2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition Teased, Pays Tribute To ’66 GT40 Mark II That Won 24 Hours Of Daytona

Ford will use Petersen Car Week to introduce the 2021 GT Heritage Edition and a new Studio Collection graphics package.

Set to be unveiled on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. EDT, the 2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition will pay tribute to the 1966 GT40 Mark II that won the 24 Hours of Daytona.

The company is keeping details under wraps, but the teaser video shows it will have a retro-inspired livery that echoes the classic race car. As you can see, the 2021 GT Heritage Edition has a white exterior with red accents and “98” badging on the doors. The model also has retro-inspired wheels and “Ford” lettering on the rear quarter panels.

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Ford didn’t say much else about the Heritage Edition, but it pays tribute to an iconic race car that was born from a fierce rivalry. As you’re undoubtedly aware, Ford attempted to buy Ferrari but negotiations ended without a deal.

Ford wouldn’t accept defeat as they were determined to become a player in “performance motorsports.” As a result, the company created the High Performance and Special Models Operation Unit after talks with Ferrari were called off. They were given the task of building a race car that had the “potential to compete successfully in major road races such as Sebring and Le Mans.”

Unfortunately, the original cars floundered as Ford admitted “endurance was an issue in every race they entered.” The disasters left the racing program in “shambles,” but Ford redoubled their efforts and put Carroll Shelby in operational control of the program.

Shelby and a team of experts – including Roy Lunn and Ken Miles – went to work revamping the car and added wider magnesium wheels, lightweight fiberglass and improved ducting which provided an extra 79 hp (59 kW / 80 PS). They also made more than hundred other modifications and thanks to these changes the “GT40 not only looked like a racing car, it performed like one.”

The revised GT40 proved its potential on the track, but Ferrari dominated time trials at Le Mans in 1965. However, Ford was working a new version of the GT known as the GT40X.  It featured a 7.0-liter engine and two cars were prepared for the race.

One of them set a lap record of 3:33, besting the Ferraris by approximately five seconds. However, “preparing the cars on such a short timetable led to costly mistakes, and none of the Ford factory cars even completed the first half of the race.”

Following the disaster, Ford decided to focus its efforts on the 7.0-liter car. It underwent extensive changes including modifications to the body, suspension, fuel system and brakes. The changes were so great that the model was now called the GT40 Mark II.

While the car is best known for its 1-2-3 victory at Le Mans in 1966, Ford noted its first win came at the 24 Hours of Daytona.  The No. 98 car was driven by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby, and marked Ford’s first 24-hour endurance victory.