Ford News: Ford Expands Production of the GT (Again)

[William Maley]

---

When Ford introduced the GT, they made it very clear it would be a limited run affair. 500 models would be built over the course of two years. Then the company expanded the amount to 1,000 vehicles that would be built over four years. Now, Ford has expanded the pool of GTs again.

An additional 350 GTs will be built, bringing the grand total to 1,350. This also means a longer production run. Previously, Ford was going to wrap up production in 2020, but has pushed it back to 2022. If you were one of the many people who applied for a GT and didn't get one, Ford will be opening the application process one more time beginning on November 8th and have it running for 30 days. Prospective owners will find out if they got the approval early next year.

“By extending the Ford GT production run for a limited period, we’re able to maintain the exclusivity of the ultra-desirable supercar while offering the ownership experience to a greater number of customers,” said Hermann Salenbauch, Ford Performance director.

Somehow, we doubt many Ford GT owners will have the same view.

Source: Ford

---

Ford Increasing GT Production To Make Ownership Dreams A Reality For 350 More Supercar Fans

• Due to the popularity of Ford GT, Ford is raising the number of supercars it will build to 1,350 – up from 1,000; Ford GT production will run for a total of approximately six years
• Ford is re-opening the final owner application process for select global markets on Nov. 8; prospective owners can submit their applications at FordGT.com for 30 days 
• Previous applicants need to confirm or modify their original application to be considered in this final application window to own a Ford GT

Dearborn, Mich., Oct. 18, 2018 – Ford Motor Company is increasing Ford GT production to 1,350 vehicles after more than 6,500 applicants raced to sign up for the original 1,000 cars allotted in 2016 – even before the car recaptured LeMans glory later that year.

“The response to our Ford GT has been unprecedented, with initial demand outstripping supply by more than six-to-one,” said Hermann Salenbauch, Ford Performance director. “By extending the Ford GT production run for a limited period, we’re able to maintain the exclusivity of the ultra-desirable supercar while offering the ownership experience to a greater number of customers.”

Ford is re-opening the application window to customers hoping to join the exclusive group of Ford GT owners starting Nov. 8 for select global markets. Prospective owners will be able to submit their applications for 30 days at FordGT.com.

Successful applicants will work with the Ford GT Concierge Service for a personalized purchase experience of cars produced in the 2020 to 2022 calendar years.

Production of the Ford GT – powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine and featuring a carbon fiber architecture, active aerodynamics and 216 mph top speed – began in December 2016. 

View full article

[David]

Sounds like they need money, so lets break our promise and build another set of cars. 😏

[ccap41]

Ford: We would like more money.

1 minute ago, dfelt said:

Sounds like they need money, so lets break our promise and build another set of cars. 😏

Promise? 

[David]

1 minute ago, ccap41 said:

Ford: We would like more money.

Promise? 

Yup that verbal promise of building an exclusive item, then saying we will build some more. Broken promise. 

[balthazar]

Again : what "promise"?

All one ever reads WRT desirable, aspirational dream cars is 'they don't build enough'. Finally one OEM is doing just that; fufilling demand, and people want to send Ford to it's room?

Ferrari sold 1200 cars in 2000, that was up to 2518 in 2017. Why? Why didn't Ferrari limit itself to a nice, round 1200 units? Does the brand 'just want more money'? The hell you say!

[ccap41]

15 hours ago, dfelt said:

Yup that verbal promise of building an exclusive item, then saying we will build some more. Broken promise. 

Find a source where they made this "promise". 

[A Horse With No Name]

So Ford building cars it really wants to build and not holding back is some how a "bad" thing?

Had Ford been passionate about product for the last few decades, they would not be in the shape they are now.  My feelings about Ford are well known...but I will take every ounce of automotive passion I can get out of them.

Edited October 19, 2018 by A Horse With No Name
Spelling

[David]

4 hours ago, ccap41 said:

Find a source where they made this "promise". 

