“Street Legal. Race Proven”

When I found out that Capital Ford in the prairie city of Regina Saskatchewan, Canada, had one of only a handful of 2017 Ford GT’s in its showroom, I couldn’t wait to see it!
This is the model that won 2016 Le Mans … exactly 50 years after it first won that gruelling 24hr race.
Not only that, it was a crazy good top-ten finish … two GT’s finished in the top 3.
No. 68 crossed the finish line first.
No. 69 crossed the finish line third.
No. 66 crossed the finish line fourth
No. 67 crossed the finish line ninth.
Stellar!

Point of Note: This winning Ford GT has a deep connection to Canada: “First unveiled to the media at Le Mans last year, the Ford GT’s Le Mans victory comes 395 days after the car turned a wheel for the first time on May 20, 2015, at Calabogie Motorsports Park in Canada”

When it won LeMans, the Ford pride was apparent:
“A Herculean effort from the Ford Chip Ganassi team has transformed the car into a Le Mans winner in just over one year”

“This is an historic moment for the Ford Motor Company,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company.
“We dared to dream that we could return to Le Mans, 50 years after the incredible 1966 win, and take on the toughest competition in the world.
The pride we all felt when the Ford GT crossed the line at Le Mans is indescribable.  The team that designed, built and raced the Ford GT has worked tirelessly to bring us to this result and I am proud of each and every one of them.
The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team demonstrated the spirit of Ford, that of innovation, determination and true teamwork.  We cherish our history and heritage, but today we made history again and I couldn’t be more proud.”
– Bill Ford. Executive Chairman – Ford Motor Company

It’s also a big win for the City of Regina (pop: 193,000).
There’s only 2 dealerships in all of Canada that have this car.
Capital Ford, and every other recipient, had to apply for it and then wait for a response.
I can’t even imagine the excitement when the news dropped that Capital Ford would receive one of only a thousand made for the entire world.

The Capital Ford edition hasn’t yet seen the highway.
It’s only been driven from the lot into the showroom.
But wow! What a feeling when you 1st lay eyes on it:

“The Ford GT is the ultimate expression of form following function. Its teardrop-shape body is the result of extensive work in the wind tunnel.
Its carbon-fiber body and its 647 horsepower 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 engine are the ultimate expressions of technological innovation”

I asked the friendly salesperson “Why? Apart from LeMans, what is one of the most impactful reasons this car was developed?”

His answer: “To show what an automaker is capable of”
… by this he meant – the V6 engine has the same motor as Ford Trucks,  the 3.5 EcoBoost V6 … just tuned a little differently.

 

 

 

As I was taking the photos, I noticed the tires were Michelin.

I asked one of my favourite car guys, Gord, why Michelin was chosen.
His answer: “There’s not very many makers producing tires for cars that can hit the kind of  high speeds the Ford GT is capable of”.

 
Here’s a couple of links for videos of this amazing car.

Find out why Doug DeMuro thinks it’s worth every penny of its $500,000 USD price:
Doug DeMuro on the Ford GT

No surprise that Jay Leno has a Ford GT in his garage!
Jay Leno’s Garage – Ford GT

Check out the Ford website:
Ford GT