• the 2006 ford gt shown here has a current bid of $497,777 on the bring a trailer auction website.
• the car shows 15,000 miles on its odometer.
• bidding ends monday, march 21.
ford made quite a stir with the current second-generation of its gt supercar, which is now in its final year of production after being developed in secret for its 2017 model-year debut. along with generally wowing the automotive masses with its distinctive flying-buttressed rear fenders, it won its class in the 24 hours of le mans endurance race on the golden anniversary of ford's first overall victory in 1966. but as tributes to ford's original gt40 go, the first-gen gt that launched for 2005 remains just as striking and arguably even more iconic. it is with that in mind that we highlight this 2006 ford gt as our pick of the day on the bring a trailer auction website—which, like car and driver, is part of hearst autos.
ford's first gt earned its share of accolades over the course of its life cycle. we called it “a skillful reincarnation of a classic sports racer” in a 2005 comparison test. impressively well-mannered for a mid-engine beast, its 550-hp supercharged 5.4-liter v-8 could launch it to 60 mph in a little over three seconds. the gt's low-slung bodywork—including door cutouts in the roof and a nearly horizontal rear window—remains effortlessly cool, and its visceral appeal is bolstered by a standard six-speed stick and a spinning blower right behind your head.
compared to today's carbon-fiber-intensive gt and its escaped-racecar levels of refinement, this mostly aluminum-constructed version from earlier in the century is more livable day-to-day yet still drops jaws like an exotic car should.
this particular example was built towards the end of the first gt's two-year production run and wears the $13,000 heritage edition getup, its light-blue-and-orange paint harking back to the gulf oil liveries worn by the gt40 racers of the 1960s. inside the black leather-trimmed cabin you'll find toggle switch controls, a tilting and telescoping steering column, and carbon-fiber-shelled sport seats. factory options include a mcintosh audio system upgrade and forged bbs wheels measuring 18 inches in front and 19 inches in back, though we'll argue those rollers should be finished in orange to complete the retro-racer look. while originally registered in new york, this car found its way to california and nevada, and currently is for sale in arkansas with a clean carfax report, a california title, and an indicated 15,000 miles on its odometer.
underscoring the gt's attraction, the current bid on its bring a trailer page is $497,777—more than three times its $150,000 base price in 2006 and close to what the newer gt costs in its standard trim. with three days left in the auction, we wouldn't be surprised if the original gt's heritage pushes that figure even higher.