Ford GT40 vs Ferrari Again

There are a few cars out there at alot less $$ that will lap leguna faster than a 360.If that is the "buy" reason,great.There's always someone a little faster right around the corner,or a couple of months away.Pedigree and heritage has to mean something.If I know that the production window of the car is 3 years,I know that continuity of the name is not as important as a quick buck.Im sure Im in the minority,but to me its a sell out.I still love the original cars,but not these "factory kits".

 

It's a fine line, isn't it? The org. GT40's established street creed with LeMans wins, and gave Ford the balls to beat Ferrari. This iteration, is banking on that heritage and mystique, but because of the time warp, it can feel a little removed; however, Ford (in my estimation) is banking on the collective psyche of its buyer demographic for this particular car; i.e., prospective owners that remember the 60's Ford reign @ LeMans. (Is it right to "use" someone's childhood memory as a marketing ploy? Maybe not, but not all of us can afford a multi million $$$ org; after all, this one's actually built by Ford.) That said, I did find it ironic that in reintroducing such an icon, Ford didn't bother to buyback the rights to the GT40 moniker, and instead simply called it the GT. In the end, it can’t all be about mystique and heritage, and even if to some this GT feels kit-esque, it still goes like stink, sounds like a lion and looks every bit the part of the org. next of kin. In the end, it's whatever you make it. I loathe the dealers that are trying to get high 200's for the car, but that's a human fault, and not the cars. In a few years (depending on how Ford plays their hand) this car will either be selling for high 60's, or be a sough after limited (re) production of automotive history's most memorable shapes. Time will tell, but for the time being, lets put aside the chassis-snob-sip your martini with a raised pinkie- attitude aside, and just listen to the gurgling idle of that blown pony...
Hubert

 

I wasn't yet around when the original GT-40 won Le Mans (and Jim's came in 3rd). However, if these things drop like we are all expecting them to do, I wouldn't mind owning one.

Still going to keep buying Ferraris (to hold, for a long time), but this might be one of those long term holds too. I just want someone else to take the bath...

 

In the 60's the GT40 didn't ruled LeMans, it just won 3 years at it. I don't think they were a match for the next years Porsche's 917. And the best of all the LeMans cars were the Porsche 962's that came later, so if you really care to drive a REAL LeMans car in the street and the very Best at it then buy a Dauer Porsche 917, this car cannot be beat by a Maclaren F1(what a rip off) nor a Enzo(my favorite right now), Carrera GT, etc. Theres nothing close to it, the supreme in speed and overall performance (0-124 in 8.8 seconds and 251mph top speed) or better said it destroys anything thats out there and if you want prestige and history then it its number one by a big margin.

 

there might be 100,000 potential buyers lined up in the US. but "getting in line" is most certainly not a metric that matters

doody.

 

that car that car and driver tested was a ringer!!! its perf. # were off the scale..esp. withits power to weight ratio..i have seen the other mag test the car with much slower numbers...besides, the next generation z06 will have 500 hp with out a blower and will cost under 60k!!! and its not a lousey FORD!!!!!! a fords is a ford is a ford is a ford

 

Are you proud of being small-minded? Or more happy being called a name-plate snob? Don't mean to be harsh...but there is no difference in these cars..they're all great! Aren't they? Now really

 

6.0
Seven seconds per lap is a huge amount. You also must define world class before you exclude Ford and include Lambo. Some think world class includes winning a major race or two something that Lambo, unlike Ford has never done.
Hubert
Mine as well as all of the J cars and MK-IV's were built by Ford in Dearborn.
The originals were never branded GT40's. That was a nick name. Ford GT is correct for the MKI,MKII,MKIII. The MK-IV's were simply MK-IV's.
Eric
Mine finished 2nd in class, 4th overall. It's sister car finished 1st overall. (1967)
Testa
Once again you're wrong. Ford won LeMans 4 times in the 60's. Dauer doesn't make a street legal 917. The Dauer 962 is quite different than the Porsche 962 race cars that ran at LeMans. My MK-IV which is street legal is the same car that ran at LeMans. The last year of mfg. that a LeMans racecar can be legally registered for street use on the streets of the US is 1967.
Scycel
That car was not a ringer. The Ford GT has at least 550HP at the rear wheels in production trim. The gear box is duty rated at 750hp. and for about 10K you could easily bring this engine up to that level where it would run quite reliably.
Deamand for the Ford GT is quite strong. If you must have one now the tariff is about 250K. This is a real number.
On that note I must leave you as it's a beautiful day and I'm taking mine out for a ride.

