Autoblog

Hennessey Ford GT hits 212.9 mph in the standing half-mile

Zach Bowman — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Ford

Mark Heidaker's Hennessey Ford GT is back to work snagging records. Sean Kennedy once again took to the wheel of the machine at the Houston Half Mile Shootout, and just as before, the duo didn't disappoint. Kennedy was able to pilot the wicked GT to an astonishing 212.9 miles per hour in a mere half mile, successfully snagging the world record in the process. Not too shabby.

As you may recall, this same team walked away with the standing mile world record back in March. At that time, Kennedy shot the GT to 257.7 mph in the allotted distance. We have to wonder what these guys have up their sleeves for the next stunt. Click Scroll down to check out the understandably quick half mile video for yourself.

Continue reading Hennessey Ford GT hits 212.9 mph in the standing half-mile

Hennessey Ford GT hits 212.9 mph in the standing half-mile originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shelby considering new halo sports car, Focus and Fusion models for the future

Drew Phillips — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Ford

If Ford actually comes to market with a new GT, then we'll be right there with them.

With the debut of its audacious 1000 horsepower GT500 at the New York Auto Show earlier this month, you might be wondering what direction Shelby will be headed in the future. After all, they can't just keep adding more horsepower to the Mustang. Can they?

Shelby president John Luft tells us that while they will continue producing post-title Mustang packages (they have a product plan for the pony car through 2020), the company is also considering branching out to other vehicles in the Ford lineup.

"Our plans include everything from the Mustang to looking at future development of the EcoBoost motor," he told us. "There could be a Focus or Fusion development in our future."

The plans don't stop there, though. Luft revealed to us that Shelby is considering producing another halo sports car like they did in the late 1990s with the Series 1.

"We always pose the 'what if'. If you remember when the Series 1 was developed, that was a purpose-built halo sports car for the Shelby brand. We always put those things in the plan because maybe down the road we would want to readdress a purpose-built Shelby sports car. It doesn't mean we'll build it, but we always want to challenge ourselves to put it on the table and talk about the practicality of it."

Keep reading for more insights into Shelby's plans for the future.

Continue reading Shelby considering new halo sports car, Focus and Fusion models for the future

Shelby considering new halo sports car, Focus and Fusion models for the future originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch a Hennessey Ford GT set a new standing mile world record

Zach Bowman — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Ford, Racing

It was a big weekend for Sean Kennedy, Mark Heidaker and the team at Hennessey. The trio managed to walk straight past the previous world record for the standing mile with a top speed of 257.7 mph. Kennedy took the wheel of Heidaker's Hennessey-prepped Ford GT for the feat. The vehicle used to be both twin-turbocharged and supercharged before Heidaker decided he needed a little more thrust. Hennessey then ditched the supercharger for a more efficient twin-turbo setup. The work seems to have paid off. Putting down that sort of speed in the span of a standing mile is nothing short of amazing, and the engineering behind the machine deserves all sorts of respect.

Of course, commanding the roided-out GT to do your bidding is also plenty impressive.

Tucked beneath that wild wrap is a white GT with a blue stripe, one of our favorite color combinations on this iconic shape. Hit the jump to see the run from inside the cockpit.

Continue reading Watch a Hennessey Ford GT set a new standing mile world record

Watch a Hennessey Ford GT set a new standing mile world record originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford GT designer takes his creation to artful zenith

Noah Joseph — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford, Design/Style

Remember this chromed Buick Regal? At the time of publication, we said there were some cars that looked better in chrome than others, and this is what we had in mind.

A specialist aftermarket firm called GT Guy LLC solicited the talents of Camilo Pardo - the designer of the Ford GT - to create the one-of-a-kind supercar you see here. To create Merkury 4, the team started with a solid red Ford GT and gave it a Mirrachrome paint job with a black-bordered fluorescent orange stripe. Then they tweaked the supercharger to deliver a whopping 725 horsepower to the rear wheel. They painted the valve covers, smoothed out the clamshell intakes behind the doors, fitted ceramic-coated pipes, bolted on a fresh set of HRE wheels wearing Michelin rubber and more.

