2005 Ford GT

The Ford GT, the great American sports car, was born in the mid 1960s. It was a powerful, low-slung supercar, and its design and production project was fronted by the then Chairman and CEO Henry Ford II. The first model went on to win all three podium places at the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1966.

The 2005 Ford GT arrived in the shape of three road cars which pay homage to their heritage. The GT was the main attraction of Ford’s 2004 “Year of the Car” initiative. Chris Theodore, vice president of Ford Advance Product Creation, explains: “As we celebrate our centennial, the Ford GT represents many of the technologies, processes and people that will help drive our next 100 years.”

Design

The new GT may share its name with the classic racecar, but it certainly does not share its dimensions. The 2005 model boasts an extra 18 inches in length and almost 4 inches in height. The 18 inch front wheels proudly display Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, and the doors encroach into the roof, following the tradition of the GTs of the past. The front edges of the hindquarter panels feature air intakes to channel cold air to the engine. To the rear, the wheels gain an extra inch on the front, standing proud at 19 inches.

Engineering

Ford recruited John Coletti to lead the new GT engineering programme, demanding a tight deadline: the delivery of three models in time for the manufacturer’s centenary celebration. He set about building the Ford GT “Dream Team”, including Neil Ressler (former vice president) as consultant and Neil Hannemann (industry engineering specialist) to work on development.

The result is a supercar which features innovative technologies, including super-plastic-formed body panels, capless fuel delivery system and aluminium engine cover. The GT decelerates with the aid of 4-piston Brembo monoblock callipers, fully cross-drilled and vented. Balance and handling are regulated by precision aluminium suspension, whilst the opposing power is provided by the rear-mounted V8 engine.

The powerhouse is made entirely of aluminium and is boosted by an Eaton screw-type supercharger. The resulting statistics are exceptional: a 5.4 litre engine producing 500 bhp and 500 lb/ft of torque. The power is managed with a 6-speed Ricardo manual gearbox.

Racing Heritage

With the very first Ford GT racers, the manufacturer was looking to showcase its dedication and design capability, and the leadership of Henry Ford II was the catalyst for a model which won the top prize in motor racing for four consecutive years. As John Coletti himself explains, The 2005 Ford GT does not disappoint its rich heritage. “It’s ironic that in the 1960s Ford brought out the fabled Ford GT racer to dominate Ferrari on the premier race circuits of the world, and that in the not-too-distant future, the Ford GT will return to outgun the Ferrari once again, but this time on the streets of America.”









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© 2006 Martin Hemmings and Ken Leonard for www.sport-cars.org