2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition: A Racy Re-Creation

© Ford Motor Company2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition
Today Ford revealed two additions to the Ford GT lineup: a Heritage Edition that re-creates the livery of the Ford GT40 that won the 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental; and the Ford GT Studio Collection, which offers owners a new way to customize their cars.

© Ford Motor CompanyGT Reveal Part of Petersen Week
The Ford GT reveal was part of the conclusion of 2020 Petersen Car Week, a virtual event that aired from Wednesday to Sunday on the Petersen Museum’s YouTube channel and featured 25 hours of original content from manufacturers and enthusiasts, along with automotive lifestyle activities and auction house events.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT40 Daytona Win
Ford earned its first 24-hour endurance race win in 1966 at the Daytona 24 Hour Continental before going on later that year to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford drivers Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby won the race in a Ford GT40 MK II, leading a strong finish for Ford GT40s that also finished second, third and fifth in the race. “Miles and Ruby led nearly every lap of the 24-hour race and outpaced the competition by 30 miles,” said Mike Severson, Ford GT program manager. Ford went on to sweep the podium at the 12 Hours of Sebring before finishing first, second and third in an epic sweep of Le Mans that year.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
“For this Heritage Edition, the Ford Performance team went deeper into the Ford GT’s race history and crafted a limited-edition model that stylistically honors the 55th anniversary of the Daytona 24 Hour endurance race that would eventually lead to our successes at Le Mans,” said Severson. This new Heritage Edition is the first one to feature a livery from a race other than Le Mans, based on the white, black and red of the 1966 Daytona 24 Hour winner.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
The 2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition is finished in Frozen White with an exposed carbon fiber hood and asymmetrical Race Red accents on the front fascia, front edge of the roof, driver’s side door and rear wing. The roundel for the number 98 is exposed carbon fiber, and Ford graphics are added to the lower-rear quarter panels. To round out the package, the Ford GT Heritage Edition gets fitted with Heritage Gold 20-inch forged-aluminum wheels and red Brembo monoblock brake calipers.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Inside, the Ford GT Heritage Edition features a black Alcantara-wrapped instrument panel and steering wheel, as well as a headliner in the black suede-like material as well. To tie in the Race Red exterior details, the seats are red Alcantara and the paddle shifters are anodized red aluminum.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition Upgrade Package
For an additional premium touch, the Heritage Edition Upgrade Package includes 20-inch exposed carbon fiber wheels with the inner wheel barrel painted in gloss red. The Brembo monoblock brake calipers for this upgrade are black with red Brembo lettering. Inside, the Upgrade Package adds ghosted 98 roundels on the driver and passenger carbon fiber door panels.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Studio Collection
During the 2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition reveal, the automaker also introduced the Ford GT Studio Collection — a new graphics package with customizable colors that highlight key design elements of the Ford GT. The Studio Collection is the result of design collaboration between Ford Performance and Ford GT manufacturer Multimatic. Design input also came from Multimatic design head Garen Nicoghosian, who has worked on the Ford GT since the beginning. “The combination of the stripes and accents invokes the emotion of speed and draws your eye to some of the most prominent features of the GT,” said Nicoghosian.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Studio Collection
The Studio Collection will be limited to 40 cars over the 2021 and 2022 model years. Seven standard body and graphics colors are offered, but owners will not be limited if they choose an exclusive color combination. Deliveries of the 2021 model year Ford GT will begin in early 2021, and Ford GT production will end in 2022.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Studio Collection
Limited edition highlights key design elements.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Studio Collection
Limited edition highlights key design elements.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Studio Collection
Limited edition highlights key design elements.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Studio Collection
Limited edition highlights key design elements.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Studio Collection
Limited edition highlights key design elements.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor Company1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner
Fords first 24 hour race win.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor Company1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner
Fords first 24 hour race win.

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

© Ford Motor CompanyFord GT Heritage Edition
Honors 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental Winner

The post 2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition: A Racy Re-Creation appeared first on autoNXT.net.

More from Our Auto Expert

OAE TV