Five decades after Ford’s GT40 was relentlessly whipped into the dominant endurance-racing car of the late 1960s and nearly one decade after the last second-generation Ford GT left Ford’s Wixom, Michigan, facility in 2006, the stunning new Ford GT debuted at the January 2015 North American Auto Show in Detroit. The road-going GT’s European debut was yet to come in late 2017 at Frankfurt, with competition cars having already won their class at Le Mans in 2016 (plus third, fourth and ninth places), precisely 50 years after Ford’s first stunning triumph there. Developed in parallel by Ford Motor Company engineers with the all-out Chip Ganassi Racing/Multimatic racing cars, the road-going Ford GT is essentially a thinly disguised FIA LM GTE- class racing car, albeit one with startling luxury and a license plate. A stunning tour de force, the GT bristles with modern high-tech materials, cutting-edge construction techniques and advanced performance technologies throughout. Manufacture of the road models is carried out by Multimatic at its new, purpose-built, low-volume production facility in Markham, Ontario, near Toronto in Canada. There, the first Ford GT road car was completed on December 16, 2016, an occasion celebrated with top Ford Motor Company brass in attendance. Based on a track-worthy carbon-fiber monocoque “tub” structure, the GT is surprisingly compact in overall proportions with its bodywork purpose-built for minimal frontal area and low aerodynamic drag, with frontal styling a reverential nod to the original GT40s. Standing just 43.7 inches tall, it becomes 2 inches lower when Track Mode is selected. Suspension is via competition-style pushrod-actuated dampers, and sections of an FIA-legal roll cage are neatly integrated into the GT’s roof structure. Exuding a teardrop shape viewed from above, the GT’s main bodywork tapers sharply to the rear, and built-in features deliver astounding downforce at speed. Flying buttresses direct cooler air into the engine, and pontoon-style rear fenders are in the mold of current track-only Le Mans prototypes. Mounted behind the driver is a 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 engine developing 647 HP—183 horses per liter and 550 lb-ft of torque. Harnessed by a Getrag 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission/rear transaxle, the GT explodes from rest to 60 MPH under 3.0 seconds all the way up to a stunning 216 MPH terminal velocity. Hydraulic steering provides precise directional control, and extremely lightweight carbon fiber wheels minimize unsprung weight. Switched into Race mode for track duty, the GT delivers sharper response to throttle inputs, less-sensitive traction- and stability-control programming, the aforementioned lower ride height and stiffer underpinnings, firmer shifts from the 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and deployment of the rear spoiler, rendering the GT ready to attack any racing circuit on command. Virtually brand new with one owner and 18 miles from new, this GT is a very special example sporting the very rare Code 600A Lightweight Package, a $70,000 option available only to select applicants. Featuring several weight-saving measures found on the Ford GT Carbon Edition, the Lightweight Package retains the very desirable air conditioning and Infotainment systems. Bearing Chassis No. 116 of 250 Ford GTs produced for 2019, this extremely desirable Lightweight also features an Akrapovic titanium exhaust system. Equally stunning is this GT’s appearance, from its Liquid Blue tri-coat paint finish with carbon fiber stripes, accented by the Gloss carbon fiber exterior package. Brembo carbon ceramic disc brakes with black calipers harness the GT’s amazing forward urge. The interior features black Sparco Alcantara carbon fiber racing seats, an F1-style Alcantara-over-carbon fiber steering wheel with functional controls, tilt/telescopic steering column and 10.1-inch instrument cluster. Despite its amazing, race-worthy specifications, this GT is equipped with a 6.5-inch touch-screen with Navigation, Bluetooth and a Sync 3 infotainment system. Other amazing features include brilliant LED headlamps, an automatically adjustable rear wing, a polycarbonate rear engine hatch with additional venting, high-mounted center exhaust outlets and thankfully, the cup-holder delete option. Rolling stock includes 20-inch gloss carbon fiber 10-spoke wheels with space-age titanium lock nuts, mounting Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 extreme-performance tires. Offered in immaculate, as-new condition with just 18 miles of use, this 2017 Ford GT is accompanied by a window sticker documenting original data and is simply stunning as a high-specification rarity and instant collectible.