Ford is extending production of its GT supercar from two to four years.
The decision comes after the US brand received more than 6,500 applications for a planned production run of just 500 examples of the carbon-fibre shelled 600bhp car.
Ford says that it has decided to extend production after confirming that the GT will compete in World Endurance Championship and American IMSA Series races for four years, to the end of the 2019 season.
Successful applicants have this week been informed that they will have an opportunity to purchase a car. The price has not been confirmed but industry sources are speculating that it will be around €500,000, equivalent to £395,000.
The extra production is likely to release another 500 cars, the third year going to those selected by Ford to go on a waiting list, and an application window for the final year reopening in 2018. Unless there is a further extension the final production will be around 1,000 cars, far less than the 4,000 made of the first Ford GT launched in 2005.
The second Ford GT was unveiled at the Detroit International Auto Show in January 2015, production planned for this year to celebrate 50 years since the original Ford GT40 won the Le Mans 24hrs. A GT team ran in 2016 Le Mans event and won its class.
Ford Performance global director Dave Pericak admits that the company can’t build enough Ford GTs for everyone who has applied. “(But) we are going to produce additional vehicles in an effort to satisfy more of our most loyal Ford ambassadors,” he says.
“We want to keep Ford GT exclusive, but at the same time we know how vital this customer is to our brand,” Pericak adds.
Keyword: Ford GT supercar to double production