Immensely proud of its legendary history, Ford Motor Company created the Ford GT to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The car was developed during a wave of both fresh thinking and retro-inspired design that saw several nameplates reappear in their product line. Dubbed “the pace car for an entire company,” the GT40 concept was shown at the North American International Auto Show in 2002. It debuted with a look and a name that paid tribute to the company’s legendary Le Mans-winning GT40 of four decades prior.

By the end of 2004, actual production had begun on this mid-engine, ultra-low-slung supercar, which was now simply called the GT. Production involved multiple facilities, with each car starting life in Ohio and being completed at the Ford SVT facility in Michigan. At its heart was Ford’s all-aluminum 5.4-liter V-8 equipped with a Lysholm twin-screw supercharger, capable of producing 550 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. A top speed of 205 mph and a 0–60 sprint of 3.3 seconds elevated the GT into the same echelon as other period supercars such as the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and the Porsche Carrera GT. Just over 4,000 were built from 2004 to 2006, with 2,022 being completed for the 2005 model year.

Completed on 19 October 2005, this Ford GT is one of just 16 examples produced in 2005 attractively finished in stripe-delete Quick Silver. Additionally, the window sticker confirms the McIntosh stereo, lightweight forged aluminum wheels, and gray painted brake calipers were selected as options. Sold new through Elder Ford in Troy, Michigan, the car has remained with its original owner and just 2,470 miles showed on the odometer at the time of cataloguing. Thanks to the application of paint protection film on select areas of the body, this GT remains in wonderful condition. A loyal client of Ford, the consignor of this Ford GT later ordered his 2018 GT in stripe-delete silver to match this 2005 GT.

Some 19 years after its introduction, the Ford GT remains an exciting, high-performance homage to Ford’s legendary motorsport history, and a car that many claim to be one of the last great analog supercars. This example’s seldom seen specification ensures undeniable collectible status for devotees of the Blue Oval.