Ford gt90 concept to be sold at auction

[zo6dude]

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=21234

 

 

 

 

The only Ford GT90 concept car ever made will be auctioned off in Arizona, USA in January.

 

The GT40 has been a tough act for Ford to follow. The GT (RIP) served from 2003-2006, but Ford had first floated the idea of a spiritual successor to the Le Mans classic nearly a decade earlier, in the shape of the GT90. It never went on sale officially, but 15 years later the sole example of the concept is on the private market.

First announced in 1994, the GT90 was shown at the following year's Detroit Auto Show to more-or-less universal amazement. Its striking angular shape marked the start of Ford's 'Edge' design philosophy, seen soon after in the Ka, Mk1 Focus and others. The GT90 promised a theoretical 720hp and 660 lb ft of torque from its 48 valve quad-turbocharged V12, with a claimed top speed in the region of 250mph.

 

 

The concept, which Ford spent around $3 million USD (and just six months) developing, was very forward thinking, employing carbon-fibre construction and Porsche-style mechanised aerodynamic bodywork, as well as other gubbins that would become commonplace like the use of a reversing camera and side-mounted infrared sensors. But despite these flourishes the GT90 was in many ways a parts-bin special, with its independent double-wishbone suspension and FFD-Ricardo 5-speed manual gearbox lifted from the Jaguar XJ220, and an engine which was actually two Lincoln V8s welded together (albeit with a few cylinders cut off in the process).

 

 

 

The car has travelled the globe since 1995, but luckily as most of this has been inside de-humidified boxes and car transporters, it is reported to remain in as-new condition. We reckon the shape still looks pretty sharp, though the purple interior is perhaps best left unmentioned...

 

There is no official estimate for what the car will fetch when it goes under the hammer on Friday 22nd January via RM Auctions in Arizona, but expect it to be in the millions.

Click here to check out the auction.

[Eudemon]

40mph top speed hell yeah!!

[KoenigseggBG]

I've always liked it. The design just looks so modern, after 15 years. Shame they've only made one car.

 

But tbh, I'm much more fonder of the Ford Indigo:thumbsup:

[Car Freak]

Same. I've been a fan of it ever since I first laid eyes on it in Need for Speed II

[Shy Guy]

One thing that's epic on this car is that it uses the same panels as the ones used in space shuttles otherwise the exhausts will melt the bodywork....

[Immelmann]

Erm, what?

 

Anyway, I too fell in love when NFS II came out, glad to see it up for sale, maybe it'll see some sunlight...

[KoenigseggBG]

I've fell in love with Ford's concepts since I played Ford Racing 1,2 and 3. :)

[Ramdude78]

That car is in ford racing 2!

[DriftNismo]

Ah, I've loved this car for as long as I can remember (I've had a model of it since 1997). Is it road legal though?

[Penfold]

I want it, or just to see it again :D. I hope the person who buy it takes good care of it, unlike one owner of a Ford Indigo. Oooh and they actually use it rather than leaving it in a garage for the rest of its life.

[zo6dude]

Ah, I've loved this car for as long as I can remember (I've had a model of it since 1997). Is it road legal though?

Thats a good question, i'm going to say no, but even if it is, the buyer probably won't drive it for obvious reasons.

[RedCarDriver]

40mph top speed hell yeah!!

 

Yep. 800bhp and nowhere to send it. The engine that resides in the engine bay probably doesn't even power the car right now - it probably just runs off a go-kart motor hidden behind a seat. :P I hope whoever buys it fixes it up a little, so it's actually at its full intended potential instead of being a glorified gokart.

 

Also, w00t Arizona. If I had a lot of money to spend I'd go to the auction. xD