The word Promise is how you interpret their marketing message of exclusively only building XXX amount of an auto. Ford Markets the GT as an exclusive elite build with only XXX amount being built and that is it. The original marketing message was that 7000 people were invited to possibly purchase this exclusive auto but only 500 will get it based on a wide factor of things. This is why it comes across as if they are promising to only build so many.

Fact is they should build as many as possible like the Corvette so that the average Ford buyers have an aspiration to look at for this halo super hyper-car. 

This write up from 2016 always hit the nail for me about the stupidity of limiting a desired auto.

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1105296_why-ford-is-making-a-huge-mistake-with-its-new-gt

[ccap41]

8 minutes ago, dfelt said:

The word Promise is how you interpret their marketing message of exclusively only building XXX amount of an auto. Ford Markets the GT as an exclusive elite build with only XXX amount being built and that is it. The original marketing message was that 7000 people were invited to possibly purchase this exclusive auto but only 500 will get it based on a wide factor of things. This is why it comes across as if they are promising to only build so many.

Fact is they should build as many as possible like the Corvette so that the average Ford buyers have an aspiration to look at for this halo super hyper-car. 

This write up from 2016 always hit the nail for me about the stupidity of limiting a desired auto.

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1105296_why-ford-is-making-a-huge-mistake-with-its-new-gt

So you forced the word "promise" in there then. Got it. Classic dfelt. 

They never marketed and said only X number can fill out an application. 7000 was the number that DID fill out an application through Ford. You or I could fill one out. 

Well, they're producing them as quick as possible and that turns out to be about 250 units a year, right? How long do you think they should produce it for before it's considered dated..6 years..? Most anything is produced 6 years or less before there are major revisions or face-lifts, etc. 

250 X 6 = 1500. They're only leaving 150 units "on the table" and this way there is a limited run of them instead of an open ended number which would turn out to be a max around 1500 units anyway. 

[balthazar]

• Looked at the 'magnetic by design' ad spot- no mention of limited production.
• Looked at ford.com page for the GT, no mention of limited production.
• Looked at an 'official Ford GT video', only has music soundtrack but does pan across the serial number plate on the dash- has 4 digits ("0001").

I dunno, no one who bought one under the impression that only 500 would be built has anything to complain about when that number rises to 1350. IOW; no one who would buy at 500 would NOT buy at 1350. It's a non-factor, IMO. 1350 is still extremely limited- it's half of ALL ferraris sells in the US in a year... and this is over what- 4 years?

In my area, I see Maseratis nearly weekly, Bentleys nearly monthly, Lambos about 3-4 times a year, same with Ferraris... about the only hi-buck car I haven't seen out in the wild is a Rolls. And I've never seen a current gen GT (did just see the prior gen 2 weeks ago at a car show tho).

[Robert Hall]

One Ford press release I saw said 1000, another had no amount.  Oddly, neither press release has a date.

I saw the new Ford GT in person at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in '16 or '17.  It was blue IIRC.   Never seen one on the street. 

Found this press release from April, 2016 that said they would be taking applications for the first 2 years of production--500 units.

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/04/13/ford-begins-taking-owner-applications-for-all-new--ford-gt-super.html

Edited October 19, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[daves87rs]

Screw worrying about the ultra part....just build more of them!

[Suaviloquent]

People were already trampling over its prestige by reselling after sale.

 

So Ford is saying fuck you to those folks that violated that clause by watering down its prestige and limitedness by selling more.

 

They are essentially doing a favour to those willing to bet up to and more a million that they should buy flipped GT’s

 

What do they say? Buy low, sell high.

You know why the car mags actually don’t fault the GT for not being capable of beating the 720s or Performant on a track? It’s got a factory warranty with a factory roll cage built into the structure, which you can’t say any of the new competitors do. That probably added complexity and weight, and cost to integrate so it’s completely hidden. Could you even do a mod like that to the 720 without ruining its aesthetic!? HELL NO

 

 

[riviera74]

Too bad GM never made more Chevy SS sports sedans.  They are SO HARD to find now.  I wonder why Ford promised to make so few and then ultimately triple that initial run.