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Ford Reveals Early Sketches Of Legendary GT40

Jun. 14, 2020 3:51 PM ET by Karl Furlong Design / 6 Comments Ford shared some of the earliest sketches of what would become the famed racing car. Ferrari finally met its match at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966 when the legendary Ford GT40 arrived on the scene. And while the GT40's famous victory - and many more to follow - remains its crowning achievement, the racer's aerodynamic design is a big part of the reason for its successes. It all culminated in the modern-day GT, Ford's current halo car. But where did it all start? Well, Ford Performance shared some of the oldest design sketches of the GT40 yet via its social media platforms, which were said to be drawn 57 years ago today! These are the sketches that eventually produced the GT40 shape we are all so familiar with. https://twitter.com/FordPerformance/status/1271153287383957507 Ford Performance Ford Performance The early sketches reveal an even sleeker, smoother design than the finished product. The sharp nose features pop-up headlights and there is an exaggerated wraparound windshield, with the A-pillar pushed well back. Some commenters likened the shape to the Lamborghini Miura, not a great surprise since the Italian sports car was introduced around about the same time. One of the images reveals a cross-section of the suspension components, also showing off a complex roof mechanism that opens forwards, and which is connected to the shallow doors. The battery and spare tire are positioned under the front hood, no doubt to help balance the weight of the engine positioned behind the seats. Ford Performance Ford Performance The angled slope of the rear fascia made it on to the GT40, as did the centrally-mounted tailpipes. One week after the red sketches were drawn up, the very first clay model was introduced in grey. More prominent on this clay model are the 'cheese grater' side intakes, a design feature that became closely associated with Ferrari following the launch of the 1980s Ferrari Testarossa. The wheels have a passing resemblance to the Fuchs rims used on many Porsches throughout the years. But despite sharing design cues with several other sports cars of the time, the GT40 still emerged with its own identity. Today, the iconic Ford continues to inspire a number of gorgeous replicas and the few originals that remain continue to fetch sky-high prices. It's incredible that a couple of old sketches inspired generations of fans. Ford Performance Mecum Mecum Mecum Mecum

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Ford GT Karl Furlong Senior Editor Sweaty-palmed hot laps are fun, but Karl is a gearhead cut from a different cloth - or is that finely stitched Nappa leather? An E23 BMW 7 Series was the first car he fell madly in love with three decades ago, and this affection for Autobahn-conquering luxury sedans has persisted. Following studies in copywriting and journalism, along with stints in TV scriptwriting and marketing that had far too little to do with cars, Karl kept the fire burning by writing for automotive websites on the side, including a Florida-based auto repair shop and another for Porsche enthusiasts. It all came together when he joined CarBuzz in 2019. He has penned some of the latest news, reviews, and features ever since. Contact Karl @FuelAffection LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top