by Wallace Wyss –
Way back, before the ’05-’06 Ford GT production car, there was another mid-engined Ford GT concept.
That car was ultra modern, and ironically designed by Camilo Pardo, the same bloke what did the ’05-’06.
It had a quad-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 that produced an estimated 720 horsepower. It was lightweight, with a body of carbon fiber and top speed was estimated to be somewhere in the 250 mph range.
RM Auctions offered it in its 2010 Arizona sale in what they described as “excellent running condition, having been properly stored and maintained over the year.”
I checked the results and apparently the Ford GT90 was withdrawn from the auction.
Now the question is: why would they sell a concept car? GM is deathly afraid to let concept cars go to the public because they often don’t meet any existing safety or emissions laws for that model year.
The car was labeled as “the world’s mightiest supercar” by Ford Motor Company on December 6, 1994, who claimed it was the spiritual successor to the Ford GT40, a car which they described as “the product of a colossal feud in the early 1960s between the Blue Oval from Dearborn and the Prancing Horse of Northern Italy.”
They claimed that it drew its design cues form the GT40 though of course, the concept was sidelined and they started anew on a more direct copy of the GT40, the ’05-’06 Ford GT.
The GT90 cost $3 million to develop. It is a little odd that it only had a 5-speed but there ya be.
It was developed by Ford’s SVT group in only six months, and used some parts from a Jag XJ-220 a production supercar made in England as Ford owned Jag at the time.
The engine, was described by Ford as a 48-valve six-liter V12, with four Garrett Systems T2 turbochargers needed to reach its estimated 720 horsepower.
Incredibly it was based on two Lincoln V8 engines, engineers removed the last pair of cylinders from the rear of one engine and the first pair of cylinders from the front of the other engine. The cut-down engines were then welded together with the final result being a 90-degree V12, which utilized a 90.2 mm bore and a 77.3 mm stroke to achieve maximum power.
The FFD-Ricardo five-speed manual gearbox was from the XJ220 as was the all around double wishbone suspension.
The styling was called the “Edge” philosophy which was thrown out when they realized the public only wanted a car that looked traditional GT40.
The chassis is formed out of a honey-comb sectioned aluminum monocoque.
Ford GT90 – Short Show Career
After its unveiling in Detroit, the Ford GT90 made the rounds of the Auto Show Circuit in 1995, traveling to Frankfurt and as far away as Tokyo. With few other showings in between, the car recently was shipped over to Europe to be on display in the Ford of Europe 2008 exhibit at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. After returning home, the car was shipped to Alabama where it was on display as part of the Mustang 45th Anniversary Celebration.
The only thing I can speculate as to why Ford sold the Ford GT90 is that, if anybody remembers the year 2008, it was when the Big Three automakers hit the fan, and there was talk all three would go under. The newly elected president got loans to GM and Chrysler but Ford decided to tighten its belt and do it without loans and they survived. But they sold everything but the kitchen sink to do that…
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Wallace Wyss
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is the co-author of the limited edition book on the ’05-’06 models Ford GT40 and the New Ford GT. Information on availability can be had by sending your email address to litamakati2@gmail.com.
I like it. They should have produced a legal version of it. i think that would have been a seller.
I since talked to the head designer on the car, C. Pardo, who says though the drivetrain functioned it was not street drivable. It was not a development prototype but a concept car, meant only to show a design to the public.
The auction company also responded, confirming they pulled it but can’t explain why.
I know exactly where the car is and I touched it with my own hands just today.
Drivable?
Yes although it’s been sitting for quite some time.
Where at?
The GT90 is in a museum at Hajek Motorsports Museum in Ames, Oklahoma.