For Sale at Auction: 2017 Ford GT in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. 2FAGP9CW4HH200035

Continuing the legacy of the famed GT40, the new-for-2017 Ford GT was also first designed for racing and then later adapted into a street car. Crucially, this model would help the brand re-establish itself in competitive racing with a double-podium finish at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans, 50 years to the day after the original GT40 first won the world's greatest endurance race. Developed by a small but carefully selected team of engineers, the GT was designed in total secrecy, hidden deep within the Ford Product Development Center where they would deliver a highly advanced carbon fiber monocoque chassis featuring advanced aerodynamics.

Having proven the race-worthiness of their new flagship model before a road-going example had entered production, the new Ford GT received an avalanche of demand resulting in the infamous application process which required interested parties to provide a taped interview and answer a series of questions to be considered. After reportedly receiving nearly 6,500 applications, only 1,350 fortunate applicants were contacted by the Ford Concierge Service to begin the highly unique process of ordering their new vehicle. This incredibly personalized buying experience was completed with a specialized hand-over process where a Ford Concierge Service member walked the buyer through the systems after ensuring that the vehicle was ready for delivery. Featuring a highly advanced aerodynamic exterior, the Ford GT utilizes functional design elements that not only look incredible, but also serve a valuable purpose to the vehicle's performance. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter EcoBoost V6 initially unveiled with 647 horsepower.

This particular Ford GT benefits from countless fascinating details, not the least of which is its exceptional provenance. It was delivered new to Justin Verlander, inarguably one of the greatest Major League Baseball pitchers in history. A three-time Cy Young Award-winner, American League MVP, and two-time World Series Champion, Verlander made his Major League debut with the Detroit Tigers, for whom he initially played for 13 seasons, becoming a beloved Motor City fixture in the process.

In the summer of 2017, he was traded to the Houston Astros. In fact, late autumn of that year was an extraordinary time for the baseball great. Over the period of a few short weeks, not only did he take the Astros to a World Series victory (his first) against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was married to model Kate Upton, and finally took delivery in late November, of this exceptional Ford GT. No stranger to sports cars, the Detroit Free Press reported on his purchase at the time and his own excitement on social media, citing his previous ownership of an Aston Martin DBS, Ferrari 458, Lamborghini Aventador, and Mercedes-Benz SL55 - quite the collection!

His Ford GT was a very worthy addition to the collection and the car's documentation on file is exceptionally strong, supporting its history. Finished in Liquid Ice Blue with a "Re-Entry" interior sporting white leather accents and black Alcantara seats, it was the only Ford GT in this color combination. In fact, the car has a certificate on file from Ford, confirming that this "Extended Color Palette code 881566F" is exclusive to this very car. This alone was a $30,000 option; the car was ordered with $98,000 of optional equipment in total-close to 20 percent of the total sales price! Aside from this color choice and Equipment Group 200A, the car also came with Frozen White Overtop Stripes, the Exterior Gloss Carbon Fiber Package, Silver Brake Calipers, 20-inch Gloss Painted Forged Wheels, Titanium lug nuts, and a $10,000 titanium exhaust.

Documentation further confirms that the car was originally registered to Verlander's Lakeland, Florida home, close to the Detroit Tigers spring training camp location. It seems the car, however, was primarily enjoyed by Verlander in Houston, Texas, as confirmed by the Ford dealership paperwork on file and CARFAX Report, which unsurprisingly is entirely clean as well. After about two years and 800 miles of ownership, Verlander parted ways with his beloved Ford GT, and it was acquired by a private owner in Massachusetts, for whom service records are also on file at the local Herb Chambers Ford dealership. In fact, this owner, who likewise took meticulous care of the car, only added about 150 additional miles to the car during his custodianship.

As presented, the car is offered with 948 miles indicated on the odometer, the majority of which were enjoyed by Justin Verlander himself. Its cosmetic condition is as excellent as one would expect from a car of such low mileage. The car is exceptionally complete in its presentation - from the original books, tools, Ford Performance trickle charger, original window sticker, tire compressor, color swatch palette and Multimatic spray outs, car cover, and service records. It even has a custom watch produced by Autodromo, which is color-matched to the car and is presented in its own case with a personalized letter to Verlander.

Any Ford GT is an icon of modern supercar history and while production was tremendously small, a limited few examples stand above the rest. Uniquely specified in Liquid Ice Blue, this example is as extraordinary as its very first owner, and with the recent announcement of Justin Verlander's return to the Detroit Tigers, it is Broad Arrow's pleasure to present this Ford GT-one Motor City icon, originally owned by another!