2017 Ford GT '66 Heritage Edition commemorates LeMans win

Ford’s super cool GT40 just got a whole lot cooler.

Fifty years after Ford’s historic three-car sweep of the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hour, and on the heels of their LMGTE Pro class win at this year’s event, Ford has announced the ’66 Heritage Edition of its 2017 Ford GT.

Paying homage to the GT40 MkII driven to victory by Kiwis Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, the 2017 model boasts the black and silver-stripe paint job reminiscent of the Le mans-winning car, as well as race-number bonnet and door graphics, 20-inch forged aluminium wheels and a trick interior theme.

The Shadow Black exterior with exposed carbon fibre features will be available in either a gloss or matte finish, while the one-piece wheels boast a gold satin clear coat with black wheel nuts.

On the inside, the carbon fibre seats are wrapped in black leather to match the leather-wrapped instrument panel, pillars and headliner. In a nod to McLaren and Amor’s 1966 car, the seatbelt feature blue webbing while the shift paddles, instrument panel and the seat’s X-brace all boast gold highlights to highlight the supercar’s exclusivity. There’s a numbered identification plate and race-number graphics while the door sills, air register pods and centre console are all exposed matte carbon fibre.

The 1-2-3 not only marked the first-ever win for Ford, but it was also the first time the French endurance race was won by an American company. And while Ford’s 600hp 3.5L V6 GT won’t be gracing Australian shores, the firm’s executive vice president Raj Nair said the Le Mans edition was always part of the GT’s re-launch strategy.

“Celebrating the anniversary of Ford’s historic victories at Le Mans has always been a part of the return of the Ford GT,” he said. “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 newly announced Heritage Edition will be sold in 2017 only, and in strictly limited numbers. Details on a price tag are yet to be revealed.