Ford GT. And a childhood memory

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Purchasing classics there

I've had one… From Scalextric. A Ford GT40. A green one. I also had an Austin Healey three liters. And if there is anyone who knows why my boyfriend and I were convinced that the scale models ran faster if you put a piece of leukoplast on the magnet of the motor? Well, I later became a mechanical engineer. The ways of electricity have always been very strange to me. Not having a real GT afterwards is the best trauma you can have.

The Fords GT were built to win at Le Mans

That's what Henry Ford wanted from the early 6s. The MkI-III models were designed and built in England with the Lola Mk8 as a great inspiration. When choosing the engine, the builders did not allow themselves to be tempted to technical highlights and finesse. After all, to be fast yet reliable, there is little better than a thick tuned American V24? And the engine noise that you get with that? That doesn't even cost extra. Oh yes: the entire Ford GT project was conceived to tease Ferrari. Because that brand had developed the annoying habit of winning the XNUMX Hours of Le Mans time and again.

The first time Ford's combat vehicle took part in Le Mans the GT broke down

In 1966 Ford broke that chain of victories and continued on the chosen path. Also nice for the Americans: with their GT they won an important race in Europe for the first time since 1921. The '40' behind the GT designation stood for the height in inches, which 40 inches (just over a meter, measured at window height) was the maximum allowed height in its class.

The Ford GT must have made about as many replicas as the AC Cobras

We've seen one with a Ford Pinto two liter engine. We drove one with a Peugeot V6 on board. By the way, that copy was funny. The owner was two meters long. Therefore, a bump was sculpted in the roof so as not to have to drive it with a kinked neck.

In 2002, the new GT was presented as a tribute to The Original

And it looked - just like the New Mustangs - very much like the original. Those very new GTs are still used, although it will not be around the corner from the universal garage. The rare real or as good as real originals usually find their new owners through auctions.

And so we received a message from Max from Classic Car Auctions that there would be a copy under the hammer. It is a 1992 man who was built on behalf of GT Developments near Bournemouth (UK). The engine is completely 'done'. The 5 liter V8 has a special Ford Motorsports crankshaft, special heads, a special 'hot' camshaft, an Edelbrock spider, electronic ignition plus a double-muscled water pump. The body is specially made of thinner material to save weight. The entire transmission and the chassis have also been brought to top level. Of course such a masterpiece comes with piles of documentation and receipts. All the effort is not just a joke. This Ford has raced at Spa, Zolder, Goodwood, Silverstone plus a handful of more tracks.

Oh yes: it runs at a speed of 280 km / h.

And the buyer can just try that immediately after delivery. Because the Ford has a Belgian registration. Pay attention to speed bumps. The starting bid is € 1.000. We expect that to increase further in the next week. Thanks to Classic Car Auctions. For the link to the Ford GT: https://www.classiccar-auctions.com/auction-47023/

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