Ford has been doing a lot of cool stuff lately and some of it can be seen at the corporate display inside the 14th annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction venue. Aside from the Shelby GT350 Mustang, Ford has been teasing us with the new Ford GT, a modern take on the GT40 that became the subject of legend by beating Ferrari and taking first through third in the 24 Hours of LeMans some 50 years ago.
With the anniversary upon us, the reborn Ford GT is very much in the spotlight. Among the cars crossing the block at Barrett-jackson is a 2006 Heritage Edition Ford GT that has been driven less than five miles since it was built.
Factory stickers still applied in addition to plastic coversWhile the car is 10 years old, it’s basically a new car because as it is one of 343 Ford GTs in Heritage Editions colors, this one has been driven less distance that a single lap around the Le Mans circuit. Not only that, but it still has all of its factory transport stickers and the shrink wrap on the steering wheel and the seats.
As I looked at the car, I couldn’t help but imagine getting behind the wheel and letting the supercharged, mid-mounted, 5.4-liter V8 exercise its 500 horsepower.
But would doing so diminish its value as a collector car? Would mileage on the odometer decrease its value on the block?
I laughed as I spied a 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC not far away. The Ferrari figures to be among the most expensive cars selling at Barrett-Jackson, assuming, of course, that bidders reach its reserve.
1968 Ferrari 330 GTCThe 330 GTC also is something of legend, combining the sporting essence of the 275 GTB and the luxurious features of the 330 GT 2+2. The 330 GTC combined the most desirable aspects of those cars to produce a very well-rounded automobile, and this one has a documented history and has undergone a full restoration.
It struck me that here is another sort of Ford vs. Ferrari moment. What if you could afford to buy one of these cars? Would you take off all the plastic and tear up the streets in the Ford GT, or would you leave it as is? And what of the Ferrari? Now that it has undergone restoration, would you continue to drive it or try to preserve it as is?
My vote would be to drive either one.
Ford’s winning at LeMans was a direct result of Enzo Ferrari, at the last minute, telling Henry Ford that Ferrari Sa was no longer for sale. Ford was so incensed he was determined to crush Ferrari at LeMans. Ford spend millions doing that and Enzo Ferrari just laughed at him. After all, the name Ferrari was magical. Ford was, ho hum, Ford.
My vote? The 330 GTC, as it has the styling and Ferrari legacy and heritage. Plus at 6’3″ I can drive a 330 in comfort, GT 40 is a tight fit.