The Ford GT holds a special place in the hearts of automotive enthusiasts, tracing its roots back to the 1960s when the original GT40 aimed to conquer the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Making history with four consecutive wins from 1966 to 1969, the GT40 became an icon. Fast forward to the 21st century, and Ford revived the iconic nameplate with two stunning GTs, paying homage to the brand’s racing legacy. In a rare showdown, a new video from Carwow features a direct drag race between all three GTs.
The legendary GT40, the forefather of the modern GT lineage, kicks off the race. With a 4.7-liter naturally-aspirated V8 generating 310 horsepower and a five-speed manual gearbox, this classic beauty had a price tag of $18,500 back in the day and now costs more than $2 million.
Next in line is the GT Mk2, a continuation of the GT legacy introduced in 2005. Under the hood lies a 5.4-liter supercharged V8, pushing out a formidable 560 horsepower. Paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, the GT Mk2 serves as the bridge between the classic GT40 and the modern interpretation.
The latest iteration, the Ford GT from 2017, takes the spotlight. Powering this beast is a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, unleashing a staggering 650 horsepower.
Unlike its manual predecessors, the latest GT comes equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, delivering lightning-fast shifts. Initially priced at around $450,000, the current market value has soared close to $1 million, reflecting its desirability and limited production numbers.
Despite the major differences in the performance of the three supercars, the question remains: How much quicker is the latest GT compared to its two predecessors?
With a quarter-mile time of 11 seconds flat, it is a whole second faster than the second-generation supercar and 2.9 seconds faster than the original GT40. Not too shabby for a car that’s 57 years old and in mostly original condition, right?