 

Is that true? Can anybody comment on this?

Maybe I'm naive, but I tend to believe these tests, otherwise what is the point of buying the magazine? So if that test wasn't accurate my C&D subscription will terminate right now.

Is the Ford GT (they weren't allowed to call it GT 40) faster around a track than the 360?

 

there's a thread at gt40s.com on this exact topic.

the C&D car was apparently damn-near a production vehicle (remember - there still are NO production vehicles - these are al protos - production supposedly starts 04/29).

the operating theory is that between the previous tests and the C&D tests they did the final engine tuning and whatnot and got it to the 550 @ the wheels number. that's why the C&D numbers were so much better. plus, the other guys probably shifted into 2nd on their way to 60, which creamed the times.

$250K right now is a bit high. you can buy slots for $50K over. still stupid, but i guess it's "less stupid"

doody.

 

Well,world class to me has nothing to do with winning races.I look at continuity of the line as an important factor,and world class performance,over an extended period of time.Not a 3 year in and out,and then bring in the next cash cow.I would be willing to bet on the fact that the production GT does not have 550rwhp.But we will see soon enough.I will believe the performance numbers when I see a "real" gt40 post them.

 

I wouldn't make too large a bet. As for continuity of line VW agrees. First they're using the Gallardo chassis in the Gallardo. Next they're using it in the Audi LeMans Quattro, and then they're going to use it in the Baby Bugatti.

 

That ones's J4 this one's mine J6.

 

I know i`m kinda late to this topic,
but I tought racing is bring your best! ford has its new gt40,
chevy has its vette, dodge has its viper, ferrari has its enzo, lamborghini has its hmmmm what ever and so on!
well i`m just thinking out loud!!!!

would be fun to watch them all tare it up on the track. I would pay to see that............................

 

Ive already read your post about that in another thread.You are taking the line continuity of lambo over 40 years and reducing it to a VW corporate decision to save some money in the short term.If those type of decisions continue to be made,I will be one of the first to jump ship.Back to the GT40.American muscle car.Short term project.An unproven "world beater" at this point,but I would buy one at a reasonable price,because their cool cars.Not 150k,not 125k.JMHO

 

Napolis, I'm sorry to say that you are Very Wrong this time, Dauer does take a real Porsche 962 and transform it to everyday driving machines, the motors are a little detuned and the cars get heavier, but this street legal ones do 0-60 in around 2.5 seconds and a 124mph in around 8.8 seconds and a top speed of 251mph. All this with ac in the car, luggage compartments, electric motor to raise the engine cover, full leather interior, and a better carbon fiber body all around. His cars are not complete race car spartan because he wants a comfortable car for the street like any carmaker sell their cars to the public, this isn't 1967 anymore. Other people have turned 962's into street legal cars but none of them are as good as Dauer at it. I never said he makes 917 street legal. By the way one of his complete street legal cars was switch back to race specs and won LeMans and after that it was turned again into street machines. The sultan of Brunei bought three of his conversions. The new issue of Excellence Porsche mag. its got an article about it. If you look further there are other publications about the Porsche 962 turned street cars by Dauer.
If Ford won 4 times at LeMans and I said 3 well thats a smaller mistake than yours anyhow.

 

You're right in that they'll only get 101 cars. So the 2,000 some people who have registered for a chance to buy this car don't really matter. But it does point at a strong demand being there.

6.0, what does world class mean to you? Is the McLaren F1 not world class? I don't know Mclarens history, but i don't think it is anywhere near as storied as Ferrari's or Porsches untill the F1 came along. I don't think they have much of a continuing history. Yet, this car is wold class.

