Just got back from seeing Ford's GT-40 concept car!!!

[Motor City Mad Man]

I was lucky enough to get to go to the World unveiling of Ford's new concept car the GT40 down at the Detroit Auto Show tonight. It was an awesome event. Bill Ford, Nick Scheele, and J Mays of Ford Motor Company were there. Racing legends Carroll Shelby, Jackie Stewart, Lloyd Ruby, Phil Hill, and Bob Bondurant were on hand to meet the public and sign autographs. They said the car has around 500 HP and 500 ft lb torque. Kind of like the new 2003 Viper huh. They also had 3 older GT-40's from the 60's at the event. They all sounded incredible. I hope they build the GT-40 just like Dodge did with the Viper. I think I would buy one if I could. I took some pictures and got a press kit, but I am sure pictures of it will be posted on the internet anyway. Wow, what an experience!!! I am sure the GT-40 concept car will be on display at the Detroit auto show when it opens up to the general public in a week or so. You'll all have to check it out.

P.S. Here is a link to it I just found on the www.NAIAS.com website. Ford GT-40 Concept Car

[2charmed]

I just read about this car over the weekend, WOW! I'd like one.

Coupe version, stripes, Muscle Car Heritage, Big Horsepower

all the reasons I bought a Viper, I don't like Fords as a rule but I'd bend that rule for that car I'm afraid.

2Charmed

[BigsViper]

Pics? Links to pics?

[Motor City Mad Man]

Don, I edited my original post with a link to the pictures just released of it on the www.naias.com website. Scroll up and click on the link in the original post. Enjoy.

[MES]

It's about time Ford realized they can't turn a Mustang into a supercar i.e. Cobra-R then try to sell it for $50K only to be killed in every performance category by the Z06 and Viper. They needed a new platform to build from. The car looks good, but I'm not sure I like the 5.4L supercharged engine. I'd rather have a big CI engine instead.

[viperdoctor]

Oh god! Here we go. I started out a Ford guy, then became a Chevy man, and I am currently a solid Dodge man. But if they build this, I will be a Ford man again!

I chose a Viper over a replica GT-40 because of resale value and practicality. But if Ford offers a modern, production version of the GT-40 there goes all my arguments that put a Viper in my garage!

[Double Venom]

Whew.....the last known, lost / now recovered Cp. just sold for 4.5M, about 2 months ago--quite a story.

Our GT-40 kits sell for almost 70K for a turnkey. Wonder what this will do to our costs? I wonder if the amount of sales in the "replica" field had anything to do with Ford bringing the GT back ??

Naah, they just got tired of the Vette, Viper community's getting all the glory!

DV

[Venom Lover]

Like 2charmed, I'm the last guy who would buy a Ford, but....guys, the tide seems to be turning. I have no brand loyalty; the reason I don't like Ford is because they produced a crappy product for the longest time. But now, look at the Thunderbird. Looks good. 5.4L V8 rear-wheel drive. I don't know the performance numbers, but I bet they're not bad. I'd consider buying one. Now the GT-40. Hey, Ford says ~$100K for the GT-40. Dodge says <$100K for the SRT. Sounds like the same price to me. Plus, Dodge gets to go first. You think Ford can price the GT-40 competitively with the SRT (if Ford produces it)? I think so!

Dodge, are you listening? I would love to stay loyal to the Viper, and I will keep as many of my Gen II cars as I can afford, but I see a blue oval in the future purchase arena....

MES,
Amen to everything you said. In particular the motor: I wish Ford could figure out how to (1) make the car significantly lighter than 3000 lbs or (2) produce the same ~500 bhp in a N/A engine.

P.S.,
Oddly enough, I thought yellow with black stripes was a hideous concept on the '01 GTS, but I didn't think twice about it on the GT-40. Go figure.

[Snakester]

I've always liked the wide hunkered-down look of the GT-40.
I think that the car has beautiful lines from any angle.

But I have a tough time swallowing this as a "concept car".

Sure, many newer cars like the BMW Z8, prowler, and Boxster borrow some of their design cues from the past, but this GT-40 is effectively a kit-car (no slight to kit-cars) with VERY little to separate it from the original 60's race cars visually.

Not that I would want someone to soil the design by adding Ford's "Edge" design cues to it, but if Ford took their '57 Thunderbird and threw in a new 4.6 liter V8 and drivetrain I wouldn't call that a "concept car" either.

If this was a fully functional internally modern car, and available at a Ford dealership for $50K I'd be more excited.
But this seems like a pipe dream from left field with the sole goal of garnering media attention off of the engineering and design talents from 35 years ago.

I'm partial to convertibles anyway, so I probably wouldn't be buying one regardless.

Still, it's a beautiful car but I would have painted it blue with white stripes.

-Dean.

[Robert Dyck]

I fully agree with 2 charmed and viperdoctor......

I'm wild about that GT-40! Not liking the GenIII, I didn't think there was anywhere to go from my GenII. I will definitely stay very interested in this GT-40.

[-RUNNR]

Didn't the latest issue of C&D dub the new GT-40 as a "Viper killer" ???

More horse, lighter, shorter, etc...

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

It's an awesome car. I too, would like it more if it had big cubes. Looks lots better than the Gen III. Competitive performance. I'd sure like to stay a Dodge man but they really screwed up the style on the Gen III.

[slaughterj]

I've been waiting for Ford to actually do something with the GT40, so I guess we'll see. I think it'd be great to have my Viper roadster and a GT40 coupe!! I have a Ford bias, but of course Viper was a car that transcended manufacturing lines. I think that would be the case with any American-made supercar. But like Chuck, bigger ci would be better I think, so then it could be supercharged aftermarket...

[Russ M]

GT-40!!!

I have to agree with you guys, since the SRT(s8000) is not the car for me. The GT-40 may be the next american muscle car to get a slot in my garage. I guess Dodge is going to loose its edge on the American exotic car market. If Ford does produce the GT-40, then GM will without a doubt follow up with something.

[bad viper]

Wow!! I owned 2 gt-40-s one a 289 and
one a rebuilt Mk2 427. Guess that dates me I paid 28,000
for the 289 From Brian Wingfield in London.
Drove it daily to work in Oakland Calif in early 80's
Hot ,loud, and a blast to drive . Makes me want one again!!!!!!!!!!!