The result, as you can see from the photos in the gallery, is quite stunning - as if the stock Ford GT wasn't already a looker on its own.

Ford GT designer takes his creation to artful zenith originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford opens its archive of images to the world

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ford

Ford opens up its image archive - Click above for high-res image gallery

The year 2011 marks Ford's 108th year in business. Over the course of its long history, the automaker has collected millions of images. Most of these images are stored in boxes, away from prying eyes... but that is about to change. Ford is launching a brand new site that will give users access to thousands of these archival images.

FordImages.com currently has over 5,000 images available to be licensed. The site adds hundreds more every week and is shooting to have 10,000 available by January of 2012. The seemingly endless galleries of images cover everything from key products and personnel to historic motorsports shots and all Ford vehicles through the ages.

The site offers more than just images, however, with a wide range of signs and artwork also offered. Limited-edition photos of cars like the Ford GT and Shelby GT500 are available and signed by Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby respectively.

If you're a Blue Oval fan, this may become your new favorite web site. There's enough material here to decorate your office, home and garage. All those boxes of stored photos mean there's plenty more where these came from. Check out the gallery below for a few examples of what Ford will offer and be sure to read the full press-release waiting after the jump.

Gallery: Ford opens up its image archive

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford opens its archive of images to the world

Ford opens its archive of images to the world originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Ford GT coming back as a hybrid?

Zach Bowman — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Ford, Rumormill

Rumors surrounding the notion of a hybrid Ford GT successor are getting thicker by the moment. Auto Express has taken to stoking those fires with a report that says that the next-generation car will boast a supercharged V8 engine along with an electric motor. Drivers will supposedly be able to command an extra boost from the batteries with a push of a button, should they so desire.

Interestingly enough, Auto Express is under the impression that while the forced-induction V8 will be left to put power to the rear wheels, the front tires will be spun by the electric motor only.

That would mean, in effect, that the next GT would be an all-wheel-drive beast - something that would work against the grain of the vehicle's legacy. If the report is to be believed, total power will sit north of 600 ponies, giving the GT successor the teeth it needs to tango with the likes of the McLaren MP4-12C, Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari 458 Italia.

The only problem with this line of thought is that by the time the rumored GT arrives, those cars will all be anywhere from two to three years old. Our guess is that it'd be worth taking AE's insights with a supercharged grain of salt.

[Source: Auto Express]

Rumormill: Ford GT coming back as a hybrid? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #213

Dan Roth — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Chevrolet, Ford, Subaru, Toyota, UAW/Unions, Rumormill

Click above to subscribe to The Autoblog Podcast in iTunes

We're recording Episode #213 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and we've put some topics below. Drop us your own feedback and questions or vote on your fellow readers' submissions to help determine what we discuss this evening. You can subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already to hear your question answered.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #213

Subscribe to the Autoblog Podacast and hear your questions asked:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #213 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford's Kuzak hints that GT successor may be in the cards

Zach Bowman — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, Rumormill

Ford GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Now here's a juicy rumor we can get excited about: According to the crew over at Automobile, Ford may be considering another shot at the legendary Ford GT. The news comes courtesy of Derrick Kuzak, Ford's head of global product development. After being questioned about the possibility of a GT successor, Kuzak chose his words very carefully by admitting that there are certain things in the four-year product plan that the company isn't comfortable with discussing. While that's not an out-and-out confirmation that the Blue Oval wants to see another mid-engine, high-horsepower machine in its stable, the overly diplomatic response does indicate that the thought may have crossed more than a few minds in Dearborn.

Is this a thin thread to cling to? Absolutely, but the talking heads of the industry typically site pesky issues like a vehicle's high expense and looming CAFE standards as perfect reasons against building a new halo car. Considering that none of that rhetoric showed up this time around and the fact that we've heard rumors about a hybrid GT successor, it wouldn't seem to be too much of a stretch to think that we just might see a new version of the car in a few short years. Consider our fingers crossed.

