Getting your hands on a second-generation Ford GT is no easy feat, but being a successful racing driver is likely to help.
Ford famously announced that initial customers for the GT would be hand-selected by the company. Those who were deemed to be the best ambassadors for the brand were allowed to buy a GT.
Being an experienced IndyCar racer, and the son of a former Indy 500 winner, meant Graham Rahal clearly met Ford’s criteria.
The car he bought is currently advertised for sale on the Bring a Trailer auction website.
Shades of Deep Purple
Rahal did not hold back when ordering his 2018 Ford GT. From a standard list price of $450,200, the 2011 24 Hours of Daytona winner spent an additional $131,500 on optional extras.
Accounting for $45,000 of that total is the special paint color. The custom order Deep Purple metallic hue is said to be derived from the Viola Parsifae color, used by Lamborghini.
A further $10,000 was spent on the Ingot Silver stripes, while the exposed gloss carbon fiber exterior trim added $15,000.
Highway Star
The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6’s 647 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque are a little down on Rahal’s usual weekend ride, but still allow a top speed in excess of 215 mph.
A titanium exhaust system, adding a further $10,000 to the price, was picked to save weight and add more aural drama.
Carbon ceramic Brembo brakes, with silver-painted calipers were fitted at the factory. Rahal has installed a set of staggered HRE alloys, although the original $15,000 carbon fiber wheels will be supplied.
Machine Head
Compared to the exterior, the cabin of the GT is slightly subtler, but no less expensive. The Dark Energy interior finish cost $30,000, and sees ebony leather wrapped around carbon fiber bucket seats. Mounts for racing harnesses were a relative bargain at just $600.
Even more affordable was the $250 spent to wrap the two-spoke steering wheel in leather. Much like an IndyCar, the GT’s steering wheel is responsible for controlling numerous car functions. It also has black aluminum paddles for the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Purchased by Rahal in October 2018, the car was sold to a new owner in September 2020. The GT was then reacquired by the Indiana-based Graham Rahal Performance dealership in 2021.
Speed King
Compared to some second-generation Ford GTs, this particular car has clocked up more miles than usual. The odometer currently shows 1,500 miles, with recent servicing work undertaken in September 2020.
Opportunities to own a Ford GT are still relatively rare, and buying one in this specification is likely to be a unique chance. This has helped push bidding on the car to already deep into six figures, with more to follow.
The auction for the GT closes on Friday, 28 May, coinciding with Carb Day for the 2021 Indy 500. We imagine Graham Rahal will be focussing on this final practice runs, rather than checking the bids, though.
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