A Ford Unlike Any Other
The Ford GT is one of the most significant models in the brand’s lineup, created to celebrate the brand’s Le Mans legacy, particularly its rivalry with Ferrari in the 1960s. It also served as a halo car and true supercar, showcasing the automaker’s engineering capabilities beyond the mass-market appeal of models like the F-150.
Those factors, however, are not the only reasons this 2006 Ford GT stands out. The car was originally owned by motoring journalist Jeremy Clarkson and was even featured in an episode of Top Gear, though not exactly for the reasons enthusiasts might expect. Even so, that history could add to the car’s appeal and value now that it is up for sale.
Awkward First Impression
Posted by carlhartley1 on Instagram, this 2006 Ford GT is one of just 101 EU-supplied examples. Based on its Top Gear appearance, the car had issues from the first day Clarkson owned it. It would not start because of a faulty immobilizer, so instead of driving off in style in a Blue Oval-badged supercar, he left in a Toyota Corolla Verso.
After Ford sorted that out, the alarm then kept going off, even in the middle of the night. The tracking system also repeatedly alerted that the vehicle had been stolen. Clarkson thought Ford might lend him an Aston Martin DB9, back when it still owned the British luxury marque, or perhaps a Range Rover. Instead, he was given a diesel-powered Focus Estate.
Now, the car has accumulated 28,000 miles and comes with “fantastic service history.” It is powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 producing 550 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, with power sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission. That was the standard configuration for the first-generation GT, of which 4,038 examples were built between 2004 and 2006.
A Legend With Extra Character
The listing does not disclose an asking price, though Clarkson left a comment saying, “I hope they’ve fixed the alarm.” For reference, first-generation Ford GTs in the U.S. typically sell for around half a million dollars, while special examples such as the Heritage Edition can command even more.
Ford introduced a second-generation GT in 2017, though it replaced the V8 with a twin-turbocharged V6. For now, a direct successor does not appear to be on the horizon, with the Mustang GTD currently serving as the brand’s halo car.
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