Ford GT history: the 2005–2006 supercar, the 2017–2022 carbon GT and the Mk IV

Ford GT history

Ford pitched the first-generation GT as a modern reading of the 1960s GT40. Production ran across the 2005 and 2006 model years; RM Sotheby's records 4,038 cars in total, 2,022 of them for model year 2005, and each car began in Ohio before being finished at Ford's SVT facility in Michigan. Power came from a 5.4-liter supercharged DOHC V8 rated at 550 hp.

The second GT was revealed as a surprise at the 2015 Detroit auto show and went into production in December 2016 at Multimatic in Markham, Ontario. Ford rated its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 at 647 hp and 550 lb-ft and measured a 216-mph top speed, making it the fastest production Ford. A race version won the LMGTE Pro class at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, 50 years after the GT40's first win there.

Buyers for the EcoBoost GT were chosen through an application process. Ford added 350 cars to the run in October 2018, output rose to 660 hp from 2020, and production ended in December 2022 with 1,350 built, the last 20 being the GT LM Edition. Ford Performance and Multimatic then built the GT Mk IV, a 67-unit track car with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 rated at more than 820 hp.[1],[2],[4],[5],[6],[9],[10]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The 2005–2006 GT's 5.4-liter V8 was a supercharged DOHC 32-valve engine rated at 550 hp.
• Ford's January 2017 release rated the new GT's 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 at 647 hp and 550 lb-ft (SAE) and recorded a 216-mph top speed, the highest of any production Ford.
• From the 2020 model year the GT's V6 was rated at 660 hp; the car kept its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
• The track-only GT Mk IV moved to a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 built by Roush Yates Engines, rated at more than 820 hp.

Sources:[1],[5],[9],[10]

What changed, generation by generation

1. 2005First-generation GT goes on sale at $139,995 with four factory options: painted stripes, McIntosh stereo, forged BBS wheels and painted brake calipers.
2. 2006Final year of the first generation; 343 Heritage Edition cars built.
3. 2017Carbon-fiber second-generation GT enters production (December 2016) with a 647-hp EcoBoost V6; buyers chosen by application.
4. 2018Ford extends the run by 350 cars to 1,350.
5. 2020Output rises to 660 hp.
6. 2022Production ends in December with 20 GT LM Edition cars.
7. 2023 on67-unit, track-only GT Mk IV with a 3.8-liter V6 and 820+ hp.

Sources:[1],[3],[4],[6],[9],[10]

What to check before you buy one

• On a 2005–2006 car, confirm which of the four factory options it has (stripes, McIntosh stereo, BBS wheels, painted calipers) against the build record; auction catalogs describe these cars by option count.
• For a claimed Heritage Edition, confirm the 2006 build and Heritage livery from factory documentation; 343 were made.
• Second-generation GTs were sold under an application process that required buyers to keep the car for an extended period, so review the ownership and title history before buying.
• Check open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
• Many GTs have very low mileage; on a car that has sat for years, budget for age-related service such as tires and fluids before driving it hard.

Engine guides: 3.5L EcoBoost V6.

Ford GT prices and values

Launch price: the 2005 Ford GT listed at $139,995 (RM Sotheby's catalog).[1],[2],[3],[4],[10]

2017–2022 GT: Ford told CNBC in October 2022 that GT pricing started around $500,000. A 2020 GT's window sticker showed $612,190 with options.[1],[2],[3],[4],[10]

RM Sotheby's Arizona, January 2024 (Lot 163): a 2,470-mile 2005 Ford GT sold for $434,000.[1],[2],[3],[4],[10]

RM Sotheby's Monterey, August 2025 (Lot 255): a single-owner 2020 Ford GT with about 660 miles sold for $995,000.[1],[2],[3],[4],[10]

RM Sotheby's Miami 2026 (Lot 187): a 662-mile 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition sold for $967,500.[1],[2],[3],[4],[10]

How to verify a Ford GT's factory options

A Ford GT's value depends heavily on its factory specification: on 2005–2006 cars, whether it has all four options or is a Heritage Edition; on 2017–2022 cars, paint, stripe and carbon-fiber options that added tens of thousands of dollars to the sticker.

Every road-going Ford GT is a modern car with a 17-character VIN; 2005–2006 cars carry VINs beginning 1FAFP90S, as seen in RM Sotheby's catalog listings.[11]