Obviously, motorsports tech simply isn’t the same as it was 40 years ago, but that doesn’t mean two race cars from vastly different eras can’t comfortably share a racetrack. In fact, Ford Performance did just that, borrowing the asphalt of Daytona International Speedway to show off two iconic race cars from its racing stable: the 1985 Ford Mustang GTO and the modern Ford Mustang GT3.
The automaker released a video showing the two muscle cars flying under the Mustang nameplate, introducing the Mustang GT3 to the Mustang GTO. John Jones, a motorsports veteran, drove the 1985 Ford Mustang GTO during the 1985 racing season, winning five races in the GTO division that year. The track-ready Mustang GTO closely resembled its roadgoing counterparts, but, of course, it was good and race-prepared, making it a threat on track.
Jones meets up with Ford factory driver Chris Mies, who has control of the Mustang GT3. Jones seems bemused at the modern racer’s interior setup, commenting on the prevalence of screens and digital instruments. It’s a stark contrast to his own 1985 Ford Mustang GTO, which sports barebones gauges – all featuring traditional readouts. It’s also shocking just how small the Mustang GTO is compared to the Mustang GT3, with a lower roofline and longer hood, but they’re both good-looking machines regardless.
“Jump in and look at how old-school it was,” he laughs as Mies takes a look. “You can do brake bias, you can adjust the bar a little bit, but other than that, it’s an old traditional five-speed.”
“Obviously, it’s quite hard to compare these cars,” Mies says. “There’s 40 years in between, older than I am. It’s very pure… there’s no help for the driver. It’s really old school, and I love it.”
The Mustang GT3 hasn’t forgotten its heritage. Last year, The Blue Oval released the “Champion Spirit” livery for its Mustang GT3 racers, featuring slashes of color borrowed from the likes of the 1985 Ford Mustang GTO.
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Just a sign of the times we now live in!