2022 Ford GT Heritage Edition supercar pays homage to the 1964 Ford GT

The Ford GT is modern supercar with deep ties to Ford racing history. And throughout the years, Ford has made several special edition variants of the GT.

As a tribute to the Ford GT supercar, the prototype vehicle that gave life to the program more than a half-century ago, Ford is introducing the 2022 Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition. The limited-edition vehicle is inspired by the 1964 Ford GT prototype that debuted at the New York International Auto Show on April 3, 1964 and went on to become America’s only Le Mans-winning supercar.

“This is the first Ford GT Heritage Edition that goes beyond celebrating race wins – this one goes deep, and honors the earliest of Ford supercar heritage,” said Mike Severson, Ford GT program manager. “The Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition is a modern interpretation of the original, with no mistaking what this car is paying tribute to.”

The Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition is sharing the spotlight at Monterey Car Week, with the only remaining 1964 Ford GT prototype, GT/105, still wearing the original livery.

Limited-edition run honoring the five original GT prototypes
The Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition supercar wears Wimbledon White paint with Antimatter Blue graphics, including an over-the-roof triple racing stripe. Exposed carbon fiber components are prominent, including 20-inch Antimatter Blue-painted carbon fiber wheels, a touch unique to Ford GT, as well as an exposed carbon fiber front splitter, side sills, mirror stalks, engine louvers and rear diffuser finished in gloss. Brembo brake calipers lacquered in silver with black graphics, plus black lug nuts further modernize the aesthetic.

Carbon fiber carries into the cabin as well, with carbon fiber door sills, lower A-pillars and console, along with matte carbon fiber registers. Lightspeed Blue Alcantara-wrapped carbon fiber seats feature silver stitching, while seating surfaces and head restraints are embossed with the GT logo. The instrument panel is wrapped in Ebony leather and Lightspeed Blue Alcantara, while pillars and headliner are wrapped in Ebony Alcantara. Antimatter Blue appliqués on the instrument panel, door register bezels and seat X-brace are coordinated with the unique wheels. The steering wheel is finished in Ebony Alcantara with black stitching, while dual-clutch paddle shifters are clear and polished.

“There are a lot of milestone moments in the history of Ford GT that we’ve celebrated, but the team was unanimous in believing the original prototype was the right vehicle this time around,” Severson said. “That 1964 prototype unleashed the creative genius of the Ford Advanced Vehicles team and paved the way for the Ford GT program. It put all of this in motion.”

Original Ford GT prototypes underscore ingenuity and speed
With the objective of beating Ferrari and winning Le Mans, Ford began development of its own race car in 1963, and less than a year later, the Ford GT prototype (chassis GT/101) was revealed at the 1964 New York International Auto Show.

Five GT prototypes were built – the first Ford models to use deep aerodynamic analysis to optimize high-speed performance. These are some of the most significant cars produced by Ford, marking the foundation for the GT program that culminated in the company’s 1-2-3 sweep at Le Mans in 1966. The cars symbolize the groundbreaking engineering that continues at Ford with the 2022 Ford GT Heritage Edition.

Of the five Ford GT prototypes built, chassis GT/105 is the only one to survive and wear the period-correct livery.
Chassis GT/101 and GT/102 were scrapped after Le Mans and Monza crash testing, but that testing was critical in making significant improvements to GT/103, GT/104 and GT/105. Marking the first GT victory, GT/103 won at Daytona in 1965 with Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby behind the wheel, while GT/104 placed third with Bob Bondurant and Ritchie Ginther. Both GT/103 and GT/104 have been repainted and are exclusive displays at the Shelby Museum in Boulder, Colorado.

Building on the Heritage Edition series
The Ford GT Heritage Edition series has celebrated landmark moments, and of course Le Mans-winning titles. To date, the new 2022 Ford GT ’64 Heritage Edition marks the sixth in the ultra-limited-production series. These include:
• 2021 Ford GT ’66 Daytona Heritage Edition
Honoring the Ford GT MK II No. 98 race car
In production

• 2020 Ford GT ’69 Gulf Livery Heritage Edition
Honoring the Ford GT40 MK I No. 6 race car that was victorious at 1969 Le Mans
Only 50 built

• 2019 Ford GT ’68 Gulf Livery Heritage Edition
Honoring Ford GT40 MK I No. 9 race car that was victorious at 1968 Le Mans
Only 50 built

• 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition
Honoring Ford GT40 MK IV No. 1 race car that was victorious at Le Mans in 1967
Only 39 built

• 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition
Honoring Ford GT40 MK II No. 2 that Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon drove at 1966 Le Mans
Only 27 built

• 2006 Ford GT Gulf Livery Heritage Edition
Commemorating GT40’s back-to-back 24 Hours of Le Mans titles in 1968 and 1969
Only 343 built

The 2022 Ford GT is available to order for approved Ford GT customers. Production is scheduled to begin in January.

As far as supercars go, the GT is a special one. It boasts both modern supercar looks, but also still pays homage to the rich heritage of the GT name. It’s good that Ford still offers this niche car and even better that they continue to honor their history with these special editions.

If you’re like me, you can’t afford one, but it’s fun to dream. What do you think of the GT? Share your thoughts below.

Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter, at his special Ford F-150 coverage on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can read the most of Jimmy's stories by searching Torque News Ford for daily Ford vehicle report.