Brett Foote
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is undoubtedly one of the greatest events in motorsports, and it’s also where the vaunted Ford GT made history on more than one occasion. But it was actually the 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental where Ford secured its first-ever 24 hour endurance win, a moment that was also captured in the smash hit film Ford v Ferrari. Now, The Blue Oval is paying homage to that groundbreaking victory with the 2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition.
This latest Ford GT Heritage Edition is the first to feature a livery famous for a race other than Le Mans, but it was an important one in the footnote of history, without a doubt. It was at Daytona that co-drivers Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby led a 1-2-3-5 Ford domination, kicking off a magical season for the Ford GT40 MK II, with additional 1-2-3 wins at Sebring and Le Mans to follow.
The 2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition wears a livery inspired by that history-making MKII racer. Its white exterior paint is complemented by an exposed carbon fiber hood. Asymmetrical Race Red accents also adorn the front fascia and roof edge, driver’s side door, and underneath the rear wing.
Meanwhile, the signature 98 roundel graphics show exposed carbon fiber and reveal the supercar’s lightweight body. Wrapping up the unique look are Ford graphics on the lower rear-quarter panels and one-piece Heritage Gold 20 inch forged-aluminum wheels paired with red lacquered Brembo monoblock brake calipers.
Inside, the 2021 Heritage Edition features unique appointments including black Alcantara suede covering the instrument panel, headliner, and steering wheel, along with anodized red paddle shifters and red Alcantara suede performance seats.
An optional Heritage Upgrade Package is also available, and includes 20 inch exposed carbon fiber wheels with a unique gloss red-painted inner accent barrel, black lacquer monoblock brake calipers, and red Brembo lettering. Inside, the package adds ghosted 98 roundels on the driver and passenger carbon fiber door panels.
The Heritage Edition joins another brand new Ford GT variant for the 2021 model year – the Studio Edition, which provides owners with a super exclusive, customizable variant of Ford’s legendary supercar.
Deliveries of the 2021 Ford GT are scheduled to begin in early 2021, with Ford GT production wrapping up in 2022.
We’ll have more on the 2021 Ford GT very soon, so be sure to subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford GT News and around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
“It was at Daytona that co-drivers Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby led a 1-2-3-5 Ford domination, kicking off a magical season for the Ford GT40 MK II, with additional 1-2-3 wins at Sebring and Le Mans to follow.”
Ford also won two NASCAR races last week at Michigan International Speedway with the Mustang, so Ford is winning plenty this year at races and soon at the dealers. I expect the Mustang Mach-E to participate at races next year.
Certainly something worth looking forward to, “Ford Owner”. Yeah.
For some reason when I look at the image I think of Speed Racer the cartoon and the movie. If I was in the market for a F150, I would love have the super crew v8 xlt package.