Even though it’s almost 30 years old, one could argue that it’s more futuristic than the 2005 GT that Ford decided to build
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by Brad Anderson
4 hours ago
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Nearly a decade before we got the retro-modern revival of the Ford GT in 2004, the Blue Oval explored a completely different direction for a potential mid-engine sports car. This exploration led to the creation of the GT90 Concept, a futuristic and dramatic-looking proposal unveiled at the 1995 Detroit Motor Show. The concept marked the debut of Ford’s “New Edge” design philosophy, which came to define the brand’s cars in the late nineties and early noughties.
While models like the Ford Puma and Focus embraced the New Edge styling, none came close to the GT90’s radical design. Three decades later, the GT90 still turns heads and stirs excitement as if it were 1995 all over again, a testament to the work of designer James Hope and his team.
Although concepts like this are usually hidden away by carmakers and kept in their private collections, the GT90 currently resides in a small town in Oklahoma with a population of just 193 people. Recently, the crew from That Racing Channel had the opportunity to see it in person.
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This one-of-one concept is now owned by oil and gas tycoon Brent Hajek, who proudly displays it within his Hajek Motorsports Museum in Ames. A few years back, during an interview with Classic Driver, Hajek shared the story of how he came into possession of the GT90 for an “undisclosed sum”.
“I first discovered the car back in 2003 during Ford’s centenary celebrations,” Hajek told Classic Driver. “Ford had hand-picked eight or nine of my cars for display as part of the event, and we were taken on a tour at Dearborn, which included a visit to a contractor’s warehouse where I spotted the GT90, along with a lot of other stuff. I’d pretty much forgotten it existed, but I asked if it might be for sale – and then spent several years securing a deal.”
While most of us will never have the opportunity to see it in person, catching a glimpse of it on camera is a treat. The angular design deviates significantly from both the GTs of the 21st century and even the original GT40 that served as its predecessor.
Current owner rejected an $8 million offer
Photos Ford
While Ford never proceeded to manufacture a production version of the car, it did grant Motor Trend and Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear the opportunity to drive it back in the day. Eventually, it found its way into the hands of the owner of the Hajek Motorsports Museum, where it now stands as the crowning jewel in his 82-car collection. As for its value, the owner disclosed that he has been offered $8 million for it, but naturally, he declined it.
Crafted from lightweight carbon fiber, each panel of the GT90 contributes to its aerodynamic prowess, while the car itself is built upon an aluminum monocoque chassis.
The GT90 isn’t just distinguished by its wild bodywork; it also boasts an engine unlike any other Ford creation. Powering this beast is a 5.9-liter V12, crafted by slicing two 4.6-liter V8 Modular engines in half and adding two extra cylinders on each bank. Supplementing the V12 are four (!) Garrett turbochargers. Although there are no official dyno sheets for the car, it’s estimated to pump out around 720 hp and 660 lb-ft (895 Nm) of torque. While this figure might not seem massive by today’s standards, it gave the GT90 a significant 100+ hp advantage over the McLaren F1.
According to Ford documents from back in the day, the GT90 could hit 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in just 3.1 seconds, a figure that’s still impressive today. It also reached 100 mph (160 km/h) from a standstill in 6.2 seconds and had a top speed of 235 mph (378 km/h).
Not bad at all, wouldn’t you say?
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