Gallery: Ford GT

[Source: Automobile]

Report: Ford's Kuzak hints that GT successor may be in the cards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford GT designer Pardo selling racy new artwork this week

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ford, Celebrities, Design/Style

Camilo Pardo creates his limited-edition "Her Targets" - Click above for high-res image gallery

Camilo Pardo is a name many of you will recognize. He's the man responsible for bringing the Ford GT40 back to life in its modern Ford GT form. Besides penning beautiful automobiles, Pardo also works in other art mediums. The designer has created a very limited-edition run of prints, and the hand-signed work is available at a surprisingly affordable price. Each of the 45 prints is up on 1xRUN.com, a site dedicated to providing limited-edition artwork at low prices. The cost for each print is $80 - Pardo's other work often commands over a thousand dollars, so this is something of a bargain.

If you're interested, you might want to act quickly because all 45 prints ought to move quickly at that price. You can see Pardo's racy take on Chip Ganassi Target Racing's team racing suit in our gallery below or head straight to 1xRUN to grab an example for yourself.

Gallery: Camilo Pardo creates limited-edition Her Targets artwork

[Source: 1xRUN]

Ford GT designer Pardo selling racy new artwork this week originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Teams reportedly dropping out of FIA GT1 World Championship after first season

Noah Joseph — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ford, Maserati

The inaugural season of the FIA GT1 World Championship is in the history books. But after just one season, reports are already cropping up of teams looking to withdraw.

Twelve teams participated in the opening series campaigning six different cars between them: GT1-spec versions of the Maserati MC12, Ford GT, Aston Martin DBR9, Nissan GT-R, Chevrolet Corvette and Lamborghini Murciélago LP670. And while all the cars look set to carry on for next season, not all of them will necessarily have two teams representing.

Reports indicate that Matech - one of the teams racing the Ford GT, having carried out much of the development work itself - and Hegersport - the second team fielding the Maserati MC12 behind series champions Vitaphone - may be gone from the grid next season, dropping the field from twelve teams to ten.

The report cites sponsorship difficulties as the reason for their potential withdrawal, but with rumors potentially placing a BMW Alpina B6, Veritas RS III and the Lexus LFA on the GT1 grid for next season, it may be just as likely that the organizers will be able to line up two or more new teams before the series returns in the new year.

[Source: Autosport]

Teams reportedly dropping out of FIA GT1 World Championship after first season originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuner wrecks customer's Ford GT, situation devolves from there

Noah Joseph — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Government/Legal, Safety, Ford

Anyone who's ever been hesitant to hand over their keys to another driver, or conversely to get behind the wheel of someone else's car - exotic or otherwise - will want to take note of the following story currently being played out on the internet's extensive web of car enthusiast forums.

The story revolves around a Ford GT - one of the finest exotics ever produced by an American automaker - its customization, and its unfortunate demise. The car - in classic Gulf baby blue and orange heritage livery and outfitted with twin turbochargers - belongs to one Ray Hofman, who wanted to have some modifications carried out to make it more drivable in advance of a Ford GT rally event. Having struck out with other tuners, Ray turned to Bill Knobloch of Discovery Automotive, better known to forum members as Shadowman. Bill agreed to carry out the tuning Ray was looking for, handed over the keys, and from there things went downhill in more ways than one. Follow the jump to read on.

[Sources: Bimmerboost, Ford GT Forum]

Continue reading Tuner wrecks customer's Ford GT, situation devolves from there

Tuner wrecks customer's Ford GT, situation devolves from there originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Ford GT supercar's successor will be green machine

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Ford, Rumormill

Ford GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in 2003, Ford gave us the GT supercar - a road-going homage to the iconic GT40 race car. Ford discontinued the GT when its high-powered Shelby GT500 debuted for the 2007 model year, but now the word around Dearborn is that there may be another top-end Blue Oval supercar coming down the pipeline. This time around, however, things may be a bit greener.

