Why the 2017 Ford GT Deserves the Voodoo Engine #BlogPost

It seems that there’s something off with the 2017 Ford GT. Raj Nair nailed it with the aerodynamic body, technological showcasing, and the performance, but the EcoBoost V6 feels awkward in such a modern interpretation of Ford’s original supercar, the GT40, which was endowed with such famous V8’s as the 289, the 302, and the 427. There are many interpretations that one could take with its successor, but Nair decided that it would be best in making this car a technological showcase rather than channelling the car’s original soul like the second GT. Nair models technology’s advancement, not the GT40’s, by following precedents set by more established supercar companies.

To explain, the GT40 was aimed at Enzo Ferrari’s Le Mans efforts after the latter conned Henry Ford II out of acquiring the company of his name due to conflicts concerning open-wheel racing with how Ferrari would not be able to compete at the Indianapolis 500 due to Ford fearing competition.. Hank, as his employees knew him, wished to see the Blue Oval compete at Le Mans, and the refusal by Ferrari inspired him to create a car that would publicly embarrass Enzo.

When Ford seeked help, he found it in Lola, which used the Lola GT/Mark Six with Ford power, and there was potential seen in the prototype’s pedigree, with it being one of the most advanced cars of the time and losing in 1963 even with a remarkable performance at Le Mans that year, losing due to lower gearing and issues with powering out of the Mulsanne Straight. Eric Broadley, Lola’s owner, agreed to this project without involving Lola itself, and the year-long partnership included the exchange of two Lola Mark Six chassis for development by Ford.

John Wyer of Aston Martin fame was selected to help, along with Roy Lunn, who had experience with mid-engined cars by designing a mid-engined Mustang prototype. Broadley, Wyer, and Lunn developed the car at the Lola factory, and the Blue Oval devoted a new subsidiary, Ford Advanced Vehicles Ltd., to creating the contender. The first version using a 255 Fairlane V8 and a Colotti transaxle, which was what the Mark Six and the Lotus 29 used.

After a few updates, Hank swept Le Mans’s podium by his cars, with the Italian being so frustrated over losing that he eventually shut down his closed-wheel campaigns and devoted his resources to open-wheel racing, primarily Formula One.

For such reasons, Ford needed to choose an engine that channeled the original spirit of the GT40 and one that was separate from what others did. The Voodoo engine, from the GT350, represents Ford’s evolution of their V8, one thats legacy is rich in the annals of history, even with its flat-plane crankshaft. If Ferrari is able to extract 600 HP from a similar V8, then Ford, with its robust V8 of .7 liters greater displacement, could have extracted even more performance at less weight than the EcoBoost to bite back at the stallion again.