Ford GT
The second-generation Ford GT was a car designed to win Le Mans first and be a road car second. Unveiled as a surprise at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, the new GT was a radical departure from its predecessor in every way — and its primary mission was to bring Ford back to the top step of the podium at Le Mans for the first time in 50 years.
The most controversial aspect was the engine: a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 instead of the expected V8. Ford chose the EcoBoost V6 for practical racing reasons — its compact size allowed better aerodynamic packaging, and its turbo torque curve was better suited to endurance racing. With 647 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque, the V6 was actually more powerful than the previous GT's supercharged V8.
The carbon fiber monocoque chassis, built by Canadian motorsport specialist Multimatic, was a work of art. The body featured active aerodynamics including a deployable rear wing, a rising rear diffuser, and flying buttresses with integrated air channels. The pushrod-actuated inboard suspension was a technology borrowed directly from Formula 1 and LMP cars.
Ford limited production to approximately 250 cars per year over a planned four-year run (later extended to six years), and the application process to purchase one was more rigorous than some college admissions. Buyers had to demonstrate their commitment to actually driving the car and promoting the Ford brand.
The racing program achieved its goal spectacularly. At the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans — exactly 50 years after Ford's first Le Mans victory — the Ford GT finished 1st, 3rd, and 4th in the GTE-Pro class. The victory was emotional, historic, and fully vindicated the car's design philosophy.
Special editions proliferated in later years: the Heritage Edition (Gulf Racing livery), the Carbon Series (exposed carbon fiber), the Studio Collection, and the Mk IV Heritage Edition each added collectible variants. The final cars rolled off the line in late 2022, ending a production run that redefined what an American supercar could be.
These are extremely rare and the market is illiquid — expect to pay well above MSRP for any available example. Heritage Edition and special edition cars command the highest premiums. Low-mileage examples are paradoxically less desirable than driven examples with documented maintenance — Ford wanted these cars driven. Verify full service history by an authorized Ford GT dealer. The twin-turbo V6 requires meticulous maintenance. Carbon ceramic brakes are expensive to replace.
Originally planned as a 1,000-unit production run (250/year x 4 years), Ford extended production to approximately 1,350 total units over six years. Built by Multimatic in Markham, Ontario. The application process required potential buyers to submit a detailed application including their social media following, car collection, and plans for the GT. Ford sued at least one buyer for flipping their car within the required two-year ownership period.