Did Multimatic make the Ford GT?
Yes. Multimatic served as Ford’s primary manufacturing and engineering partner for the modern Ford GT, building the car under contract with Ford while Ford retains design ownership and branding. This article explains how the collaboration worked and what Multimatic contributed.
The Ford GT program is widely understood as a Ford-led initiative that relied on Multimatic for substantial development and production work. Multimatic did not independently design the car, but they did deliver the engineering, manufacturing, and track-focused development that brought the modern GT to life and sustained its variants over several years.
Multimatic's role in the Ford GT program
Multimatic acted as Ford’s key partner for engineering, manufacturing, and performance development of the modern Ford GT, spanning the road car and related racing-focused variants. The following points summarize how the collaboration was structured and executed.
Structure of the collaboration
- Engineering and chassis development: Multimatic led structural integration, dynamic tuning, and overall vehicle engineering to meet Ford’s performance targets.
- Manufacturing and assembly: The road-going Ford GT was produced at Multimatic’s Markham, Ontario facility under Ford’s oversight, including final assembly and quality control.
- Aerodynamics and testing: Wind tunnel work, aero optimization, and high-speed testing were conducted to refine balance and stability.
- Racing and track support: Multimatic supported Ford’s GT racing efforts, including development for Le Mans and other endurance events, plus track-focused variants.
In this arrangement, Ford remained the brand owner and designer, while Multimatic provided the specialized manufacturing and engineering capabilities that enabled the GT program to reach production and competition goals.
Variants and related programs
Beyond the street-legal GT, the collaboration produced additional performance-focused versions and a racing lineage that highlighted Multimatic’s engineering prowess. Before examining the list, note that these variants expanded the platform beyond a single road car.
- Ford GT Mk II (track-focused variant): A limited, track-only version developed for competition; built by Multimatic for Ford, with a production run of about 45 units.
- Racing program and Le Mans heritage: The Ford GT platform supported Ford’s endurance racing efforts, with Multimatic contributing to development and race readiness for the Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship programs.
- Ongoing updates and production support: Multimatic has continued to support the Ford GT platform through updates and, where applicable, further performance-focused iterations.
These variants illustrate how the partnership extended beyond a single road car, showcasing Multimatic’s role in both engineering and manufacturing across the Ford GT family.
What this means for the question
To answer succinctly: Multimatic did not independently design and own the Ford GT, but it built and developed the car under contract for Ford and contributed significantly to both the road-going GT and its track-focused variants. Ford retained overall design ownership and branding, while Multimatic served as the primary manufacturing and engineering partner.
Summary
The Ford–Multimatic collaboration stands as a notable example of an OEM–supplier partnership in high-performance automotive programs. Multimatic’s involvement spanned engineering, chassis work, aero development, manufacturing, and race support, enabling Ford to realize the modern GT’s performance and production goals while preserving Ford’s brand control. The relationship extended to the limited Mk II track-focused variant, underscoring Multimatic’s central role in bringing the Ford GT to life and sustaining its racing lineage.
