Ford

GT (2005)

Ford GT (2005): The Greatest Retro Car Ever

In 2002, Ford unveiled a concept car to celebrate its upcoming 100th anniversary. It looked exactly like the legendary GT40 that beat Ferrari at Le Mans in the 1960s. The crowd went wild. Ford decided to build it.

Development was codenamed “Petunia”. The goal was simple: Build a car that looks like the 60s but drives like a modern Ferrari 360 Modena killer. And do it in time for the centenary in 2003.

Design: The “GT44”

The 2005 Ford GT is structurally bigger than the original GT40.

  • Height: The original was 40 inches tall. The new one is 44 inches tall (to fit modern humans). So technically, it’s a “GT44.”
  • Doors: It kept the iconic “guillotine” doors that cut into the roof.
    • The Issue: This looks cool, but it means you cannot open the door fully if you are parked next to another car. Also, when you get out, you have to slide over the wide sill, and if you aren’t careful, you hit your head on the roof section of the door. It is an ergonomic nightmare, but a stylistic triumph.

Engineering: Space Frame and Superplastic

  • Chassis: An aluminum space frame built using extruded aluminum.
  • Body Panels: Ford used a technique called Superplastic Forming. Aluminum panels were heated to 500°C and then blown into molds using air pressure (like blowing glass). This allowed for the complex curves of the rear fenders that traditional stamping couldn’t achieve.
  • Engine: A 5.4-liter Modular V8 from the Ford truck/Mustang shelf, but heavily modified.
  • Induction: A Lysholm twin-screw supercharger sitting on top.
  • Power: 550 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque.
  • Transmission: A Ricardo 6-speed manual transaxle. No automatic was offered.

Driving: The Torque Monster

The driving experience is defined by torque. Because it is supercharged (not turbocharged), there is zero lag. You put your foot down in any gear, and the car surges forward on a wave of V8 noise.

  • Handling: It was surprisingly capable. Ford benchmarked the Ferrari 360 Stradale. The GT had massive grip from its Goodyear tires, though it was known to be “snappy” at the limit if you lifted off the throttle mid-corner.
  • Top Speed: 205 mph (330 km/h). It was a true 200 mph supercar for a fraction of the price of a Carrera GT or Enzo.

GTX1 Roadster

A rare aftermarket conversion (officially sanctioned by Ford) called the GTX1 turned the GT into a Targa top.

  • Roof: The roof panels were removable.
  • Rarity: Less than 100 were converted by Genaddi Design Group. They are now highly sought after.

Value

The Ford GT sold for $150,000 new. It was a bargain. Today, values have skyrocketed to $400,000 - $600,000. It is one of the few cars from the 2000s that has appreciated consistently. It is the last analog American supercar.