GT40 Concept Car. Pretty cool...
http://autoshow2002.carpoint.msn.com/ArticlesFord2.aspx

 

My whole office was drooling over that yesterday... remembering the first time they saw the original GT40 in person... back when they had to walk to work barefoot in the snow uphill both ways...

It's about time Ford realized they need a super car...


EDIT: brain faster than fingers...


[Modified by maxQ, 4:31 PM 1/8/2002]

 

looks like a lotus

 

It looks like, well what can I say, the old GT40!

 

That is sweet, i'll be at the show tomorrow, i can't wait to see it, if they make that or bring the damn Cosworth over here i'd convert!

 

The interesting thing is that the car is bigger than the original in all dimensions, but since they kept everything in proportion, you can't really tell. I believe the article stated the height at 42" instead of the original's 40" (which is where the name came from for those who don't know a lot about the original GT40s). Ford is seriously considering building this thing. It looks like they are going for a supercharged V8 for the powerplant. Part of their reasoning for the engine choice was that they wanted something that would give it enough power off the line so that if it came up next to a Viper at a traffic light, it would be able to "defend it's honor." Sadly, there are no plans for a factory backed ALMS racing effort.

Matt

 

Big props to Ford, for blending racing nostalgia with modern supercar mystique! If they build that, I'm sure it will sell out... at any price.

PS- Am I the only one who sees some Lamborghini-esque styling cues in there somewhere?

Jon

 

Lamborghini? Where? All I see is original GT40....


Matt

 

That car is gorgeous - but the color just doesn't seem right...

 

Hmmm...now that I look at it....I DO see a little taste of Muira in there. Does Ford own Lamborghini now, too??

What's that new Lamborghini called? The Murcielago? Eh...I'm still more of a Ferrari fan.


[Modified by Mike P., 5:35 PM 1/8/2002]

 

Yeah, white with blue stripes or Gulf blue & orange would look better to me. And do something about those wheels!! They make it look like a kit car. Something that looks like the original Halibrands would be O.K.

 

MMMMM. Yeah. I saw that last night. Pretty sweet although i have a little bit of a problem with Ford calling it a GT 40 when its ACTUAL height is 44" not the 40" that inspired the name of the original car. I'm probably just being too critical.

Yes, it does look a lot like the Miura which means it looks a lot like the original GT40 (dimensional diferences that i already mentioned not withstanding). This resembalance is no accident. Ferrari and Lamborghini dominated racing back in the late 60's and Ford wanted to steal some of their thunder.

It's a beautifull car. I hope they bring it to market (and i hope to hell it doesn't have pushrods when and if they do).

Mike

 

If the showcar didn't have pushrods, I would doubt a production model of this caliber would have them. That showcar has the 5.4L 32 valve motor, similar to the one found in the Cobra R. Essentially a larger displacement version of the Mustang Cobra motor.(throw in a supercharger)

 

there's a white and blue one handing on the wall of the display at the show.

 

The new GT40 concept is in the current issue of Car and Driver...Looks very much like an updated version of the original on the outside. Very nice! The inside looks very modern and clean while still retaining the look of the original somewhat - though the door sills are no where near the width of the original (good thing actually). Yeah the wheels do look kind of weird on it, but you can always go to tirerack.com and get better ones...LOL Ford has a whole lot more styling sense than GM...and I hope this one really makes it!

 

That's what I guess I saw... it's definitely mostly original-GT40-influenced, but I think I see some Miura influences in the roofline and the rear half, plus just a taste of Murcielago around the front air dam/headlights. Call me crazy.

Jon

 

hmmmmmmmm yes..... 259 mph at lemans.........

Ryan - always a sucker for porsche's.....

 

Yeah that's awesome. But I just wish that Factory Five would build a quality replica that the rest of us could build for say, $20-25K?

 

If Factory Five does build a replica, it better not come with that old 5.0L like their Cobras!

 

heh, remember the GT-90 concept? Would've been funny if it had been 90 inches tall ....the writeup in C&D, and the pics, make it sound pretty damn sweet. I'm all about fast stuff, whoever makes it....be nice if Ford & Dodge (and then maybe even chevy) got into an insane horsepower war...but that GT-40 is about as stunning as the viper was when it first hit the show circuit...i like it.

 

The reasoning behind the GT40 is that Ford knows the Mustang can't carry the performance mantle for Ford all by itself.

I agree with Matt, all I see is original GT40. The fact that it is a Mid-engine, classically styled car will automatically make it look like a Lambo or Ferrari or something similar.

Only downside...it'll cost a lot. Probably even more than the Viper, closer to the $100,000 mark. I'm not sure if it's the right car for them to make right now...maybe a closer competitor to the Viper and Z06 would have been more appropriate.

 

Ross: I agree with you on the downside being the price and Ford built the Cobra R to be the Viper/Z06 competitor.
Anyone remember the $1,000,000 (one concept vehicle was sold for this amount) Mustang Mach III complete with it's Supercharged and Intercooled 4.6L V8?

 

F*rd doesn't make V8 engines with pushrods anymore, at least not for the car lines. I think there might be a 5.0 or 5.8 lurking in a truck somewhere still, but even that is doubtfull.

The Lightning motor is an obvious choice, I'm glad that they picked it. If it does actually get built I would be surprised, but judging from the internet frenzy it started it would be welcomed.

 

Naming it GT-44 instead of the height-inspired GT-40 would solve the height issue but then again, it just wouldn't be the same.
Black96Cobra: How about a DOHC 427?


[Modified by ESCALVANTE, 7:21 AM 1/9/2002]

 

I believe they will build this car, I'm just not sure if it's the right time or car. On the cover of C&D they say "return of the Ferrari slayer" but I am curious as to whether than thing would actually turn quicker laps than a modern Ferrari...on paper, it would appear it can...