Manoli Katakis 
The famous Gulf livery is arguably the most recognizable and one of the most attractive racing liveries to ever come out of motorsport, perhaps only rivaled by the likes of the striped Martini livery. The vintage sky blue and bright orange color combination has graced various racing cars over the years, from Porsche to McLaren racers, to Aston Martin… and even Ford. Though of course, not just any Ford, but the 1968 Le Mans-winning Ford GT40 (chassis no. 1075) driven by Belgian Lucien Bianchi and Mexican Pedro Rodriguez. This feat, and the look, continue to be celebrated by today’s Ford GT, as well as the coveted model from 2006.
It almost tricks you into thinking that Gulf is simply a racing livery company, and not an American oil company that was founded in Pittsburgh, PA back in 1901.
On both modern Ford GT supercars we see the iconic orange and blue, as well as familiar racing numbers to connect the lineage of the original Le Mans winner from the 1960s. Today’s Ford GT is a far sleeker and more scientific vehicle than the twin-barrel 4.9L V8-powered GT40 Mk 1 from 50 years ago. That Le Mans winner was said to be rated at 425 hp at 6,000 rpm and 395 lb⋅ft at 4,750 rpm. Today’s very road legal GT produces 640 horsepower from a raspy and wound up 3.5L EcoBoost V6 turbo engine, and there’s even more output to be found in the track-only Ford GT Mk II.
For 2019, the Heritage Edition package featured the No. 9 graphics on the hood and doors, as well as a ghosted image on the interior door panels. For 2020, the livery gets No. 6 markings to honor that same GT40 that went on to win Le Mans in 1969, but with a different number. Additionally, an optional exposed carbon fiber package is offered, and the A-pillars are also exposed carbon fiber. Also unique to the Ford GT Heritage Edition are 20-inch one-piece forged aluminum wheels in high-gloss dark stainless with black lug nuts, finished with orange calipers and silver rearview mirror caps.
The interior in the 2020 Ford GT Heritage Edition is all business. Alcantara wraps the seats, instrument panel, pillars, headliner and steering wheel. The black is then accented by Gulf blue and orange stitching, while a unique embossed seat back also pays homage to the 1968 GT40 Mk I.
Polished anodized paddle shifters, high-gloss dark stainless appliqués accent the instrument panel, door register bezels and x-brace to round out the interior.
Like other Ford GT heritage models, the Gulf-liveried version features a unique serialized identification plate, plus exposed matte carbon fiber door sills, air register pods and center console.
Ford has also released ’66 and ’67 Heritage Edition GT supercars in 2016 and 2017, and we happened to catch a ’66 parked just 50 yards away from the pair of Gulfed up GTs at the Ford Performance Display during the 2019 Woodward Dream Cruise. Enjoy the gallery below.
