The turn of the 21st century was a perfect time to recreate and produce a modern rendition of Ford’s iconic GT. Designers and engineers were directly inspired by the Le Mans-winning GT40 of the 1960s, and the company’s top brass sought to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ford Motor Company. The company also wanted to show that, at a century old and 40 years after the GT40 program began, it was still capable of producing a world-class supercar. They even released a commercial during Super Bowl XXXVIII that proclaimed the new Ford GT to be the “Pace Car for an Entire Company.”

Visually, the GT was the spitting image of its forefathers and was immediately identifiable as a modern GT40. Its silhouette mimics that of the Mark I GT40, although it is just a tad larger in order to comfortably accommodate taller passengers, measuring in at 44.3 inches as opposed to the original car’s 40 inches in overall height. Also like the original, the car’s performance was world beating. The Ford GT was aimed squarely at the Ferrari 360 Modena, and it all but obliterated its closest competitor from Maranello. It could sprint from 0–60 in 3.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of nearly 200 mph, putting it in the league of Porsche’s Carrera GT, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, and even the Ferrari Enzo. Not only that, but it was also available at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. With a list price of $139,995, the GT was a relative bargain, especially considering other supercars with comparable performance. Only 4,038 GTs were produced, and customer demand far outstripped supply, leaving many examples to be sold with substantial premiums over the original MSRP.

This attractive Midnight Blue Metallic GT, liveried with “Ford GT” side stripes, was purchased new by the current owner on 8 July 2005 from Mike Shad Ford in Jacksonville, Florida. Though four options were available for the GT, this example was only outfitted with the upgraded McIntosh CD player, making it relatively rare compared to a majority of GTs that were optioned with full racing stripes, painted brake calipers, forged BBS wheels, as well as the upgraded radio.

After enjoying the car for 1,791 miles, the GT was serviced and detailed by Willow Automotive Services in Chicago, Illinois, in September 2014. There they performed a comprehensive inspection, including cleaning the battery terminals, flushing the coolant, brake, and hydraulic systems, checking the brake, steering, and suspension components, as well as fixing several other minor concerns. Furthermore, the car received a complete detail and cleaning throughout, along with minor cosmetic repairs. Unlike many GTs that were stored away and never driven, the current—and only—owner has thoroughly enjoyed the Ford’s exceptional performance and comfort, spending nearly 1,850 miles behind the wheel. Along with the service receipts for this work, the car also includes the original purchase invoice, window sticker, owner’s manual, spare key, and even the original interior tags.

As perhaps the most celebrated American car of the 21st century, the Ford GT more than lived up to Ford’s slogan as “The Pace Car for an Entire Company.” Offered here is a fine example from single ownership that is ready to be enjoyed on the open road and treasured for future generations of enthusiasts to drive and enjoy as always intended.