Ford just announced it’s parting ways with something special from its Heritage Fleet — a 2006 GT Heritage Edition wearing that unmistakable Gulf livery. But this isn’t just any Heritage Edition. It’s number three off the line. For a company that’s historically held onto its crown jewels tighter than a lug nut, this marks the first time Ford’s auctioned anything from its near-500-vehicle collection. The proceeds are going right back into maintaining the rest of the fleet, which feels about as Ford as it gets — selling one legend to preserve the others.
When Gulf Blue Meant Business
The Heritage Edition package came out in 2006 as a proper sendoff for the first-gen GT, limited to just 343 cars out of the 4,038 total production run. That iconic powder blue and Epic Orange combo was a direct tribute to the GT40 Mk I cars that John Wyer’s JW Automotive team piloted to back-to-back Le Mans victories in ’68 and ’69 under Gulf Oil sponsorship.
The original corporate Gulf colors were apparently too subdued for racing, so they borrowed the brighter scheme from a recently acquired oil company, and motorsport was never the same. This Heritage Edition captures that energy perfectly, right down to the white roundels on the doors and hood.
Modern Supercar, Vintage Soul
Strip away the nostalgic livery and you’ve still got one heck of a machine. The supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 pushes 550hp and 500lb.ft of torque through a Ricardo six-speed manual transaxle with a helical limited-slip differential. 0-to-60 happens in 3.3 seconds with a top speed of 205 mph.
The engineering underneath is actually fascinating. Ford used superplastic-formed frames, roll-bonded floor panels, and even a magnesium crossbeam integrated into the instrument panel. At just 44.25″ tall, it echoes the GT40 Mk II’s aggressive stance without sharing a single component with its racing ancestor.
This particular car has lived its entire life under Ford’s care, racking up 8,435 miles through various marketing and media assignments. The Carfax shows two incidents — minor rear damage in 2005 and undercarriage damage from a ditch excursion in 2006 — but both were addressed. Some might see those miles and incidents as detractions, but they tell a better story: this GT was actually used, not kept in a museum.
Spec Sheet
Model: 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition No. 3
Engine: Supercharged 5.4L V-8
Power: 550 hp, 500 lb.ft torque
Transmission: 6-speed manual
0-60 mph: 3.3 seconds
Top Speed: 205 mph
Production: 343 Heritage Editions (of 4,038 total GTs)
Mileage: 8,435 miles
Pricing & Availability
This Heritage Edition crosses the block at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale Fall Auction on October 18 with no reserve. The sale includes a Certificate of Authenticity and the original Build Book documenting its entire assembly process. Recent Heritage Editions have fetched around $850,000 in pristine condition, though this car’s documented history and provenance might shift that number in either direction.
Recap
2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition No.3 Barrett-Jackson Auction
Ford’s auctioning off the third Heritage Edition GT ever made — complete with that iconic Gulf livery — to help fund maintenance of its nearly 500-vehicle Heritage Fleet.
