Ford GT in P.G.

Sunday, November 05, 2006 06:00 AM

Every once in a while you come across a vehicle that just has that....something.

The Ford GT is such a vehicle, and as rare as it is, there is one sitting in the showroom of Prince George Motors.

Prince George Motors is one of the preferred dealerships in Canada to have been allocated one of the rare 2006 models for its inventory.

It has been a head turner all right, as P.G. Motors Steve Antonenko says 30-50 people stop by the dealership each day just to get a closer look at this track ready, street legal, machine.

The GT was initially developed in the late 60's when European racers like Ferrari and Lamborghini dismissed North American vehicles, saying they were too "girly". The gauntlet had been tossed, Ford took the challenge and came up with the GT in 1966 and raced it at LeMans. Ford finished 1st... and second... and third. How's that for "girly"?

They repeated that performance in '67 and again in '68. The cars were pulled off the track after the '68 season. But, everything old is new again, and in 2003, Ford came back from the drawing board. They produced 3 cars for the 2004 year, ( Ford GT40). In 2005, they produced 7 cars....in 2006, they produced 600.

Of that 600, one third came to Canada, they are the ones sporting the flag decal on the windshield.

Only 54 of the 600 produced are in the "heritage" colour of baby blue and orange. It's a paint package that adds $16 thousand dollars to the price tag.

And fast!...Whoa is it fast! 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds!