The New Ford GT 2019 Heritage Edition is dressed in the legendary colours of American Gulf Oil

Designing, building and testing a vehicle capable of winning major competitions and then putting it on the track is something within reach of only a few, and Ford achieved it with one of its most iconic models, the GT40. The Ford GT40 was one of those vehicles capable of doing so, winning four consecutive years at a race as tough as it is legendary, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, from 1966 to 1969.

These four victories elevated the Ford GT40 to legendary status, a model remembered not only for its beautiful aerodynamic design, its competitiveness and its victories, but also for the colours applied thanks to the sponsorship of the now-defunct American Gulf Oil, absorbed more than three decades ago by Chevron Corporation. In fact, as Joe Hinrichs, President of Global Operations at Ford, states, the Gulf Oil colours are considered by many to be the most recognisable in the world of motorsport.

Since Ford brought the GT back to life, the brand has periodically made a point of honouring the drivers and the GT40s that marked new milestones for the American marque, and it will do so again, this time under the legendary American Gulf Oil colours and with two different race numbers: the #9, arriving in 2019, to pay tribute to the GT40 that won in 1968, and the #6, arriving on the market in 2020, which will do the same for the GT40 that won in 1969.

As you can imagine, the main changes to the new Ford GT 2019 Heritage Edition are found on the exterior, with the blue and orange Gulf Oil colours covering the bodywork, accompanied by the race numbers that will appear on the doors and bonnet. But it will not be the only aesthetic change: unlike the standard Ford GT, the A-pillars expose the carbon fibre from which they are made, and it also features 20-inch one-piece forged aluminium wheels in a glossy dark stainless steel finish with black lug nuts, orange brake calipers and silver mirror housings.

The interior also receives changes: the Ebony Alcántara upholstery on the instrument panel, roof, pillars, seats and steering wheel features contrast stitching in blue and orange; in addition, the seats get a trim inspired by those of the 1968 GT40. The high-gloss dark stainless steel on the instrument panel, door frames and X-brace supports, along with matte-finish carbon fibre for the door sills, air vents and centre console, serve as contrast and add an even more sporty touch. All of this is finished off with the corresponding identification plate bearing the matching serial number.