Ford GT40 vs Ferrari Again

That's bravery in the calssical way. My hat off to him, I have read the side bar article in R&T and really enjoyed it.
In the article about the car and its technical specs., it is easy to see that GT40 is slower off the line than the 360 and 360 loses the 0-60 MPH time because of upshift to 2nd. (please refer to the picture below from R&T Aug 1999 and Dec 2003). In a race situation, wouldn't think that there is an advantage to 360 off the line and it could help the 360 get in front and make passing a bit difficult for the GT40. If you saw the San Marino race yesterday you would know what I am talking about: if MS had let Montoya through in the first few corners then the race would have been as difficult as it was for Ruben getting behind Ralph.

I guess the point I trying to make is performance numbers on paper don't translate in winning strategy although they are good start.

Cheers,
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Sports car racing doesn't start from a standing start nor are passing opportunities a problem as it is in F1. Seven seconds a lap (Leguna R&T) and 2 seconds a lap (Gingerman C&D) is HUGE. A new Ford GT, if they both lasted, would be over 100 miles ahead of a street 360 after 24 hours on a track like LeMans. Reminds me of what happened in 67...

 

Note: this years F1 cars are right at 3.3 seconds faster than last years F1 cars. So 7 seconds represents 2.2 years of F1 development, or maybe like 10 years of road car development.

 

Napolis what I don't understand is people that think that if Ford runs again at LeMans then they would win rigth there and then, in racing some carmakers have a hot season or a few hot years and after that they just start having problems, in the last few years Ferrari is on top of Formula 1 but remember the 80's! Ford did a great thing with the GT40s and no one can deny that and I wish they would race the new GT. In no way I will compare the GT40 to the 962 as there is a huge gap in years, what I mean is that there are other cars out there that will outperform others and that if you have the cash and want to be the top dog then the a street legal 962 seems to be the top dog, that it can't be made U.S. legal we can't really tell, lately many euro cars are converted and driving around. I think that it can be made U.S. legal nothing is impossible.

 

Anyone see the new popular mechanics mag? I think they had a section on the 8 quickest cars you can buy. For some reason, the Enzo wasn't on the list (easy first place). Maybe Ferrari didn't give them a tester????

Anyways, #2 on the list was the Ford GT. I think it turned an 11.6 sec 1/4 mile. Not bad considering they tested the GT in Fords Arizona proving grounds. They mentioned how the GT could have gone a bit quicker had it been tested in a better environment (cooler temps, lower elevation) much like the other cars in the test. The Saleen S7 came in first, and by a few tenths of a second, and that can probably be chalked up to the S7 being tested in cooler temps and lower elevation.

These GT's that are being tested (Car & Driver, and now PM), are definitly making more than the rated 550hp. The 550hp S7 which is about 500lbs lighter than the GT isn't any quicker in terms of acceleration according to these most recent tests.

Either:
1) Ford giving out ringers to test
or
2) Ford's got something up their sleeves.

 

This got me thinking, and i remember a similar case with the new F-150.

Ford had initially (and purposely) underrated the new F-150's tow rating at 9,500lbs. They knew the new Nissan Titan truck would debut soon after f-150 production, and they knew Nissan was keeping a close eye on the F-150's performance (to match or beat). And so Ford purposely underrated the F-150's tow rating to 9,500lbs, which Nissan fell for, and matched with their Titan truck. After the Titan hit streets, Ford mentioned how the F-150's true tow rating is/was 9,700lbs.

So companies have messed with certain ratings in one form or another (be it overrating, or underrating). I don't know how this translates to the Ford GT, but do you think Ford is trying to pull off a similar trick? (assuming it really is underrated) There have been rumors of 600+hp Hemi Viper and special vettes. And Dodge/GM both are probably keeping tabs on the GT's hp numbers. But the aftermentioned test numbers from Car & Driver and Popular Mechanics clearly give whatever secret there was away. GM/Dodge would have to be both dumb and blind to miss these numbers. Ahhh, i give up.

It's hard making sense out of it i guess. We shall found out sooner or later.

 

or
3) the supercharger fattens the Torque to the point where the HP numbers do not dominate the performance numbers (at these speeds).
or
4) The FORD GT has much better traction than the S7 (doubtful)

 

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Love the picture above--you couldn't give me a (insert F-word here)...

 

heritage means **** nothing to me. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ford all have great cars (though Modena doesnt look so hot) and heritage means absolutely nothing when youre being beat in a modena by a Ford GT. Its all about the car that can win now. If hyundai made a viable contender, Id cheer it on too.

 

Official HP. 550 (up 50 from previous #) The crank # is higher IMHO 550 is rwhp
Official torque 500. The Trans is duty rated at 750 HP for 10K you could easily raise hp to this level. 750 duty rating could IMHO take 1000hp for short bursts. The slammers make 900hp with this engine in street cars.

 

beat at what?...are you racng these cars at a track? in everyday driving, most people dont even use 50% of the potential of any of these cars... its all about what makes you feel good driving and owning ....

 

Yup. Official hp rating is now 550hp. I wouldn't be surprised if the actual numbers surpass 600 horses. We'll see.

The 4.6L Mustang Cobra engines are said to be 1000rwhp capable before parts start failing. I think the GT's 5.4 would be capable of that as well, seeing as how it looks to be better built.

From the looks of it, it should be one of the most tunable supercars around. Something you won't find in supercars today (exception: Porsche turbo cars). 700hp should be a breeze.

 

Viper SRT's are easily tunable.Add a S/C or T.T's,and your into the 850 rwhp range.Or some simple mods without having to go forced induction can get you to 750 fairly easily.Alot of places you can go with a 505 cubic inch(8.3 litre)motor.The GT40 had better come out with the rumored 600hp juice,or it will be short lived as even the american king of factory H.P.Dodge will be announcing in Sept their reported 650 hp coupe,already seen in several testing areas.

 

Yes, Vipers are definitly up there as well.

Is that coupe the talked about Hemi Viper or some other model?

 

It is supposed to be announced at the anuual Viper gathering in Dallas in Sept.Indications are the srt coupe with a reworked v-10,not the rumored hemi.We will see.Whatever it is,it is supposed to be close to the 650 number,but inside sources say 625.