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If you're a petrolhead of any sort, this news should get you drooling - Ford and Gulf have teamed up to offer a limited-edition GT supercar... in the beautiful and traditional blue-and-orange Gulf colours.
Possibly one of the most iconic liveries in motorsport history, Gulf colours were used on the 1968 and 1969 competition GT40s which won back-to-back Le Mans victories. Hence, the new cars will be called the Ford GT '68 Heritage Edition, and will be available for the 2019 and 2020 model years.
The Heritage Blue with Heritage Orange paint scheme was used on the Gulf Oil-sponsored GT40, chassis #1075, which won those two legendary races. The tie-up with the 50th anniversary Ford cars marks the first time a lubricant and fuel manufacturer has teamed up with a major carmaker to produce a road-going model.
The Ford GT '68 Heritage Edition was launched at the Rolex Historic Reunion event at the Laguna Seca racetrack in California, by Ford's Joe Hinrichs and Gulf's Ravi Chawla. It then made an appearance at the Exotics on Cannery Row street festival and the Pebble Beach Concours at the Monterey Car Week, ensuring it has been seen by as wide an audience as possible.
The Ford GT '68 Heritage Edition not only features the colours, but has an optional exposed carbon A-pillar, plus #9 graphics in roundels on the bonnet and the doors. High-gloss dark stainless 20-inch one-piece forged aluminium wheels with black lug nuts, orange brake callipers and silver door mirror caps complete the look of the historic racer on the modern machine.
Inside, buyers will enjoy exclusive interior colours, materials and finishes, with Ebony Alcantara used extensively. Contrasting blue-and-orange stitching (natch) features throughout and the embossed seat detailing is inspired by the 1968 Le Mans-winning car. The '68 Heritage Edition also boasts a unique serialised identification plate, plus exposed matte carbon fibre door sills, air vents and centre console.
Limited numbers of these glorious GTs will be available in 2019 and 2020, and - in the latter year - there will be an option to have the #6 on the doors and bonnet, in homage to the number carried by chassis 1075 in the 1969 race.
Anything else?
"Many say the Gulf Oil paint scheme is the most famous in motorsports, propelled by the 1968 GT40 that quickly became a global sensation after Ford beat its European competitors not three, but four times in a row," said Hinrichs, Ford's executive vice president and president for Global Operations. "We set out to accentuate the new Ford GT's race-inspired aerodynamic lines with the Gulf colours, while staying true to the original GT40 Le Mans winner."
Chawla, the MD of Gulf Oil Lubricants India, added: "We are delighted to partner with Ford to help the Gulf-themed Heritage Edition Ford GT become reality. The Ford Marque has played a major role in creating Gulf's place in motoring and motorsports legend and the same is true in reverse. Every Gulf outright victory at Le Mans has been Ford-powered and of course Gulf Ford GT40s took the latter two wins of Ford's four consecutive victories at Le Mans from 1966-1969. What could be more fitting than both brands coming together to produce this fantastic motor car - the modern spiritual successor to the amazing Gulf-Ford GT40s that took Le Mans and World Championship honours."