Ford is counted among the oldest auto manufacturers in the world. Their journey started in Motor City Detroit in 1903. The century-old legacy of Ford is filled with many iconic model series including the GT.
The Ford GT model series is a street-legal sports car with higher agility, an efficient engine and a sporty exterior. At the time of its release in 1969, it was a rare sight to spot a sports car like the GT40 on the road.
Apart from this, here we have listed some interesting facts about the Ford GT40 that every car enthusiast must know.
9 Fun Facts About Ford GT40 You Probably Didn’t Know
Other than the obvious, here are some other amazing Ford GT facts.
Lola Mk6 was the Prototype
The origin of Ford GT40 starts from the inspiration taken from a British manufacturer Lola. The Lola cars built a model series under the nameplate of Lola Mk6 from 1962 to 1963. However, Lola manufactured Mk6 specifically for motorsport events and there were only three cars in the market at that time.
Ford got inspired by the concept of Mk6 and wanted to manufacture a street-legal sports car for the masses. This inspiration resulted in the launch of the ultimate Ford GT series.
The Fastest Car at Le Mans
The next on the list of GT40 facts is the Le Mans. Le Mans is a sports car-specific racing event that took place in France. It is one of the oldest endurance racing events in the world. The ultimate Ford GT remains the fastest car of Le Mans for years.
At the time of its release in the 1960s, GT had a top speed of 341 km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. The top speed and efficient V engine leverage GT in retaining its position at the top of the list at Le Mans.
Motorsport Events Won by GT40
During its initial days, the Ford GT40 was unable to win any racing event, but it definitely creates an impression on the drivers. The first official racing record created by the GT was winning the NASCAR Daytona. Bruce McLaren drove GT and won the Le Mans for the first time, and GT continued to win the race for three consecutive years after that.
Buyers Have to Sign a Contract
It is one of the most interesting fun facts about the Ford GT40 that you have to sign a contract before purchasing it. Any individual willing to purchase a new Ford GT40 from different Ford showrooms in the UAE has to sign a contract with the organisation. This contract includes multiple clauses related to the resale of the car and another ownership-related issue. The core purpose of this contract is to maintain the exclusivity of the model series.
Limited Annual Production
Despite all the advancements in Ford’s assembly line, manufacturing a GT model series is still a difficult task. Building each GT car requires a lot of skilled labour and advanced engineering techniques. This limits the annual production of the car to 250 pieces only. Due to this Ford GT is counted as the rarest and most exclusive model series in the world.
Carbon Fibre Body
Ford GT is known for its higher agility supported by the lighter-weight body of the car. This is possible because of the carbon fibre used in the manufacturing of GT. From the passenger cell to the body panels majority of the body is made from carbon fibre which ultimately reduces the overall weight of the car.
Extremely Aerodynamic
The Ford GT40 series was named after its ride height which is 40 inches from the ground. The lower ride height increases stability, lowers air drag and provides better handling at high speed.
The lower ride height is accompanied by an extremely aerodynamic car body that aids in reducing air friction when travelling at higher speeds. Moreover, a splitter, diffuser and rear wing are also present to increase the overall aerodynamics of the car.
A Flying Buttress
The rear fender of the Ford GT series seems inspired by Medieval Cathedrals. The rear fender is connected to the flying buttress that distributes weight to the ground. Along with this, the fender is also used as a channel to pass the air for increased aerodynamics. In fact, the brake light also features a hollow centre to cater to the aerodynamics of the vehicle.
Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve
The Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSv) can be termed the future of ride control in automobiles. It is an advanced type of suspension system which uses computer-controlled high-pressure hydraulics and thus provides better ride quality and handling.
These were all the things to know about the Ford GT40. The GT40 model series is one of its kind when it comes to the aerodynamics, engine efficiency and speed of the vehicle.
If you are also interested in driving this street-legal sports car, browse through these used Ford GT models for sale in the UAE and leverage from the top speed of the car,
Stay tuned to UAE’s leading auto blog for more interesting Ford GT40 facts.
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