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Ford GT - Success on the road

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Created on January 21, 2026

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

44

Ford/Werk

7

Daniel Reinhard

44

Ford/Werk

7

Ford GT (2004) - the number "100" can be seen in the left headlight; the GT was built to mark Ford's centenary.

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Ford GT (2004) - visually modeled on the GT40 of the sixties

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Ford GT (2004) - the door cut-outs extend far into the roof, as in the GT40

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Ford GT (2004) - racing sports car for the road

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Ford GT (2004) - still looks very flat thanks to its wide stance

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Ford GT (2004) - slightly higher, but above all much longer and wider than the GT40

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Ford GT (2004) - Silhouette

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Ford GT (2004) - in comparison with the Ford GT from 2018 and the Sbarro replica Ford GT40 from 1981

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Ford GT (2004) - three generations, the GT from 2004 compared to its ancestor (here a Sbarro variant) and the GT from 2018

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Ford GT (2004) - 14 years lie between the 2018 GT with V6 engine and the 2004 GT with V8

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Ford GT (2004) - on the racetrack, the successor would almost run circles around the older GT

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Ford GT (2004) - the GT looks almost dainty next to its successor, the GT from 2018

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Ford GT (2004) - the successor has fewer cylinders, but is still faster

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Ford GT (2004) - while the earlier GT is reminiscent of the sixties, the GT from 2018 goes aero

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Ford GT (2004) - both are wide

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Ford GT (2004) - both have diffusers

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Ford GT (2004) - on the road in a crowd

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Ford GT (2004) - the width does not necessarily predestine it for narrow country roads

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Ford GT (2004) - can be driven quite comfortably on the country road

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Ford GT (2004) - this is what overtaking prestige looks like

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Ford GT (2004) - about to overtake

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Ford GT (2004) - lots of aluminum and plastic in the cockpit

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Ford GT (2004) - classic round instruments and toggle switches

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Ford GT (2004) - you have to watch your head when getting out of the car

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Ford GT (2004) - sporty and driver-oriented cockpit

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Ford GT (2004) - Air conditioning on board

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Ford GT (2004) - Breathing holes in the seat, inspired by the GT40

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Ford GT (2004) - only 101 units were planned for Europe

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Ford GT (2004) - Chassis number

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Ford GT (2004) - the livery is all "Sixties"

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Ford GT (2004) - V8 supercharged engine with dry sump lubrication

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Ford GT (2004) - Headlights under glass, inspired by the GT40

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Ford GT (2004) - striped look

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Ford GT (2004) - Stripes make you faster

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Ford GT (2004) - the gas cap on the front hood

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Ford GT (2004) - typical American safety warning in the rear-view mirror

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Ford GT (2004) - Racing-style fuel filler cap

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Ford GT (2004) - Cooling air for the eight-cylinder engine

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Ford GT (2004) - round tail lights, inspired by the GT40

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Ford GT (2001) - Camilo Pardo styling the GT

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Ford GT (2003) - still a concept car

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Ford GT (2003) - still a concept car

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Ford GT (2004) - production version

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Ford GT (2004) - production car, always with stripes

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Ford GT (2004) - production version

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Ford GT (2005) - compared to the road version of the GT40 from the sixties

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Ford GT (2004) - View into the cockpit

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Ford GT (2005) - compared to the road version of the GT40 from the sixties

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Ford GT (2004) - A look under the hood

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Ford GT (2005) - in the Eurotunnel on the occasion of a PR drive

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Ford GT (2006) - in gray

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Summary

After the four successes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ford repeatedly tried to commercialize these victories. The prototypes remained one-offs until 2003, when the modern incarnation of the Ford GT40 was presented as the GT to mark the company's 100th birthday. But was it really successful? And how did it drive?

This article contains the following chapters

Suitable for everyday use
Not a racing car
Engine (originally) from the pickup
Good manners
Coveted and popular
Comparison of the Ford GT with its predecessor and successor

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Although the Ford GT of the new millennium looks almost exactly like its legendary predecessor, the GT40, it was not allowed to carry the "40" not only for licensing reasons, but also because it had grown in all dimensions, almost 60 cm in length, 20 cm in width and around 10 cm in height. All this to give taller and heavier people the opportunity to board and drive the Ford GT properly. Although the wide-opening doors mean that there is a lot of space to the side, you can get in almost standing up, as there is plenty of room at the top. The fact that many people still hit their heads when getting out of the car is due to the fact that people in other cars are used to avoiding the edge of the roof when leaving the car. There is plenty of space inside the car, the instrument layout is reminiscent of the GT40, but everything is well labeled. The steering wheel is always on the left, the gearshift on the right.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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