Same with the GT. Ford may not be a builder of exotics, and they may make their living off everyday cars/trucks (something a company of its size needs for survival), but they are not short of racing heritage, or motorsports history. And i can guarantee that Lambo's race history/heritage is minuscule next to Fords.

The GT's got image, its got performance that'll beat any Lambo as well as any current Ferrari south of the Enzo, and it's got heritage as well as history. It has all of the goods, and that to me means a car that is worthy of being called "world class". Just my opinion though.

 

Once again you are wrong.
This is what you said.
"the very Best at it then buy a Dauer Porsche 917, this car cannot be beat by a Maclaren F1(what a rip off) nor a Enzo(my favorite right now), Carrera GT, etc"
A 962 is quite different than a 917. Neither of them including Dauer's 962 , unlike the McLaren and the Enzo you mentioned are street legal in the US.
What or who is the McLaren a ripoff of?

 

I already said what I consider world class.I have no idea how you or anyone know what the performance numbers are going to be for the "real" GT40.Using the same type of example,chevy could "replicate"the look of the 63 Gran Sport,update the suspension with current knowledge,stuff in a pumped up 350 motor,and have a world class car.Or is the GT40 different because it won at lemans in the 60's?I just dont believe in replications.Hey,Im not a ford hater.Still have an original cobra.I wont buy the new cobra though if and when it replaces the GT40.We will see how "world Class" the replication ,or continuation if you prefer,is shortly.Until then,we all have our personal opinions and preferences.Ive stated mine.

 

You're right. We each have our own views on the validity of that test. You think the test car was a ringer, and your feelings on this subject are every bit as valid as mine since the car in question is a pre-production tester, and not a finished street car. We'll know the facts sooner or later.

Either way, i don't doubt the numbers. Why? Because i'm quite familiar with Ford motors as well as the newer supecharged 4.6L Dohc in the Mustang Cobra's. This engine is rated at 390hp, yet most dyno in the 360rwhp range, while a few others have dyno'd as high as 380's to the rear wheels. And that's from a motor that is rated at 390 crank hp. So the S/c'ed 4.6 DOhc is underated. As is the S/c'ed 5.4 Sohc in the Lightning and Harley edition F150 trucks.

I'll use the Cobra engine as an example since it is the 5.4's smaller sibling. You can take a S/c'ed 4.6 Dohc from the Cobra, swap the stock roots style blower for a twin screw one (like the GT has), turn up the boost to 12psi (factory setting for GT) from the Cobra's 7-8 or so psi, and that 4.6L Dohc will be putting down 470-500hp to the rear wheels without any other modification. That's 530+hp at the crank. Now why would a lesser and smaller 4.6 Dohc make more power than a bigger and better 5.4 Dohc given the same boost and blower? It shouldn't. At the 500hp or 550hp rating Ford will use for the GT, this engine will most likely be underrated, and by a good amount i believe. This is purely based on "speculation" though, and is just a theory of mine, but it makes some sort of sense to me.

Judging by my experiences with the 4.6L Dohc, i don't doubt the potential for a seriouslty underrated blown 5.4, and i don't doubt its ability to put down the rumored 500+rwhp. I guess time will tell.

1st off, the corvette (grandsport or not) was never an exotic or a supercar to begin with. The GT40 arguably was. I don't know how you can liken a 60's corvette grandsport (an awesome car in its own right) to an original GT40. Two very different cars. One is a LeMans bred supercar, the other a muscle/sports car. Two different beasts.

Anyways, the GT will have to prove itself i guess. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

(QUOTE)Still have an original cobra.I wont buy the new cobra though if and when it replaces the GT40.[/QUOTE]


WOW! and i thought the yellow Countach and the Gold Diablo were nice, you have a real Cobra too....!!!!!!! ( and all the ZR1's) !!!!!!

 

My point was not to compare the Gran Sport to the GT.It was to make the point that you can take many great past performance cars,and with todays technology,turn them into world beaters.But these are not those cars.Hats off to Ford for doing it,for those that want a classic lemans racer look with supercar performance.I like the look of the GT40,not enough to ante up the asking price.On the performance numbers,yes,we will have to wait and see.Its all good.