Ford GT LM Edition - the last special edition of the Ford GT!

Thomas Wachsmuth 5 October 2022 -> Cars from AZ, -> Tuner from AZ, Ford, Ford Performance, News vehicles

Reading time 6 Min.

Ford says goodbye to the third generation of the spectacular Ford GT* with a final special model. The so-called LM Edition adorns the last 20 examples of the 482 kW (655 hp) super sports car and once again pays tribute to the legendary success that the racing version of the Ford GT achieved at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans: in 2016 the mid-engine car was able to compete in its Debut winning the GTE class straight away. Exactly 50 years ago to the day, Ford had achieved the first victory of the Ford GT40 at the French endurance classic. Production of the exclusive Ford GT series model, which is already highly coveted by collectors, will finally come to an end at the end of the year.

Ford GT LM Edition

"With its innovative materials, extreme design and uncompromising construction, the Ford GT stands out from all other mass-produced supercars," said Mark Rushbrook, director of Ford Performance Motorsports. "The impending end of production of the production model gives us another opportunity to commemorate the sensational Le Mans triumph of 2016 and to give the GT LM Edition a lot of the heart and soul of the successful racing car."

Racing car design elements on the outside, asymmetrically designed interior

The carbon fiber body of the Ford GT LM Edition will receive a Liquid Silver base coat and a special red or blue color scheme, tying the gap to the Le Mans-winning #68 Ford GT. For this purpose, certain carbon elements of the super sports car, such as the front splitter, the side skirts and the door sill strips as well as the rear diffuser, are given a corresponding deep tint, which draws attention to the special aerodynamic properties of the high-performance vehicle. The engine compartment cover and the struts of the exterior mirrors also pick up on this design theme. In keeping with this, the 20-inch carbon fiber rims are given a high-gloss finish with red or blue accents on the inside, while the titanium wheel nuts and Brembo brake calipers are finished in black. The 3D printed titanium dual exhaust is particularly unique. The cyclone design of its tailpipes points to the 3,5-liter EcoBoost biturbo six-cylinder engine. The titanium "GT LM" lettering above the tailpipes also comes from the 3D printer.

Ford GT LM Edition - the last special edition of the Ford GT!

The interior is characterized by the exclusive Alcantara covers of the carbon fiber seats. On the driver's side, they are designed in red or blue to match the design theme of the body. The front passenger seat is decorated in ebony black with colour-coordinated topstitching. The instrument panel is covered with Alcantara and Ebony leather, the latter also adorns the inside of the spars and the headliner. There are also many matt, shimmering carbon fiber elements, for example for the center console, the air outlets or the lower A-pillars.

Exclusive model badges are made from the crankshaft of a Le Mans racing car

Each of the 20 Ford GT LM Edition examples carries a real piece of Le Mans history with it – in the form of the model plaque, which indicates the serial number of the limited special model on the dashboard. The specialists at Ford Performance make them from the same crankshaft that took third place at Le Mans in the 2016 Ford GT with starting number 69. At the end of the race, the entire engine was disassembled into its individual parts, analyzed in detail and then stored. The powder from the ground crankshaft now serves as the raw material from which the badges for the LM Edition vehicles are created using 3D printing.

50 years later: Re-enactment of the epic duel between Ford and Ferrari

The Ford GT LM Edition honors the tremendous success celebrated by the third generation of the iconic supercar at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans. Back then, Ford Performance sent four race cars into battle twice around the clock. In the end, it was the number 68 car with German Dirk Müller, local hero Sébastien Bourdais and American Joey Hand at the wheel that crossed the finish line first, exactly 50 years to the day after the historic overall victory of the Ford GT on the Circuit des 24 Heures crossed in the GTE class.

As in 1966, the 2016 race had developed into an epic duel between Ford and Ferrari. Only four hours before the end, the best-placed Ford GT was finally able to take the lead. Previously, Hand alone had overtaken his main rival with starting number 82 three times. Third place went to the #69 Ford GT, driven by Australian Ryan Briscoe, Brit Richard Westbrook and New Zealander Scott Dixon. Two more Ford GTs rounded out the remarkable result in fourth and ninth place. The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team had managed to turn the Ford GT into a winner in just 395 days.

Special editions of the Ford GT are reminiscent of great motorsport successes

The Ford GT LM Edition is the tenth special model of the high-performance sports car with which Ford is highlighting special milestones in its rich motorsport history - including, of course, the great success of the brand at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. An overview:

Ford GT Holman Moody Heritage Edition from 2022 (edition: 50 copies) - commemorates Ford's Le Mans triple victory in 1966 and the team's achievement at the time to develop a stable braking system for the Ford GT360 Mk II with a speed of over 40 km/h , which was able to cope with the immense continuous strain of the long-distance classic.
Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition of 2022 (50) - pays tribute to Alan Mann's Ford GT Mk I. The lightweight prototype provided the basis for success at the 24 Le Mans 1966 Hours.

Ford GT '64 Prototype Heritage Edition of 2022 (50) - honoring the first five Ford GT prototypes that laid the foundation for the supercar in 1964
66 Ford GT '2021 Daytona Heritage Edition (50) - based on the #98 Ford GT Mk II that won the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona and led an armada of four GT Mk II racers to finish first Five got there. It was the start of a remarkably successful season for Ford.
69 Ford GT '2020 Gulf Livery Heritage Edition (50) - in the livery of the #6 Ford GT Mk I that went unbeaten at Le Mans in 1969.

68 Ford GT '2019 Gulf Livery Heritage Edition (50) - commemorating the number 9 car that clinched the 1968 Circuit des 24 Heures trophy for Ford.
67 Ford GT '2018 Heritage Edition (39) - pays homage to the Ford GT Mk IV that repeated last year's Le Mans success in 1967 with the number 1 on the doors.
66 Ford GT '2017 Heritage Edition (27) - honors the legendary 40 #2 Ford GT1966 Mk II that achieved the first overall victory by an American sports car at Le Mans.

2006 Ford GT Gulf Livery Heritage Edition (343) - Refers to two consecutive Le Mans victories in 1968 and 1969.

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