Ford has taken the wraps of the first special edition variant of the new GT, and in a development that should surprise absolutely no one, it celebrates the winning car from the historic 1-2-3 Le Mans finish in 1966.
Available in either gloss or matte black, the 2017 Heritage edition features silver stripes, gold wheels, #2 race numbering, lots of exposed carbon fiber both inside and out, and a number of unique interior treatments. Overall, it’s a subtle package, but a nicely modern tribute to the freshly-restored McLaren/Amon winner, and one that will surely be highly desirable.
Ford says this Heritage edition tribute will only be available in 2017. With a series of 50th anniversary victories to celebrate for the next several years, one can only wonder what additional Heritage models are in the pipeline.
Press Release
All-New 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition Pays Homage to Historic Livery on 1966 Le Mans Winner
- All-new Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition with unique black and silver-stripe livery celebrates 1966 Le Mans-winning GT40 Mark II race car driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon
- Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition honoring historic No. 2 race car limited to 2017 model year only
- Limited-edition Ford GT features exclusive race-number graphics, and unique interior colors, materials and appointments
DEARBORN, Mich., June 27, 2016 – The all-new 2017 Ford GT will be available in a limited- edition Heritage theme honoring the GT40 Mark II driven to victory by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon at Le Mans in 1966 – part of the historic 1-2-3 Ford GT sweep. The car will feature unique interior and exterior color themes, and an exclusive wheel finish.
“Celebrating the anniversary of Ford’s historic victories at Le Mans has always been a part of the return of the Ford GT,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, product development, and chief technical officer. “The 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition is a stunning tribute to the car that kicked off Ford’s string of Le Mans victories in 1966.”
The Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition features a Shadow Black exterior in either gloss or matte finish with silver stripes and exposed carbon fiber package. The car sports Frozen White #2 hood and door graphics, and 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels in a gold satin clearcoat with black lug nuts.
The interior of the limited edition model wraps the Ford GT carbon-fiber seats in Ebony leather, with pillowed inserts and plow-through stitching, and the seats’ head restraints and the steering wheel are debossed with the Ford GT logo. The instrument panel, pillars and headliner also features an Ebony-leather wrap, with gold appliqués on the instrument panel, the seat’s X-brace and shift paddles. Like the 1966 race car, the steering wheel is leather wrapped, with seat belts featuring a unique blue webbing.
Rounding out the modifications to the Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition are a unique serialized identification plate, the #2 interior door graphic, and exposed matte carbon fiber door sills, air register pods and center console.
Garen Nicoghosian, exterior design manager for the car, says the team set out to highlight where it all started with the Ford GT. “While the looks are distinctly based on the GT40 Mark II race car,” he says, “we’ve accentuated new styling cues to provide a modern interpretation.”
The Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition can be viewed at FordGT.com using the configuration tool. Limited quantities will be available for the 2017 model year only.