Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Another Ford GT special edition?! Ford was only going to build 500 cars initially, but they’ve clearly taken a page out of Lamborghini’s playbook, introducing one special edition after another as they milk this cash cow till the bitter end. What started out as a small production run of 500 vehicles over two years has turned into a much longer affair, with a total of 1,350 Ford GTs to be built by the time production ends this year.
As a tribute to Alan Mann Racing’s 1966 Ford GT lightweight experimental prototypes, Ford is introducing the Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition, a limited-edition run that celebrates the role the prototypes played in the history of the development of the Ford GT.
“Whether it’s going like hell at the racetrack or out-innovating the competition, the Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition honors the vehicles that helped lead Ford to its wins,” said Mike Severson, Ford GT program manager. “With its red and gold livery, this Ford GT is inspired by Alan Mann Racing’s contribution to our Le Mans-winning story.”
In 1965-66, Alan Mann Racing used lighter materials to create AM GT-1, along with a second car, based on the GT Mk I. While neither prototype won a major race, the use of lightweight materials was similar to what helped Ford win Le Mans with the GT Mk II in 1966.
This spirit continues in today’s Ford GT supercar, with its lightweight carbon fiber body cloaked as a GT Heritage Edition for 2022 in colors and stripes inspired by the AM GT-1.
Limited-edition run pays tribute to the original
In addition to wearing unique Alan Mann red exterior paint with gold graphics, this limited-edition GT includes a dual over-the-roof racing stripe, Frozen White signature accent stripes and roundels with No. 16 on the doors, hood and underside of the rear wing.
Carbon fiber carries into the cabin, appearing on door sills, console and registers. Ebony Alcantara-wrapped carbon fiber seats feature gold and red accent stitching, while embossed seating surfaces and head restraints carry the GT logo. The instrument panel is wrapped in Ebony leather and Alcantara, while pillars and headliner are wrapped in Ebony Alcantara.
Gold appliqués on the instrument panel, door register bezels and seat X-brace are paired with the matte carbon fiber registers, door sills, lower A-pillars and console. The steering wheel is finished in Ebony Alcantara with black stitching, while dual-clutch paddle shifters are finished in exterior-matching Alan Mann red.
Honoring early Ford GT racing efforts
Wrapping up its final year of production, the 2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition pays tribute to Alan Mann Racing and the support the team provided from England in 1965. Lessons learned from Alan Mann Racing improved the capabilities of the Ford GT40 and led to its third- and fourth-fastest times in the 1966 Le Mans trials.
Ultimately, the Le Mans committee chose to run the heavier and more powerful 7.0-liter V8 race cars for the rest of the 1966 season, which culminated in a 1-2-3 podium sweep for Ford at Le Mans, ending the run of the English team’s lightweight version.
“It’s a great honor for Alan Mann Racing and the Mann family to celebrate the epic motorsports heritage of Ford GT with this fantastic limited-edition car,” said Henry Mann, director, Alan Mann Racing Ltd. “To see the red and gold colors of our team’s livery come back to life, and to debut this new GT alongside one of our original GT40s in Chicago, will be a magical occasion.”
Further building on the Heritage Edition series
The Ford GT Heritage Edition series celebrates the supercar’s landmark moments including, of course, its Le Mans-winning titles. The 2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition marks the seventh in the ultra-limited-production series. These include:
- 2022 Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition honoring GT roots and the earliest five original Ford GT prototypes
- 2021 Ford GT Heritage Edition honoring No. 98 Ford GT Mk II co-driven by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby to Ford’s 1-2-3-5 domination at Daytona in 1966, kicking off a magical season for the Ford GT40 Mk II
- 2020 Ford GT ’69 Heritage Edition honoring No. 6 Ford GT40 Mk I that was victorious at Le Mans in 1969
- 2019 Ford GT ’68 Heritage Edition honoring No. 9 Ford GT40 Mk I that was victorious at Le Mans in 1968
- 2018 Ford GT ’67 Heritage Edition honoring No. 1 Ford GT40 Mk IV that was victorious at Le Mans in 1967
- 2017 Ford GT ’66 Heritage Edition honoring No. 2 Ford GT40 Mk II co-driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon at Le Mans in 1966
- 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition commemorating GT40’s back-to-back 24 Hours of Le Mans titles in 1968 and 1969
The 2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition is available for approved Ford GT customers, with first deliveries taking place this quarter. Click here for more information.
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