2019 Ford GT
With its sleek styling, rumbling motor and glowing taillights, Ron Wade’s ruby red Ford GT looks like it's ready to rocket to another galaxy, not merely sit idling for gawkers.
Just as Wade is not just any car collector, the Ford GT is not just any sports car — or “supercar,” as Ford calls it. For starters, its base price is $500,000, only 1,350 of this model will be produced in a six-year span. More than 9,000 people capable of paying for one applied for permission to do so. Wade made the cut.
Ron does not plan to let this baby sit gathering dust in an auto museum, even though it's often here. He plans to drive it. In fact, he believes that’s part of the reason Ford allowed him to buy the twin-turbocharged, 647-horsepower V6 beast. He has a track record of putting plenty of miles on the steeds in his vast automobile stable, including his 2005 Ford GT — the last year that Ford produced the legendary car.
Ron is very familiar with the history of the Ford GT,
In 1963, Italian auto builder Enzo Ferrari was interested in selling his company and reached a verbal agreement with Ford Motor Co. But Ferrari backed out of the deal. That angered Henry Ford II, who launched an effort to develop a car to compete in and win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s oldest active sports car race. The Ford GT40 went on to win the race four consecutive years, 1966 to 1969.
As part of its 100-year anniversary, Ford Motor Co. developed a limited-edition GT for 2005-06. Slightly more than 4,000 cars were produced, sold at about $150,000 apiece. Ron bought one of them. It can also be seen at WAAAM West.
Ford unveiled plans for another GT in 2015 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the 1966 win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford announced only 500 cars would be built, but ended up increasing production to approximately 1,350 cars.
The cars are built at a factory in Markham, Ontario, with about 250 cars built per year, The first one rolled off the line in December 2016 for Ford chairman William Clay Ford. The last car should be built and delivered in 2022.
For Ford, the 1,350 GTs in the public eye serve as an advertisement for the company’s capabilities at styling and engineering.
Just as Wade is not just any car collector, the Ford GT is not just any sports car — or “supercar,” as Ford calls it. For starters, its base price is $500,000, only 1,350 of this model will be produced in a six-year span. More than 9,000 people capable of paying for one applied for permission to do so. Wade made the cut.
Ron does not plan to let this baby sit gathering dust in an auto museum, even though it's often here. He plans to drive it. In fact, he believes that’s part of the reason Ford allowed him to buy the twin-turbocharged, 647-horsepower V6 beast. He has a track record of putting plenty of miles on the steeds in his vast automobile stable, including his 2005 Ford GT — the last year that Ford produced the legendary car.
Ron is very familiar with the history of the Ford GT,
In 1963, Italian auto builder Enzo Ferrari was interested in selling his company and reached a verbal agreement with Ford Motor Co. But Ferrari backed out of the deal. That angered Henry Ford II, who launched an effort to develop a car to compete in and win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s oldest active sports car race. The Ford GT40 went on to win the race four consecutive years, 1966 to 1969.
As part of its 100-year anniversary, Ford Motor Co. developed a limited-edition GT for 2005-06. Slightly more than 4,000 cars were produced, sold at about $150,000 apiece. Ron bought one of them. It can also be seen at WAAAM West.
Ford unveiled plans for another GT in 2015 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the 1966 win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford announced only 500 cars would be built, but ended up increasing production to approximately 1,350 cars.
The cars are built at a factory in Markham, Ontario, with about 250 cars built per year, The first one rolled off the line in December 2016 for Ford chairman William Clay Ford. The last car should be built and delivered in 2022.
For Ford, the 1,350 GTs in the public eye serve as an advertisement for the company’s capabilities at styling and engineering.
