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Tag: Fabulous Fords Forever

2017 Ford GT Production Raj Nair

2018 Fabulous Fords Forever: The First and Last Ford GT

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On July 3, 2019

In Ford GT, Ford GT40, New Ford GT

Fabulous Fords Forever 2018 New Ford GT Lola Mk6GT

The first and last Ford GT made an appearance at the 2018 Fabulous Fords Forever show

At the 2018 Fabulous Fords Forever event the standard collection of vintage Fords was supplemented by multiple new Ford GTs as well as the oldest Ford GT. Of course the oldest Ford GT isn’t even a Ford. It’s a Lola Mk6 GT, the car that formed the basis of Ford’s effort to win Le Mans after Enzo Ferrari snubbed Henry Ford II’s bid to buy his company. At the Ford booth one of the three original Lola Mk6 GT’s was parked next to a new Ford GT, and seeing the two next to each other was pretty amazing.

Fabulous Fords Forever

The new 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt was on display near the Ford Booth

The Lola Mk6 GT used a mid-mounted 289 Ford V8 in a British aluminum monocoque chassis. This was an advanced design in 1962 and it laid the groundwork for Ford’s GT40 MkI design. Seeing a Lola Mk6 GT next to a new Ford GT provided an excellent perspective on the new car’s lineage.

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2017 Fabulous Fords Forever Features the IMSA Ford GT

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On June 19, 2019

In Ford GT, New Ford GT

2017 Fabulous Fords Forever Ford GT IMSA Race Car

The number 66 Ford GT IMSA race car graced the 2017 Fabulous Fords Forever event

Shortly after the press launch of the new Ford GT, in late April 2017, the annual Fabulous Fords Forever event happened at its traditional location, Knottsberry Farm. This event always features a massive collection of Ford vehicles, old and new. The range of models includes Thunderbirds, Broncos, Fairlanes, Torinos and as many Mustangs as I’ve ever seen.

2017 Fabulous Fords Forever Sebastian Bourdais

Factory Ford racer Sebastian Bourdais was on hand to sign autographs

The 2017 Fabulous Fords Forever event also had a display dedicated to the new Ford GT in racing form, including an IMSA race car and factory Ford driver Sebastian Bourdais signing autographs nearby. Sebastian is from Le Mans, France, which means he grew up watching that race in his hometown. I briefly spoke to him during the Fabulous Fords Forever event and congratulated him on winning the 2016 GTE Pro category and 2017 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.

2017-Fabulous Fords Forever Camilo Pardo

A collection of famous Ford personalities included Steve Saleen, John Clinard, Linda Vaughn and Camilo Pardo

Another traditional aspect of Fabulous Fords Forever includes an appearance by famous Ford personalities, including 1960s and 1970s motorsports spokesmodel Linda Vaughn, Cleo Shelby (Carroll Shelby’s wife) and Ford GT designer Camilo Pardo. John Clinard, longstanding Ford PR executive, hosts the personalities at a lunch that includes the famous Knottsberry Farm pie desert (yum!).

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