Almost two years after it first dropped jaws at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, the Ford GT is finally going into production. Ford had hoped to start delivering cars before the end of 2016, and it just barely made that deadline.
GT production is handled by Canadian motor sports firm Multimatic on a special assembly line in Markham Ontario. The first GT, painted black with orange racing stripes, was driven off the line by Ford CTO and performance czar Raj Nair on Friday. According to The Detroit News, that car will go to Ford chairman Bill Ford Jr., while the second GT will go to CEO Mark Fields. Being the boss has its perks, apparently.
Production for the first two model years will total just 500 cars, and Ford will continue building the GT for at least two more model years after that. Taking a page from Ferrari, Ford wouldn’t let just anyone buy a GT. It required prospective customers to apply for the privilege of purchasing one of the cars, at a price of around $400,000.
All of that money and effort nets a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 producing around 600 horsepower, a lightweight body and chassis made from carbon fiber and aluminum, and some trick aerodynamic features. Like the previous GT from 2005, the new model has the supercar establishment in its sights.
The GT is one of the most highly anticipated cars to come around in a while, and not just because of its impressive specs. This year, it won its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating Corvettes, Ferraris, and Porsches. Ford achieved this feat on the 50th anniversary of its legendary 1966 overall win with the original GT40, the car that inspired the GT.
Now that the Ford GT is finally rolling off its Canadian assembly line, owners and journalists will finally get the chance to see if it lives up to all the hype.
