The GT only comes in one model; it's a tempered execution of the purpose-built racecar that famously won the 24 Hour of Le Mans endurance classic on multiple occasions. The original GT40 epitomized Ford’s “Total Performance” program and was created with just one purpose: to break Ferrari’s dominance of international endurance racing. That goal was realized in 1966 when the GT40 secured its first win at Le Mans, repeating three more times in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

At the 2002 introduction of the modern-day GT40 concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Ford Vice President of Design, J. Mays, declared the “GT40 is the ultimate living legend.” Further, he added, “It's a true supercar with appeal equal to that of the greatest sports cars in the world, but with the addition of a heritage no one can match.” Such was the roaring approval from both the press and public alike that CEO Bill Ford decided to give a limited production version the green light to celebrate his company’s 100th birthday.

Ford’s Director of the Special Vehicles Team, John Coletti, coupled the purity of the GT40 concept and made it street legal. Perhaps the greatest challenge was that the production version had to live up to the legacy of the original GT40. However, in just three months and with a dream team of designers, engineers and state-of-the-art computer-aided design technology, the SVT team met the objectives set by Ford. The first three production cars were driven onto the Dearborn Centennial stage with three living legends of the Ford motorsports pantheon: triple Formula 1 World Champion Jackie Stewart, 1967 Le Mans winner Dan Gurney and the legendary Carroll Shelby.

The first Ford GTs reached their owners in late 2004, and it was clear that Ford had a fantastic car on their hands; one that was quite capable of surpassing the Porsche Carrera GT and Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR and coming perilously close to the Ferrari Enzo in terms of top speed, all for just a fraction of the cost.

The modern-day Ford GT represents a more than worthy successor to the original, with a supercharged V-8, an electronically-limited 205-mph top speed, and phenomenal handling capabilities. At its heart is its 5.4-liter, 550-hp DOHC V-8 engine with a supercharger that is high-tech, midship-mounted and connected to a six-speed manual transaxle featuring a limited-slip differential. With great effect, when the rear canopy is opened, the rear suspension components and engine are impressively presented. The Ford GT features many distinctive technologies, including formed frame, aluminum body panels, roll-bonded floor panels, cap-less fuel filler system, one-piece door panels and an aluminum engine cover with a one-piece carbon fiber inner panel. Standard safety equipment includes frontal airbags, antilock brakes and a tire inflation kit in lieu of a spare tire.

The approximate 2,900 mile Ford GT on offer is one of 2,027 similar models built in 2005 and is also one of merely 766 Ford GTs manufactured in Mark IV Red in the same model year. The cockpit is finished in black leather with silver accents and entering in will transport you to a sporting-type environment with copious amenities included. Importantly, it is equipped with such options as: painted Le Mans-style body stripes in white, lightweight BBS forged aluminum wheels and color-matched Brembo brake calipers with four-wheel ventilated disc brakes.

Over the two year limited production period, only 4,038 examples of the Ford GT were built in total. A modern classic, which Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson famously summed up as “sensational—as good as anything I have ever driven!”

The success of this car has been instrumental in the introduction of the new-for-2016 Ford GT that will again compete at the highest level of sports car racing in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with a two-team, four-car effort operated by Chip Ganassi Racing.