Presented by Mecum Auctions – Designed and built to help celebrate Ford Motor Company’s landmark 2003 centennial, the Ford GT also commemorated Ford’s historic 1-2-3 podium sweep in the Ford vs. Ferrari wars at the 1966 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Rooted in the GT90 and GT40 concept cars shown at Detroit in 1995 and 2002 respectively, the Ford GT program was far more than a throwback to a glorious past. While echoing the basic layout and iconic design cues of the GT40, the new Ford GT utilized modern, state-of-the-art engineering, materials and construction to deliver even greater performance than its legendary forebear. Design was penned by Camilo Pardo under J. Mays at Ford’s Living Legends studio, with engineering and assembly performed by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) and direct development work completed by none other than Carroll Shelby and his team.
According to published sources, 4,033 GTs were built in total for the 2005 and 2006 model years, with this example being No. 320 of the 2,022 produced for 2005. This GT features all four factory-available options, including the audiophile-quality McIntosh stereo system and lightweight forged aluminum BBS wheels, and it is one of just 19 Speed Yellow cars produced for 2005 with full Le Mans stripes and gray-painted brake calipers. Following production, it was delivered to Lee Sapp Ford-Mercury in Ashland, Nebraska, for eventual sale.
Race-bred engineering includes an aluminum 5.4L V-8 engine belting out a factory-rated 550 HP with electronic multi-port fuel injection, a Lysholm screw-type supercharger, intercooler and stainless dual exhaust. Other competition-derived engineering features include a Ricardo 6-speed rear transaxle, extruded aluminum space frame, precision-cast aluminum double-wishbone “SLA” suspension with coilovers, dry-sump engine lubrication and big 4-wheel Brembo ventilated disc brakes with 4-piston calipers.
While capable of astounding performance in every discipline, including 205 MPH top-speed capability, this 2005 Ford GT is a proper road car with a wide array of comfort and convenience features including air conditioning, heat insulation, tilt and telescopic steering and Ebony leather-trimmed seats with carbon fiber structure. Accompanied at auction by the original window sticker, this rare and highly equipped “four option” 2005 Ford GT has only been lightly used since new with just 7,100 miles, and it stands as one of the most collectible examples of the brilliant 2005-06 Ford GT currently available.