According to Motor Trend, Ford Motor Company executives have suggested that if a GT successor is created, its main focus will be fuel efficiency, citing the possibility of an electric drivetrain. The EV supercar isn't a new idea, after all - Porsche is readying its 918 Spyder and Mercedes-Benz has shown us its SLS E-Cell. Of course, Ford's plans are simply rumormill fodder at this point, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for silent supercars roaming around Dearborn in the coming years just the same.

Gallery: Ford GT

[Source: Motor Trend]

Rumor: Ford GT supercar's successor will be green machine originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Matech Competition teases its film Reborn

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:40:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

Teaser for Matech Competition's Reborn - Click above to watch video after the jump

Matech took two Ford GTs to Le Mans this year and came back with stories to tell. Having won the GT3 class and built the LMGT1 competitors specifically to return the track that made the GT40's name, it is clear why they wish to crow.

Neither car finished the race, but on their first try both cars finished ahead of some much more seasoned competition. But hey: Ford GT + Le Mans = what's not to like? You'll find the trailer after the jump.

[Source: Matech]

Continue reading Video: Matech Competition teases its film Reborn

Video: Matech Competition teases its film Reborn originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auction Action: Steve Saleen's pre-pro Ford GT up for grabs in Monterey

Zach Bowman — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford, Celebrities

Steve Saleen's Ford GT Prototype - Click above for image gallery

Steve Saleen has apparently gotten it in his mind to auction off his personal Ford GT. While we're not exactly ones to go all star-crossed over a vehicle's ownership history, this particular car is more than a plain vanilla GT with Saleen's name on the title. In fact, the car was never titled at all because it's the fifth of nine prototype vehicles built before GT production got off of the ground in 2005. The car started life dipped in yellow, but received the blue on white treatment at some later point in history.

If the paint doesn't do anything for you, the fact that the car reportedly wears a hand-built twin-screw supercharger should. Supposedly, Saleen's GT was the only of the nine prototypes to receive the blessing of forced induction. The car currently has 4,000 miles on the odometer thanks to a lengthy stint in PR and a few movie appearances in the likes of The Fast and the Furious and Rocky Balboa - that's got to be worth something, right?

If Saleen's supercar sounds like something you wouldn't mind sticking in the garage, you'll need to check out the Russo and Steele auction at Monterey this weekend.

Gallery: Steve Saleen's Ford GT Prototype

[Source: Russo and Steele via Automobile]

Auction Action: Steve Saleen's pre-pro Ford GT up for grabs in Monterey originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Regrets, I've Had a Few: Jonny Lieberman bids farewell to Autoblog

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

A little over a month ago, I got a call from Jonny. Something was up. He was excited and anxious, and before the words "MacKenzie offered me a job, and I've accepted" came out of his mouth, I knew he was off to greener pastures.

I'm proud of a lot of things at Autoblog, but getting Dr. Lieberman on board is near the top of that list. And now he's gone, taking the Senior Editor position at Motor Trend after the buff book's editor-in-chief called and said, "We need to talk." Plenty of people have moved on from Autoblog over the years, but given Jonny's penchant for prose and never-say-die attitude, we asked him to pen a farewell letter before heading off to do some ludicrous comparison test for MT. You'll be missed, sir, so the floor is yours... one last time.

