Dreams Do Come True: Three Generations of Ford GT Up for Grabs

Monterey Auto Week rolls around each August in – you guessed it – Monterey, California. If you’re a car guy (or girl), this event might even be on your bucket list. And it probably should be. But there’s something notable following this year’s event that makes it super special.

At the conclusion of the scheduled Monterey Auto Week events, RM Sotheby’s auction will be graced by the sale of a 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype, two 2005 Ford GTs, and a 2017 Ford GT. Together, the three generations of Ford GT make for a stunning and impressive showing, even if they go to separate homes at the end of the day. So, what is the importance and significance of each one?

1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype

This particular GT40 is expected to sell for somewhere between $7 and $9 million, but for good reason.

It is the eighth of 12 development prototype cars built by Ford, and the first of the five roadsters created. It was also the first to be built at the Ford Advanced Vehicles plant in the UK. This particular car is unlike the 87 production vehicles which featured serial numbers beginning with “P” and had its own sequential GT prefix. It is known as chassis GT/108.

The GT40 is powered by a Cobra-spec 289 V8 paired to a Colotti T37 transaxle. Its custom steel chassis was specifically built for the roadsters, and it’s said that they were intended only for temporary testing needs, including early runs at Silverstone Circuit in the UK.

But the car’s history is so much more than its rarity. The car rolled onto the shop floor of Carroll Shelby himself, who, along with his team, modified and spruced it up so that it could continue being used for promotion of the GT40, and other needs.

It saw such drivers behind its wheel as Ken Miles (on several occasions) but most notably during a promo event at Laguna Seca, as well as part of GT40 development testing at Riverside before the race car’s Le Mans debut. It also once acted as a chariot for Henry Ford II with Mr. Shelby at the controls. Formula 1 legend Jim Clark took it for a spin at Watkins Glen in the summer of 1965 during a demo.

Later, Kar Kraft (Ford’s own top-secret research and development shop) would take possession of GT/108, utilizing it for GT40 Mark IV development. Following its time there, it bounced around for a while until in 1992, it was placed in a Pacific Northwestern collection. Finally, in 2014, it sold for $6.93 million, so it will be interesting to see how much it fetches this time around.

A Pair of 2005 Ford GTs

While this duo appear to be flipped images of one another, they are quite different in history and in value. The 2005-2006 Ford GT was an exciting creation for Ford, coinciding with the 100th year celebration of Ford Motor Company, as well as the 40-year anniversary of the underdog victory at Le Mans. The version’s performance was nothing to shake a stick at, with 550 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque emanating from its 5.4L V8 engine.

The blue GT has been more “stored” than it has been driven, with less than 100 documented miles. Its counterpart has been enjoyed a bit more, being offered for sale with 1,300 miles under its tires. Both are equipped with every option available – their iconic stipes, McIntosh stereo, and forged aluminum BBS wheels backed by painted brake calipers.

It is estimated that the cars will fetch between $300,000 and $350,000 for the blue with white stripes, and $275,000-$325,000 for its white with blue striped comrade.

2017 Ford GT

Finally, we come to the coveted 2017 Ford GT. While the newest addition to the GT lineup is only three years old, its additions to the lineage are already plentiful. Ford returned to Le Mans with this generation’s model in 2016, securing an enormous victory and cementing the newest GT’s place in performance and racing history.

Each GT is powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 producing 647 horsepower.

Ford’s strict no-resale policy kept original owners from selling their new Ford GTs for a period of two years from date of delivery, making this one of the first to be publicly auctioned. It was delivered in August 2017, and has less than 400 miles on the dial.

While a new Ford GT costs somewhere in the range of $450,000 to $500,000, it is not an easy feat to get your hands on one from the factory. That very fact, along with the rarity of this particular specimen, could see costs soaring into the millions.

That said, the pre-sale estimate on this gorgeous one-of-a-kind Beryllium Orange Ford GT is set between $1.2M and $1.5M.

Individually, each of these cars is a stunning representation of Ford’s grit, determination, and engineering prowess. And when you bring them all together into one venue, there’s just no telling what kind of money they might draw in. Every generation of the historic Ford GT is represented in this group, and that alone will be enough to turn heads. All eyes will be on Monterey in just a few short weeks.

That said, you know we’re going to be keeping a keen eye on the action from August 15th to the 17th, and we’ll report back on our findings when these beauts cross the block.

About the author

Stephanie Davies-Bardekoff

Stephanie Davies-Bardekoff got her start in automotive media while attending Rutgers. She worked for Roush Performance for a while, before eventually landing here at Power Automedia. Her Coyote-swapped 1992 Fox-body drag car is her prized possession.
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