How rare is a Ford GT?

Extremely rare and highly sought after. In its modern incarnation, Ford limited production to roughly 1,350 road cars (spanning 2017–2022). The 2005–2006 revival totaled about 4,038 units, and the historic GT40 lineage encompasses a small number of original road-going cars—roughly 105. Taken together, the Ford GT remains one of the most exclusive badges in performance automobiles.

Historical context and current rarity

To understand how rare a Ford GT is, it helps to map the brand’s production across its key eras. The GT name has carried different weights depending on period and purpose—from the legendary Le Mans winner to a limited modern halo car. Below is a concise snapshot by generation and era.

• Original GT40 era (1964–1969): about 105 road-going GT40s were built, making the early cars extremely scarce and now highly prized as historic race and road cars.


• First revival: Ford GT (2005–2006): 4,038 units produced, creating a bridge between the classic legend and a modern supercar while remaining relatively exclusive for its time.


• Second revival: Ford GT (2017–2022): approximately 1,350 units produced worldwide, reflecting a tightly limited modern production run aimed at rarity and performance technology.

Taken together, the production totals illustrate a broad spectrum of scarcity. The classic GT40 era remains the most exclusive, while the modern generations, though limited, achieved broader—but still limited—distribution.

Why rarity matters for value and market interest

Rarity directly influences desirability, price stability, and collectibility. Several factors shape how a Ford GT is valued today beyond simple production totals.

• Provenance and originality: Cars with documented history, matching numbers, and original components tend to command higher prices.


• Model year and generation: The GT40’s rarity is unmatched, but among the modern GTs, the 2005–2006 revival and the 2017–2022 production run attract different buyer pools and price bands.


• Condition and maintenance history: Given advanced materials and specialized service needs, well-maintained examples with thorough service records are more desirable.


• Limited availability and market demand: Limited production runs create a natural scarcity that can drive up auction results and private sales.


• Spec and options: Factory choices such as color, interior materials, and performance packages can influence value on the open market.

In short, scarcity helps explain why a Ford GT tends to fetch strong prices at auction and in private sales, especially for well-documented cars with desirable specifications.

Buying and owning a Ford GT today

Prospective buyers should approach the market with diligence, given the car’s rarity and specialized maintenance demands. The following considerations help buyers navigate the process.

• Verify provenance: obtain a full history, service records, and, if possible, verify factory builds and any aftermarket work.


• Check authenticity and specs: confirm chassis/VIN, engine type, transmission, and any commemorative or limited-edition markings.


• Assess condition and originality: assess exterior and interior condition, verify that no unoriginal or questionable repairs exist.


• Evaluate maintenance costs: consider parts availability, specialist service needs, and insurance costs for a low-volume performance vehicle.


• Plan for long-term ownership: storage, routine maintenance, and potential depreciation or appreciation depending on market demand.

With rarity comes responsibility. Buyers should work with dealers who specialize in high-end, low-production vehicles and obtain independent inspections before purchase.

Summary

The Ford GT stands out as a rare badge across its history. The original GT40 lineage is exceptionally scarce, with only about 105 road-going cars built. The 2005–2006 revival produced 4,038 units, while the modern 2017–2022 generation totaled about 1,350 cars. These limited numbers, combined with strong brand lore and performance credentials, help keep the Ford GT among the most coveted and valuable supercars on the market. For collectors and enthusiasts, rarity, provenance, and condition remain the pillars of value.

Are Ford GT rare?

Yes, all generations of the Ford GT are considered rare due to their limited production numbers and exclusivity. The original Ford GT40 had only 105 produced, the first-generation Ford GTs (2005-2006) had a total of 4,038 built, and special editions like the second-generation Carbon Series are limited to just 50 examples.
 
First-generation Ford GT (2005-2006)

• Limited production: Only 4,038 were produced in total (2,027 in 2005 and 2,011 in 2006), making it a scarce and desirable collector's car. 
• High-demand: The demand was so high that Ford used an application process to filter customers. 
• Rare options: Special versions like the 2006 Heritage Edition, which paid homage to the original GT40's racing past, are even rarer. Only 343 cars received this specific paint package. 

Second-generation Ford GT (2017-present)

• Limited production: The second-generation model is already rare, but certain versions are even more exclusive. 
• Carbon Series: Only 50 Carbon Series models were built, making them extremely scarce. 
• Track-only variants: Even rarer are the track-only models, like the 2023 Ford GT Mk IV, with only 67 examples produced. 

Original Ford GT40

• Extremely limited: Only 105 Ford GT40s were made, and fewer still are in public hands.
• Historical significance: Its historical significance as a dominant racer in the 1960s adds to its rarity and value. 

How rare is a GT40?

The Ford GT40 is an extremely rare car, with a total production of only about 105 vehicles between 1964 and 1969. Many surviving examples are highly sought-after, with some street-legal versions being among the most valuable Ford cars ever sold at auction.
 

• Limited production: Ford officially produced approximately 105 GT40s during its six-year production run from 1964 to 1969. 
• Street-legal versions: Only 31 Mk I versions were built for street use, making them particularly rare. 
• Auction value: Due to their rarity and historical significance, GT40s are exceptionally valuable and sell for millions of dollars at auction. 
• Other rare variants: There were even fewer examples of other versions, such as the five roadster prototypes that were built, with only one remaining in public hands. 

What's the rarest Ford?

The rarest Ford depends on the category, but some contenders include the one-of-a-kind 2005 Ford GR-1 concept car, the 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 R-Code with only 57 built, and the 1967 Ford GT-40 MkIII, of which only 7 were produced. Other contenders for rarest models include the 1965 Magic Skyway Mustang and the Ford Escort RS1700T, with only 11 of each being made.
 
You can watch this video to learn about rare Ford cars that were never released: 57sWheels HistoryYouTube · Jul 10, 2025
One-off and extremely low-production models 

• 2005 Ford GR-1: Only one prototype was ever built, making it one of the rarest and most desirable Ford models. 
• 1966 Ford Fairlane 500 R-Code: Ford produced just 57 of these high-performance muscle cars, and only about 20 are known to exist today. 
• 1967 Ford GT-40 MkIII: Only 7 of these supercars were built. 
• 1965 Magic Skyway Mustang: Eleven of these were converted to run on a track at the 1965 New York World's Fair. Only three are believed to still be on the road today. 
• Ford Escort RS1700T: A rare rally car, only 11 were made. 

Other rare Fords

• 1967 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake: Only one was ever made. 
• 1970 Ford Torino King Cobra: Ford built just 10 of these homologation specials. 
• 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt: Ford produced 100 of these lightweight drag racing cars. 

Rarest Ford engine

• Modular V10 Prototype: The rarest engine Ford ever produced was the Modular V10, with only one prototype ever being built. 

How many Ford GT have been made?

The number of Ford GTs produced varies by generation. For the first generation (2004–20062004 – 20062004–2006), approximately 4,038 were made, while the second generation (2017–20222017 – 20222017–2022) saw about 1,350 road-going versions produced before the track-only Mk IV was introduced, with only 67 of those being built. For comparison, only 105 Ford GT40s were built between 1964 and 1969. 
First Generation (2004–20062004 – 20062004–2006)

• Total produced: 4,038 cars 

Second Generation (2017–20222017 – 20222017–2022 road-going)

• Total produced: 1,350 cars
• Track-only Mk IV: 67 cars were built 

Older Models

• Ford GT40 (1964–19691964 – 19691964–1969): 105 cars were produced