Damon Lavrinc - Senior Editor

Working at Autoblog has been one of the best experiences of my car-writing career. As you may or may not know, if there's a website about cars, odds are it's hoisted my byline at some point. From The Truth About Cars to Jalopnik to Clunkbucket and most points in between, I've cranked out some auto-centric virtual ink nearly everywhere. But Autoblog was the feather in my digital cap. No car website commands more respect, is more widely read or opens as many doors. And yeah, a pretty big door just got opened for me.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful men behind the screen. I've worked at some sites filled with mega-friendly people that weren't capable of pouring piss from a boot. Other places were hyper-competent and staffed almost totally with assholes. Autoblog combined near-ruthless professionalism with the kind of positive working environment you only dream about in any job. It really is a wonderful operation, one that sent me Japanese whiskey as a wedding gift. Thanks to Damon Lavrinc for always being in my corner and John Neff for not only giving me the chance, but for running such a tight ship. I'd like to thank especially Drew Phillips, "my photographer," for putting up with my right foot on all those canyon runs.

But of course, it's not all roses and sunshine. There are quite a few things I regret. In true Butthole Surfers fashion, allow me to quote, "Well son, the funny thing about regret is, it's better to regret something you have done, than to regret something you haven't done." Sadly, while there's nothing I regret doing at Autoblog (well, maybe SEMA), there's a whole slew of things I regret not doing. With that in mind, here's a small list of stuff that for one reason (lazy!) or another (extra lazy!) I never got around to sharing. Read on...

Continue reading Regrets, I've Had a Few: Jonny Lieberman bids farewell to Autoblog

Regrets, I've Had a Few: Jonny Lieberman bids farewell to Autoblog originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW Art Car and all-female Ford GT out of Le Mans

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, BMW, Ford

BMW Art Car and all-female Ford GT out of Le Mans - Click above for image gallery

Artist Jeff Koons' special paint scheme is now the only thing that makes the #79 BMW M3 GT2 Art Car look like it's moving. Just after starting the sixth hour of the 24 hours of Le Mans, the BMW was crawling around the track for the third time. Andy Priaulx pulled off the course onto the grass and began swerving back and forth as though he was out of fuel. Unfortunately, it was to no avail as the M3 rolled to a stop for good. The marshals pushed the car behind the guardrail and Priaulx set off on foot for the pits.

Meanwhile in GT1, the all-female team of Natacha Gachnang, Cyndie Allemann and Rahel Frey have finished their race in the #61 Ford GT as well. At about the same time the BMW Art Car gave up the ghost, Gachnang pulled over right in front of the marshal's stand at the Mulsanne corner with thick smoke pouring out of the Ford. Gachnang, who has been limping on crutches all week, was able to crawl out of the car just as the marshals arrived with fire extinguishers. At this point, we haven't heard the cause of the fire.

Gallery: BMW Art Car and all-female Ford GT out of Le Mans

[Source: Speed]

BMW Art Car and all-female Ford GT out of Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ferrari 250 GTO and Ford GT40 (sorta) reunited in Malibu

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Videos, Ford, Ferrari

Ferrari and Ford retro supercars on The Smoking Tire - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Any racing fan nut, automotive enthusiast or classic car nut worth his driving mocs knows the story of the Ford GT40. In the early 1960s Ferrari was on a six-time winning streak at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That's when Henry Ford II initiated proceedings to take over the Maranello sportscar-maker and racing team.

As the story goes, though, the notoriously intractable Enzo Ferrari didn't like the terms and canceled the deal at the 11th hour. Ford was left holding his hat and out of spite commissioned the GT40 with the explicit aim of knocking his Italian counterpart off his high (prancing) horse. The result was that, with the GT40, Ford won Le Mans four times in a row.

Now the Ferrari 250 GTO wasn't one of the cars that won at Le Mans during Ferrari's six-year reign. It was busy winning other categories during the same period. But that's alright, because the car in the video after the jump isn't a real GTO anyway. It is a real Ferrari, though: a 365 GTB/4 Daytona rebodied to look like a GTO. And it's not facing off against a GT40 either - that's actually the modern tribute, the 2005 Ford GT.

Do either of those facts mitigate the sight of seeing these cars take to the mountain roads outside Malibu, California? Hardly. But don't take our word for it, follow the jump to watch the video for yourself and see Matt Farrah of The Smoking Tire take the joyride of his life.

