The very first brand new Ford GTs have just been delivered, but nostalgia for its predecessor is still strong, making this auction car a very special one.
The very first functional Ford GT prototype that was built in 2003 and was inspired by the legendary Ferrari-crushing GT40s that won Le Mans in the late 1960s is up for auction by Russo and Steele in Scottsdale. The car, nicknamed CP-1 for Confirmation Prototype 1, is the very first Ford GT prototype to be fully functional, meaning it was the first one with a working engine, drivetrain, and full interior. The previous ones were non-running shells that were just for display.
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This Ford GT, with VIN 004, is unique because it features a raft of non-production parts and components like Mustang airbags and a steering column from a Ford Windstar minivan. It also has many design features that can only be found on this prototype and no other Ford GTs in existence like a carbon fiber rear clamshell, which didn’t make it to production models because of the high cost.
The car is also signed by 13 members of the original Ford GT design team, including Bill Ford and Carroll Shelby.
There is one big problem with this Ford GT CP-1 prototype, however. Although it has a fully functional powertrain, engineers installed a chip in its engine in 2008 that limits its top speed to 5 mph, so the car can only be used for display. There was no word on whether this can be reversed. The auction will be held in Scottsdale, Ariz., from Jan. 18-22.
