The lineage of endurance racing engineering is currently on display at the “D’HIER À AUJOURD’HUI” exhibition at the Collection des Automobiles de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco, where the historic Ford GT40 and its modern descendant, the Ford GT, are being showcased side by side through September 13, 2026.
Born out of an ambition to challenge Ferrari, the original Ford GT40 cemented its status in automotive history by claiming victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for four consecutive years, from 1966 to 1969. Characterized by its low-slung silhouette and a powerful Ford V8 engine displacing 4,736 cubic centimeters and generating 360 horsepower, the GT40 achieved a maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour, accelerated from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.2 seconds, weighed 908 kilograms, and was produced in a limited run of 126 examples.
Decades later, the modern Ford GT translates that circuit pedigree into a contemporary high-performance machine. Powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine, the modern iteration delivers 656 horsepower and 745 Newton-meters of torque, channeled to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Weighing 1,385 kilograms, with a top speed of 348 kilometers per hour and a 0-to-100 kilometers per hour acceleration time of 3.4 seconds, the modern GT was built in a restricted production run of 1,350 examples.
Together, these two generations bridge decades of motorsport heritage, uniting two distinct eras defined by a singular pursuit of performance.
Photo Credits: Collection des Automobiles de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco