When Ford unveiled a prototype simply called the GT at the Detroit Motor Show in 2002, a supercar designed in the image of the GT40, the four-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it generated high interest.
It didn't take long for Ford to decide to go ahead with its production and after a first contact with a pre-production prototype, not even Jeremy Clarkson resisted the charms of the super sports car, having ordered one in 2003.
Although Ford produced more than 4000 GTs, only 101 were destined for Europe and of those, only 27 were allocated to the UK by Ford of Britain, making Clarkson a «member» of an exclusive group.
Only two years later, in 2005, Jeremy Clarkson would receive his Ford GT, specified to his taste, in Midnight Blue with white stripes (optional) and with six-spoke BBS wheels, identical to those of the original concept.
Although critically acclaimed, whether for the performance provided by the 5.4l Supercharged V8 mounted in the center rear position (550 hp), or for the benchmark dynamic skills, Jeremy Clarkson, however, would eventually return the GT in less than a month , requiring a refund.
Why? Jeremy Clarkson, like himself, was quite vocal about the experience of having a Ford GT and the problems that affected his unit, exposing them on the Top Gear show with his "partners in crime" Richard Hammond and James May.
Among the presenter's complaints were some concerning the supercar's features, such as the generous 1.96m Ford GT width, better suited to wide roads or circuits than the many narrow roads characteristic of the UK, or the excessively turning radius great.
But it would be the problems that afflicted this GT to be the "drop of water" for the presenter. The malfunction of the alarm and the immobilizer (which required a towing trip and the rental of a Toyota Corolla to get home), led Clarkson to decide to "dispatch" one of his dream cars.
However, the love-hate relationship with the Ford GT would lead Clarkson to repurchase this unit, even if he did not drive many kilometers with it.
Second owner with a more peaceful life
Most of the more than 39 thousand kilometers that this Ford GT presents were made, in fact, by the second owner of the super sports car, who bought it in 2006 and did not "suffer" the problems that afflicted Clarkson.
In the hands of its new owner, it received some improvements or alterations, like a suspension from KW or a sports exhaust from Accufab. The original parts, however, have been stored and are included in the car's sale.
The Ford GT is now being sold by GT101 in the UK for a modest sum of approximately €315,000, a price in line with that of other GTs, so despite the 15 minutes of fame (or infamy) it had, it didn't seems to have influenced its value.