Ford GT coming to Australia

Devon · July 2nd, 2006, 04:05 AM

Quote:

An Australian company is bringing the Ford GT supercar to local roads. Ford Australia decided against importing the modern interpretation of the GT40 racer from the US, mainly because the limited edition muscle car is only produced in left-hand drive and demand would be rather limited.
But Dreamtech, a Melbourne company specialising in stretched limos and other modified vehicles, aims to bring around 10 of the Ford GTs to Australia and convert them to right-hand drive. The cars will come with a Dreamtech warranty and compliance that allows them to be road registered in all states.

The GTs won't be cheap, with the final bill likely to come to nearly $500,000 a car -- $115,000 more than a Ferrari F430. The GT has an official list price in the States of $US200,000 but production is winding up this September and dealers are demanding $US270,000 to $US290,000 for the few in stock.

Import taxes, red tape clearance and conversion costs will account for the rest of the half-million price tag. Dreamtech partner James Ware admits $500,000 is steep, but says the GT is a rare and legendary vehicle.

"It is a lot of money but to get an equivalent Lamborghini you are paying $600,000 or more. It's cheaper and it's much, much rarer," says Ware. "The car will be the ultimate rare car and I don't think too many will even get out of their garages except on special occasions."

The Ford GT was built to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original GT40 car's first, second and third place finish in the

1966 Le Mans 24-hour race. The original racer, which now has cult-car status, was powered by a whopping 7.0-litre engine. The new GT, a modern interpretation of the racer, is powered by a supercharged 5.4-litre V8 which pumps out 410kW and 678Nm.

Many American writers claimed the Ford was better than the Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper and Ferrari 360 when it was first released in 2004. According to a review at thecarconnection.com: "It makes a Ferrari 360 brought for comparison look like a Hyundai Tiburon."

The GT's supercar halo has dimmed slightly since the latest generation Ferrari F430 hit the street but the GT is still regarded as a star. It has graced the covers of more than 40 car magazines worldwide and even out performs a $750,000 Saleen 57 in the latest edition of Motor magazine.

Ware explains that Dreamtech will only be able to bring a few of the GTs to Australia.

"We are only offering a very limited number ... as the base car is quite expensive and the steering conversion, done properly, is not cheap," he says.

"We have designed the completed right-hand drive vehicle to look, feel and drive exactly as the factory would have intended, had they built it. We have had to completely remodel the whole interior of the car in a mirror image of the original and modify the fuel tank so we can reposition the gear lever."

The only Ford GT supercar known to be in Australia is owned by Ford and is currently on display at the Ford Performance Racing shop at FPV headquarters in Melbourne.

Source: http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0...-21822,00.html

SL65 · July 2nd, 2006, 04:53 AM

I'd rather pay $420K and get an F430 Spider images/smilies/smile.gif

But I couldn't imagine navigating the wide GT through the narrow streets of Sydney images/smilies/lol.gif

Hope its at the motorshow in October though...

SV · July 2nd, 2006, 06:44 AM

It would be quite nice to see one of those cruising down the street images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

watto · July 2nd, 2006, 09:09 AM

$500k?????

I'm sorry, but as a cool a car as it is, it is not worth $500k, even with a RHD conversion!

Paul_The_Aussie · July 2nd, 2006, 09:28 AM

500k? wtf? someone i bet is making serious money out of that.

eddysdaman · July 2nd, 2006, 09:42 AM

Thats ALOT of mula but it is ALOT of car.... still, its not worth it in the slightest.... other than exclusivity... if thats a word images/smilies/lol.gif

BlitzR · July 2nd, 2006, 10:32 AM

The price isn't so unbelievable. The price for import, conversion and taxes is alot in Australia.

bartboy9891 · July 3rd, 2006, 03:14 AM

its a good thing you guys are finally getting em, seeing as how they are just about done with their production run

STi Nut · July 17th, 2006, 01:42 PM

lol... i remeber seeing the GT at the adelaide motor show a few years ago when it was at final concept and dam is that thing a wide bitch images/smilies/lol.gif

. I showed the article to 2 people that own F430 spyders and asked them if they would trade them for the GT and well they just said.......ummm.......F**K NO. images/smilies/lol.gif

Janus · July 17th, 2006, 05:36 PM

Exactly, I remember seeing it at the motor show as well, and have seen a couple in London. It really is huge, and especially large for the London roads.

As you say I can't see why people would want this over a quality sports car, like a 430 etc. The only reason I can think of why you would get one is the good old thing of being so rich that all of your friends drive Ferrari's, Lambo's, Aston's etc. and you just want something different to stand out....no matter what the cost.

jetsetter · July 18th, 2006, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janus

Exactly, I remember seeing it at the motor show as well, and have seen a couple in London. It really is huge, and especially large for the London roads.

As you say I can't see why people would want this over a quality sports car, like a 430 etc. The only reason I can think of why you would get one is the good old thing of being so rich that all of your friends drive Ferrari's, Lambo's, Aston's etc. and you just want something different to stand out....no matter what the cost.

The Ford GT is a quality sports car to be sure but it is not for everyone. And don't point to Clarkson's experience with the car.

fbc · July 18th, 2006, 12:14 AM

If it was my money - GT > Gallardo >............................................... .. F430

Edit: Decided I'd prefer a GT over the Gallardo.