[Source: The Smoking Tire via RideLust]

Continue reading Video: Ferrari 250 GTO and Ford GT40 (sorta) reunited in Malibu

Video: Ferrari 250 GTO and Ford GT40 (sorta) reunited in Malibu originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 2005 Ford GTX1 prototype

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 20 May 2010 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Videos, Ford

Ford GTX1 Prototype - Click above for image gallery

The Ford GTX1 Prototype - as in, the car claimed to be the first GTX1 built - in its blemish-free debut color, Valencia Orange with Tungsten stripes, is being offered for sale on eBay. This car was to become a limited-run evolution of the Ford GT built by the Gennadi Design Group, the same folks who built the prototype. Gennadi planned to build 600: one hundred SEMA show cars, five hundred customer cars. That didn't happen, and only 100 ever made it to the road.

According to the seller, this very first GTX1 was created from the second Ford GT built in 2005, sold to Gennadi, who built it, and Gennadi sold it to its current owner in Atlanta. Recent dyno results paint a picture with 626 horsepower and 585 foot-pounds of torque at the rear wheels, which should keep you in the game even five years on.

At the time of writing, there are no takers on the opening bid stands at $300,000. If your well heeled fancy is being tickled, though, you can save yourself some time and click on the Buy It Now price of $525,000. Those not in the market can have less expensive fun in the gallery of high-res photos below, as well as the video after the jump in which one Jeremy Clarkson flogs this exact car (ProTip: fast-forward to 3:30). Top tip, Kip!

Gallery: Ford GTX1 Prototype #1

[Source: eBay Motors]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: 2005 Ford GTX1 prototype

eBay Find of the Day: 2005 Ford GTX1 prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Natacha Gachnang eyes Le Mans for post-crash return [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Sun, 16 May 2010 09:37:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Videos

Natacha Gachnang - Click above to watch her GT1 crash at Abu Dhabi after the jump

When we first spoke of Natacha Gachnang, she was racing in the nascent Formula Two series. This year, however, she's driving the Matech Ford GT in the FIA GT1 World Championship. Unfortunately, she was sidelined during the opening round at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina circuit after following a crash that broke her right leg in two places. By the closing laps, the Ford was leaking brake fluid, forcing Gachnang to compensate by applying extra pedal pressure. Heading into turn 8 at the end of the straight, her foot slipped and hit the accelerator instead, sending the car into the safety barrier at around 160 miles per hour.

Gachnang was rushed to nearby Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, where she's been recuperating from the double compound fracture, biding her time until she can put enough weight on the leg to drive again. She's hoping for a June return, just in time for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Meanwhile, Matech's tentatively pulled its Ford GT from the grid until it can figure out what caused the fluid leak in the first place. Gachnang's crash at Abu Dhabi was caught on tape and is available after the jump.

Gallery: Natacha Gachnang

[Source: FIA GT1 World Championship]

Continue reading Natacha Gachnang eyes Le Mans for post-crash return [w/video]

Natacha Gachnang eyes Le Mans for post-crash return [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 May 2010 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 FIA GT1 World Championship to include four Maserati MC12s

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:36:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Maserati, Racing

Maserati MC12 GT1 - Click above to enlarge

While GT1 cars have faded away from the American Le Mans Series, they're still running strong in other parts of the world. The 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship kicks off a 10-race series this weekend in Abu Dhabi with two dozen cars signed up, including a quartet of Maserati MC12s. The Maseratis are the defending GT1 champions and this year's new series will see them challenged by Ford GTs, Nissan GT-Rs, Lamborghini Murcielagos, Aston Martin DB9s and ex-works Chevy Corvettes.

The format for this year's events has been changed from a single two-hour race to a pair of one-hour sprints. Four events will be held outside Europe, including this weekend's races and December's season finale in Argentina.

[Source: Maserati, FIA]

Continue reading 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship to include four Maserati MC12s

2010 FIA GT1 World Championship to include four Maserati MC12s originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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