Beschreibung:

SOLD ON BEHALF OF THE PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE The first customer Ford GT in the world 2005 FORD GT Chassis No. 10 Exterior paint colors and options to be selected upon auction close. Engine: mid-engine, supercharged and intercooled DOHC V8, 5,400cc, 300ci, 500bhp at 6,500rpm; Gearbox: six-speed manual; Suspension: front and rear control arms with coil springs; Brakes: four wheel disc with ABS. Left hand drive. In the automotive world, there are scant few opportunities to own the very first of a legend. But that is exactly the opportunity presented here, the chance to own the first production 2005 Ford GT offered for sale to the public. Chassis number 10 will be certified by Ford Motor Company as the first 2005 Ford GT sold. The "world debut" of the new Ford GT came during Ford's Centennial event in Dearborn, Michigan, this past June. There, Ford paraded the "red, white and blue" embodied in production cars #1, #2 and #3 (all Ford-owned 2004 Ford GT production cars) - and its significance was not lost on enthusiasts. For them, the great American supercar traces its roots to the mid-1960s, when Ford fielded a purpose-built, muscular racing car to win Le Mans and other FIA endurance races. The famed Ford GT project was spearheaded by no less a powerhouse than company Chairman and CEO Henry Ford II. His goal was to change performance car history. Sure enough, the Ford GT dethroned Italian automaker Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, placing 1-2-3 in this most prestigious of all international racing events. Until then, Ferrari had "owned" Le Mans, winning the title the six previous years. Ford went on to win again in 1967, this time with a Ford GT Mark IV driven by Americans A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney. A third Ford GT won again in 1968 and 1969. To celebrate that great era in history while looking forward to the great years to come, the Ford GT40 concept car was created and unveiled at the 2002 North American International Auto Show. Just 45 days after the concept became an instant sensation, Ford stunned the world again, officially announcing a production version of the car. Much to the delight of supporters of the project, the production version is remarkably true to the design concept, which itself bears a strong resemblance to the original. Although the new production car and the original race car both share the mystique of the Ford GT name, they do not share a single dimension. The new car is more than 18 inches longer and stands nearly 4 inches taller. Its new lines draw upon and refine the best features of Ford GT history and express the car's identity through modern proportion and surface development. The car features a long front overhang reminiscent of 1960s-era race cars. But its sweeping cowl, subtle accent lines and high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlamps strike a distinctly contemporary pose. The front fenders curve over 18-inch wheels and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires. In the tradition of original Ford GT racers, the doors cut into the roof. Prominent on the leading edge of the rear quarter panel are functional cooling scoops that channel fresh air to the engine. The rear wheel wells, filled with 19-inch wheels and tires, define the rear of the car, while the accent line from the front cowl rejoins and finishes the car's profile at the integrated "ducktail" spoiler. Interior comfort considerations had two effects on the exterior styling of the Ford GT. To increase passenger headroom, the engineering team wanted to raise the roof height. However, the design team felt the low profile was an essential aspect of the Ford GT design. The engineers and design team fought for each millimeter, finally agreeing to raise the roof 17 millimeters above that of the concept. Then there was the issue of the concept's flush-mounted windows. Engineers knew that fixed windows simply would not be acceptable in a modern supercar, and drop-down windows created a packaging nightmare. A series of elaborate aper