5-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine with 660bhp and 746Nm torque, paired to a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox. It’s sat inside a carbon fibre monocoque chassis with aluminium subframes for the front and rear suspension, meaning the whole thing is exceptionally lightweight. 62mph comes up in three seconds, and it won’t stop gaining speed until it hits 217mph.
Here’s what Ford has to say about the exterior look:
“Inspired by the bold white, black and red exterior of the 1966 endurance-winning Ford GT40 MK II race car, the new 2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition features Frozen White exterior paint with exposed carbon fiber hood adding stark contrast. Asymmetrical Race Red accents on the front fascia and roof edge, driver’s side door and underneath the rear wing add distinct visuals, while exposed carbon fiber shapes the signature 98 roundel graphics and speak to the supercar’s lightweight body. Unique Ford graphics on the lower rear-quarter panels plus one-piece Heritage Gold 20-inch forged-aluminium wheels paired with red lacquered Brembo monoblock brake calipers complete this new exterior livery.”
Inside the instrument panel is wrapped in Alcantara, as is the headliner and the steering wheel rim, and the seats too, and the paddle shifters for the gear changes are finished in red metal. Buyers can also specify a Heritage Upgrade Package, which includes 20-inch wheels made of exposed carbon fibre, brake calipers painted black, and unique ‘98’ roundels on the carbon fibre door panels.
Keyword: Ford GT Heritage Edition celebrates ’66 Daytona win