SL65 · July 18th, 2006, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbc

If it was my money - Gallardo > GT >............................................... .. F430

Just out of interest, why don't you have the F430 higher up in preference?

fbc · July 18th, 2006, 09:20 AM

^ It's a great car no doubt, but I don't like the styling, the image of Ferrari owners isn't the greatest (though that's not the car's fault), and I despise the way the badge has been whored out and stuck on every piece of tacky merchandise possible.

On second thought, I'd take the GT over the Gallardo (I love them both, but the GT's styling just does things to me... images/smilies/blush.gif

)

It's all personal preference mind - I totally understand someone taking the F430 over the GT.

July 2nd, 2006, 04:53 AM	#2
SL65 Ambitious but rubbish! Joined: Jul 12th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 18 Posts: 9,196 Car: 1998 Subaru Legacy 2.5L Rep Power: 41	I'd rather pay $420K and get an F430 Spider But I couldn't imagine navigating the wide GT through the narrow streets of Sydney Hope its at the motorshow in October though...

July 2nd, 2006, 06:44 AM	#3
SV Previously Known As SLR 722 Joined: Feb 3rd, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 729 Car: '85 ZL Ford Fairlane Rep Power: 13	It would be quite nice to see one of those cruising down the street __________________

July 2nd, 2006, 09:42 AM	#6
eddysdaman Joined: Mar 19th, 2005 Last Online: 12:23 AM Location: Australia Age: 19 Posts: 721 Car: 01' Mitsubishi Lancer Rep Power: 21	Thats ALOT of mula but it is ALOT of car.... still, its not worth it in the slightest.... other than exclusivity... if thats a word __________________ See My Ride, Lenny Lancer: and my Forums Website For Awesome Wide-screen Wallpapers

July 2nd, 2006, 10:32 AM	#7
BlitzR Joined: May 1st, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,525 Rep Power: 19	The price isn't so unbelievable. The price for import, conversion and taxes is alot in Australia. __________________

July 3rd, 2006, 03:14 AM	#8
bartboy9891 I'm not Moe Joined: Dec 1st, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: University of Michigan Age: 19 Posts: 7,780 Car: 1996 Grand Am SE sedan, and dad's 2006 S60 2.5T Rep Power: 43	its a good thing you guys are finally getting em, seeing as how they are just about done with their production run __________________

July 2nd, 2006, 09:09 AM	#4
watto Unloved and lacking a title Joined: Jun 13th, 2005 Last Online: January 7th, 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 23 Posts: 5,412 Car: 1997 VW Golf MkIII CL, Giant OCR 3 Rep Power: 58	$500k????? I'm sorry, but as a cool a car as it is, it is not worth $500k, even with a RHD conversion!

July 2nd, 2006, 09:28 AM	#5
Paul_The_Aussie Joined: May 15th, 2005 Last Online: 12:18 AM Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 247 Car: Ford Focus XR5T Rep Power: 15	500k? wtf? someone i bet is making serious money out of that.

July 17th, 2006, 01:42 PM	#9
STi Nut Joined: Dec 30th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 18 Posts: 955 Car: 2008 Toyota Yaris 1.3L 5 Door Auto Rep Power: 13	lol... i remeber seeing the GT at the adelaide motor show a few years ago when it was at final concept and dam is that thing a wide bitch . I showed the article to 2 people that own F430 spyders and asked them if they would trade them for the GT and well they just said.......ummm.......F**K NO.

July 17th, 2006, 05:36 PM	#10
Janus Joined: Apr 20th, 2005 Last Online: December 31st, 2008 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 24 Posts: 1,347 Rep Power: 18	Exactly, I remember seeing it at the motor show as well, and have seen a couple in London. It really is huge, and especially large for the London roads. As you say I can't see why people would want this over a quality sports car, like a 430 etc. The only reason I can think of why you would get one is the good old thing of being so rich that all of your friends drive Ferrari's, Lambo's, Aston's etc. and you just want something different to stand out....no matter what the cost. __________________ "Hopefully once petrol hits $2.50 per litre all the 18 year olds with riced up Nismos wont be able to afford to drive their neon-clad tard rockets around at 200km/h anymore, and it will be back to the good old days of riding a donkey to school."

July 18th, 2006, 12:14 AM	#12
fbc Mantastic! Joined: Jan 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 33 Posts: 10,641 Car: 2006 MY07 Astra SRi Turbo Rep Power: 82	If it was my money - GT > Gallardo >............................................... .. F430 Edit: Decided I'd prefer a GT over the Gallardo. __________________ www.sniffpetrol.com

July 18th, 2006, 09:20 AM	#14
fbc Mantastic! Joined: Jan 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 33 Posts: 10,641 Car: 2006 MY07 Astra SRi Turbo Rep Power: 82	^ It's a great car no doubt, but I don't like the styling, the image of Ferrari owners isn't the greatest (though that's not the car's fault), and I despise the way the badge has been whored out and stuck on every piece of tacky merchandise possible. On second thought, I'd take the GT over the Gallardo (I love them both, but the GT's styling just does things to me... ) It's all personal preference mind - I totally understand someone taking the F430 over the GT. __________________ www.sniffpetrol.com

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