RED ZONE: The 2005 GT captured the spirit of a Ford racing classic

April 5, 2019
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

Ready for Palm Beach: A 2005 Ford GT (Lot #740), one of just 523 produced in the Mark IV Red color in 2005.

There are only a relative handful of cars built every generation that command attention wherever they go, diverting gazes and inciting lust in all bystanders. The Ford GT is one of those, the kind of car that grabs the eye and will never let go.

Of course, the car that inspired it, the GT40 race car of the 1960s, was likewise a showstopper. The 40-inch-tall race cars looked every bit as fast as they were, and, after a couple of teething years, built up a record of victories that to this day remain some of the most significant in the history of Ford Motor Company. The GT40 is famous for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans four straight years, from 1966-69, along with other big-time sports car endurance races, like the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1000 Kilometres of Monza.

So when Ford decided to recapture that animal spirit in 2005 and 2006 with the Ford GT, it was only natural they would keep the same basic lines and proportions of the original. The new generation GT is, in fact, wider, longer and taller than the original, but the family resemblance is so obvious that the car is instantly identifiable. If it has been a while since you’ve examined one up close, a Mark IV Red 2005 GT (Lot #740) will be offered at Barrett-Jackson’s 2019 Palm Beach Auction, where you can see how closely Ford followed one of their most successful blueprints.

Although the GT incorporates all the modern safety features required for street driving, along with a host of comforts, reminders of its racing heritage are everywhere. A big round tachometer is mounted dead center in the instrument panel, and a bank of toggle switches operates key functions, just like in a race car. The carbon-fiber, leather-trimmed seats are ventilated, perfect for a few hours of track time.

And while a 2005 Ford GT may be a visual treat, anyone who has driven one knows the appeal goes way beyond mere looks. The GT is powered by a hand-built 5.4-liter, DOHC, 4-valve, aluminum block, supercharged V8 that delivers 550 horsepower and 500 ft/lbs of torque. The supercharger produces 12 pounds of boost and is teamed with an air-to-liquid intercooler. With its mid-mounted location, the engine ‒ particularly the supercharger ‒ is a steady presence in the rearview mirror. The clamshell engine cover provides its own dramatic view of the engine. Backing up the V8 is a purpose-built Ricardo 6-speed manual transmission and twin-disc clutch.

Stopping power is also race-car serious, with Brembo cross-drilled and vented disc brakes with 4-piston monoblock calipers, teamed with a 4-channel, 4-sensor ABS system. Rolling stock consists of Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires on 6-spoke cast-aluminum wheels.

Lot #740 offered at Palm Beach is a desirable example of the breed, one of 523 produced in the Mark IV Red color in 2005. It has the optional McIntosh Audiophile system with 300 watts, CD player and 8-inch subwoofer, as well as the optional Painted Racing Stripes. It also has a GT Guys bumper delete kit, so this is one supercar that looks even more like a prototype or race car than the average GT. With its Ford Racing stainless steel exhaust, it should sound that way, too.

Ford only built 4,038 GTs across two model years, and they’ve proven to be in constant demand since then. When a company builds a tribute to the best from its history, everyone will notice.

For up-to-date information about this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at the entire 2019 Palm Beach docket, click HERE.