In the fast world of cars, it’s rare to see a car still holding its original value or being more expensive than its original value 6-7years after its production. Surprisingly this is the case with the American car manufacturer Ford with their exceptional and radical creation, the Ford GT.
In fact, the Ford GT -- a 550-horsepower mid-engine sports car -- has never been worth less than the $150,000 Ford originally asked for it during the two years it was in production.
It is probably the only American car that has done so," When it first came out, Ford car dealers made fortunes selling it because as usual the demand outgrew the supply, so prices went up to about $250,000 almost doubling the quoted figures from the car manufacturer. In fact the first person to buy the Ford GT paid about $557,000 for it.
So you might wonder, why was this car in such high demand; what was so special about it that made supercar enthusiasts so crazy about owning one. To explain this, one has to go back to the roots of how the Ford GT came to being.
Back in 1963, Ford attempted to buy Ferrari “who were at the time dominating the 24 hours of Le Mans race in France”. A deal had been struck and Ford had reportedly spent millions getting the paper work and all the legal documents done, but surprisingly at the very last minute, Enzo Ferrari pulled out of the deal.
An angry Henry Ford II went back to England and ordered his team of Engineers to build him a supercar that would humiliate at Ferrari in the 24hrs Le Mans race; and thus the Ford GT40 was born. Astonishingly, not only did the Ford GT 40 come 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the 1966 edition of the 24hrs of Le Mans, it also won the race 4 times on the trot; Ferrari were completely overwhelmed.
The Ford GT gets it heritage from the Ford GT 40. Visually it’s obvious that the two cars look alike with the newer model just a bit taller and wider than the original model.
Now what attracted people most to the Ford GT was its level of sophistication. Yes it had the Detroit gangster V8 engine typical of American Muscle cars, yet it also had the poise and refinement of an European car with its comfortable chassis, easy to use gear box and generally classy feel.
The ultrahigh-performance two-seat Ford GT was produced from 2004 through 2006 and showcased many advanced technologies, befitting its $140,000 price tag. It sported a supercharged mid-mounted V8 engine, an aluminum chassis, superplastic-formed aluminum body panels, a capless fuel filler, cross-drilled Brembo brakes and a carbon-fiber engine cover. Not only did these exotic features showcase a technological tour de force, they also formed a visual feast once the large rear engine cover was opened.Surprisingly, its drivability and user-friendliness is closer to that of a typical sport coupe than a high-performance sports car. The interior is quiet and comfortable. The clutch pedal and shifter operate smoothly, the well-balanced steering provides excellent feedback and the engine remains civilised when idling through traffic. But the Ford GT really comes into its own class when driven on the road or at the track, with blistering 3.5-second 0-60-mph performance and a reassuring combination of stability and confidence in place of the typical nervousness exhibited by some other exotics.
The main draw backs for the Ford GT are pretty much the same as all supercars. For starters, this car isn’t economic at all. It gulps petrol like a drunkard with average ratings of 12mpg or 5km/litre. I even believe if you’re very generous with your right foot, you can burn all the fuel in its 90+ litre tank in less than 45mins. It’s also not practical in anyway. Though it seats two a bit comfortably, there essentially no boot; the biggest thing the so called boot in the front can carry is your suitcase, that’s all, and if your suitcase is as big as the ones our daddies used back in the days, then don’t even bother. There’s also almost no rear view either because of the position of the engine “not that you would be looking in your rear view for any reason”.
But forget all the crap, obviously people who bought this car weren’t trying to be sensible or practical. They weren’t considering how many miles the car can go on a full tank, neither were they thinking of how many seats were available . A supercar is bought with the heart and not the head.
The truth of it is that the point of a supercar is pure excitement, a supercar as Top Gear says is meant to make you feel 10yrs old again. It’s meant to be insane, unique, unusual, impractical, ridiculous and damn right electrifying. That’s the exact definition of the Ford GT. With an insane top speed of 212mph / 340km/h and all the drama and terror in the world, it is all in all one of the most exhilarating cars ever made.
