Ford’s high-performance people in the US will early next year begin approving clients for the final edition of its track-only flyer, the Ford GT Mk IV.
The company is farewelling the GT40-inspired model with a limited run of 67 hand-built editions, each starting in price at $US1.7m, or around $NZ2.65m. The number 67 is a nod to the original 1967 Ford GT Mk IV, the first all-American winner of the Le Mans 24-hour event.
Ford describes the 2023 car as the “most extreme track-only Ford GT ever.” It was developed by Ford Performance in collaboration with Canadian go-fast outfit Multimatic, which is building the car at its Markham, Ontario, plant. The cars are expected to be delivered to the 67 selected clients before the middle of next year.
The Mk IV-spec GT is powered by a tweaked twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 EcoBoost engine. Engineers increased the displacement of the V6 to help deliver around 600kW, up about 100kW from the regular GT’s 500kW. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission from the standard car has been replaced with what Ford described as a “proper racing gearbox.”
The halo car has a longer wheelbase for improved driving dynamics and rides on Multimatic’s adaptive spool valve suspension and what appears to be Michelin Pilot Sport racing slicks wrapped around centre-lock wheels .
It sports Ford Blue racing livery and longtail-style all-carbon-fibre bodywork with a pronounced aero kit and a massive rear wing over a rear diffuser. The body also has a large front splitter, front canards, a louvered bonnet, and prominent intakes.
Media outlets in the US say there’s seemingly been no end to the number of ‘final’ Ford GTs. Last year it came out with a 1964 prototype-themed livery to honour the GT’s final year of production.
Earlier this year it paid tribute to the Mk I prototypes of the 1960s with a red, white, and gold model. Next was a Holman Moody Edition celebrating Ford’s 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans in 1966 with the historic Kiwi connection of Bruce McLaren, Chris Amon, and Denny Hulme. Two months ago, Ford released its racing-inspired LM send-off version of the GT as a nod to the class-winning 2016 car.