2018 Ford GT
The Cultivated Collector's 2018 Ford GT, chassis #220, needs little in the way of introduction. Wearing a stunning custom Gulf Oil livery, #220 was optioned new in the iconic color of Gulf Blue, a $30k extended color option, and covering the interior is the optional Dark Energy package featuring extensive use of black alcantara. Accompanying the sale of #220 is the original Ford GT branded car cover and carrying case, Ford GT battery tender, and original Ford Performance Design Spec case. Having traveled a mere 3,000 miles from its initial delivery, #220 benefits greatly from single ownership living amongst a prominent collection and is ready to write its next chapter.
Unveiled to the world at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, the 2nd generation Ford GT stood the world on its head. The new Ford GT was built to celebrate a return to Le Mans by the Ford brand after a half century absence since their all-dominating 1966 showing with the GT40. The factory backed race car saw instant success in its first outing at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans securing first and third in the LM GTE-Pro class, immediately cementing its legacy into the automotive pantheon.
The development of the second generation Ford GT was fixated on low drag and aerodynamic efficiency, which closely related to the design team's ultimate goal of creating a successful Le Mans race car. Designers chose to pursue a teardrop style profile for the car, akin to that seen on LMP1 cars, which led to the implementation of the distinctive "flying buttresses" that channel air around the cockpit and over the rear spoiler for increased downforce.
Taking a back seat to the overall design of the car was the powertrain, with Ford ultimately selecting a compact 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine as the heart of the GT, due to its small footprint allowing the designers more freedom to best execute their aerodynamic vision. Mated to the boosted V6 is a 7 speed dual clutch gearbox designed and provided by the renowned gearbox manufacturer Getrag. Aerodynamic performance combined with drivetrain culminated in the GT being able to achieve 1.11g of lateral acceleration and a top speed of 216 MPH.
Built by Multimatic in Markham, Ontario, the second generation Ford GT features a carbon fiber monocoque with front and rear aluminum subframes as stress members of the chassis for the suspension, with full carbon fiber body panels covering the car. A hydraulically adjustable pushrod suspension sits inboard on the GT, allowing for better aerodynamics and center of gravity to aid and increase overall performance.
On track, the second generation Ford GT wasted no time climbing to the top of the automotive food chain. With its DNA bred for motorsports, the street going GT was a highly formidable weapon, with Evo stating, "the GT feels alive beneath your backside in a way that only proper racing cars do." As a key car of Ford’s competition history, not to mention the direct and unabated connection to the racer that won its class at Le Mans, it's utterly unique and will hold its own for years to come.
