Ford GT ‘68 Heritage edition pays homage to 1968 and 1969 Le Mans-winning GT40 P/1075
Ford Motor Company and Gulf have joined hands to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first Le Mans win with the introduction of the new Ford GT ’68 Heritage Edition for 2019 and 2020. The special car features a Heritage Blue with Heritage Orange paint scheme to honour the Gulf Oil-sponsored Ford GT40 chassis #1075, which won two consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1968 and 1969.
Gulf is the first company in the oil industry to open a drive-in fuel station. It’s also the first time that a company from the oil industry has partnered with a global Vehicle Manufacturer to produce a road-legal production car.
“Many say the Gulf Oil paint scheme is the most famous in motorsports, propelled by the 1968 GT40 that quickly became a global sensation after Ford beat its European competitors not three, but four times in a row,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford executive vice president and president, global operations. “We set out to accentuate the new Ford GT’s race-inspired aerodynamic lines with the Gulf colors, while staying true to the original GT40 Le Mans winner.”
The Ford GT ‘68 Heritage Edition was launched at the Rolex Historic Reunion event at the Laguna Seca raceway in California by Ford’s Joe Hinrichs and Gulf’s Ravi Chawla.
“We are delighted to partner with Ford to help the Gulf-themed Heritage Edition Ford GT become reality. The Ford Marque has played a major role in creating Gulf’s place in motoring and motorsporting legend and the same is true in reverse,” enthused MD of Gulf Oil Lubricants India Ltd, Ravi Chawla, at the launch of the car. “Every Gulf outright victory at Le Mans has been Ford-powered and of course Gulf Ford GT40s took the latter two wins of Ford’s four consecutive victories at Le Mans from 1966-1969. What could be more fitting than both brands coming together to produce this fantastic motor car – the modern spiritual successor to the amazing Gulf-Ford GT40s that took Le Mans and World Championship honours.”
The Ford GT ’68 Heritage edition comes with optional exposed carbon a-pillar and roundel with #9 graphics on both the hood and doors. The car gets a high gloss dark stainless 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels with black lug nuts. The special car also gets orange calipers and sliver rear-view mirror caps. The interior gets Ebony Alcantara upholstery with contrasting blue and orange stitching. The car also gets polished anodized paddle shifters.