No, we don’t usually get into the whole realm of supercars in this feature, as how many of us really have that kind of money? But look at this thing. Ford’s new GT is definitely worth dreaming about… and perhaps cashing out the old 401k a bit early for (I never did say I was a qualified financial advisor). With its pin-up worthy low slung looks a definite homage to the original Ferrari-slaying GT40 prototypes of the 1960s, this is a car that is at once aware of its illustrious heritage and determined to surpass it. Specifically built and marketed for a triumphant return to LeMans in 2016 on the 50th anniversary of the GT40s remarkable 1-2-3 overall finish in 1966, the new iteration will compete in the GTE Pro class of production cars against Corvette Stingrays, Ferrari 458s, Porsche 911s, Audi R8s, and Astin Martin Vantages. Which is maybe a bit unfair since not even those elite rides come close to the estimated 2017 GT’s $400,000 true-supercar price tag. Nonetheless, the Ford Motor Company is shrewdly betting on the historic resonance of their return to Le Mans to motivate a new generation of gearheads to worship at the altar of the Blue Oval. And if they’re not able to afford the GT perhaps they’ll at least pony up for a new Mustang.

With help in racing development from major league motorsport player Chip Gannasi Racing and their all-star lineup of drivers, including the venerable king of sports cars Scott Pruett and the excellent former DTM driver Joey Hand among other potential all-star cameos, preparation will include a twin-track effort in 2016 Tudor Series events in the States and World Endurance Championship races in Europe. Clearly, Ford is aiming to be competitive by the time they roll off the truck for their LeMans debut in mid-June of next year. That may be overly ambitious, as very few Le Mans programs are successful in their first year, and that includes Ford’s rocky early efforts to take it to Ferrari in 1964-5 before breaking through to dominance in ’66. In motorsport, as in all sports and life in general, you’ve very often got to fail before you succeed. But with a pedal-to-the-metal effort fully supported by the factory in Dearborn, the new GT should still get towards the sharp end of the field rather quickly.

As always in endurance racing, the cars’ durability will be key. With an all-carbon fiber monocoque and aluminum front and rear subframes it should be interesting to see how this new GT survives under variable loads at a big, hybrid road-oval course like the 24 Hours of Daytona. And with active push rod suspension and aerodynamic elements like a reactive rear wing, a brutally bumpy course like Sebring could also throw up some challenges vis a vis component failure over its bone-rattling 12 hours. But with carbon-ceramic brakes, a seven-speed dual clutch transmission and mid-mounted twin-turbo 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 set to deliver a promised 600-horsepower, the power-to-weight ratio, acceleration and stopping power should be very impressive. There’s no reason the new GT shouldn’t succeed eventually — the entire company is behind the project after years of watching Dodge Vipers and Chevy Corvettes take the glory of victory at Le Mans with all of the attendant Detroit bragging rights that entails. in fact, on paper the GT looks like an over engineered M1 Abrams set to do battle with a solid but outclassed M60 Patton of a Corvette. But that’s how it is in racing sometimes. One day you’re king of the world, the next your car can’t compete against the new challengers. So it was with the original GTs when the Porsche 917 finally stopped their streak at LeMans in 1970. And so Ford is hoping it will be with the new GT against the other top contenders in the LM GTE Pro class.

Ford’s original dream machine, a mid-1960s GT40 Prototype

Of course, races aren’t won on paper and the GT remains a gorgeous and tantalizing but untested commodity. I personally expect a year of two of teething problems during active competition before it starts stomping on the proven Corvette, Porsche and Ferrari programs. And by that time we here at MLF are hoping to have made enough money to consider buying one when they become available to the public. A chap can dream, after all, and a Ford GT has always been the stuff of fantasy. This new 2017 version is certainly no exception.