It's Ford vs Ferrari yet again! But this time, we're talking about their legendary performance cars from early 2000s.
The rivalry between Ford and Ferrari is one of the fiercest of all time. Back in the 1960s, these two car brands fought tooth and nail to show their supremacy on racetracks. The competition between the two was cut-throat and their battles at 24 hours of Le Mans were legendary. Many consider Ford vs Ferrari to be the greatest automotive rivalry of all time, and rightly so.
While the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari in racing goes a long way, it was a similar affair with their road-going performance cars. Ferrari launched, for the 2003 model year, its most advanced road car of that time in the shape of the Enzo, which was named after the company’s founder. Meanwhile, around the same time, Ford started the development of the iconic GT, which would go on to become their halo performance car. The Ford GT made its debut in 2005 and it paid homage to the original GT40 racecar from the 60s.
As of today, both the Ferrari Enzo and Ford GT are icons in their own right. But how do they stack up against each other? Let’s find out:
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One look at the Ferrari Enzo and you can immediately tell that it was designed by science. Although Ferrari took help of famed design house Pininfarina, there’s no denying that the Enzo’s shape was hugely inspired by all the F1-tech that was around during those years. As opposed to its predecessor, the F50, the Enzo’s design was much more radical as it featured full carbon-fiber construction, while also bringing a more functional approach to its exterior design. Be it the conical nose, underbody diffusers, adjustable front flap, or the lack of a rear wing, the Enzo’s intricate detailing made it the most advanced hypercar of its time. Even on the inside, the Enzo looked and felt every bit like a racecar. There were no electric windows or a stereo in order to save weight. The cabin was layered with carbon fiber, while the steering wheel was motorsport-inspired and featured shift lights – which is something that you now find regularly in newer Ferraris.
While the Enzo’s design was inspired by the latest tech in F1, the Ford GT was a clear throwback to the past as its design was largely based on the original GT40 race car from the 1960s. The Ford GT made its first appearance at the 2002 Detroit Auto Show and became an instant hit. The production model was launched in 2005, and it stayed true to its roots – it had strong styling cues of the original GT40 racer, although it was three inches taller, as well as wider and longer than the original car. Its long front overhang, arched fenders, and doors that cut into the roof were all reminiscent of the original Le Mans race car. Compared to the Enzo, the cabin layout of the GT was a bit more modern, courtesy of its brushed aluminum bezels around dials and classy toggle switches, and it even had a stereo!
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As soon as the Enzo came out, it became a hypercar sensation. Powered by a 6.0-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine, the Enzo’s peak power output was rated at 650 hp @ 7,800 rpm, while it produced 485 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm. The redline was at 8,200rpm! Channeling the power to the rear wheels was a six-speed F1-inspired automated clutch manual transmission. Weighing just about 3,000 pounds, the Enzo could clock 0-62 mph in 3.1 seconds, before continuing to clock a top speed of 217 mph!
While the Ford GT wasn’t classified as a hypercar like the Enzo, it was by no means a slouch. Courtesy of its 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine, the Ford produced 550 hp @ 6,500 rpm and 500lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. Paired with a six-speed manual gearbox that sent the drive to the rear wheels, the GT could do 0-62 mph in 3.8 seconds, and it had a claimed top speed of 205 mph.
Since the Ferrari Enzo is named after the company’s late great founder – Enzo Ferrari – it deserves a place in history books for that reason alone. But even on merit, it’s still one of the most cutting-edge hypercars in the world since its inception two decades ago. Only 399 units of the Enzo were produced. And it was so special that the company decided to send special invitations to the existing customers of Ferrari at that time. You couldn’t just buy an Enzo unless Ferrari thought you were worthy of it! The Enzo is so rare and so special that pre-owned examples can fetch anywhere from $3-6 million during auctions. What’s more, the Enzo belongs to the ultra-special club of special Ferraris such as the 288 GTO, F40, F50, and its successor, the LaFerrari, and this makes it all the more special.
The Ford GT, on the other hand, has a special place in its own right. When it was launched in 2005, it was a throwback to the company’s gloried past, and it lived up to the expectations with its spectacular looks, explosive performance, and impeccable handling. With a production run of 4,500 units, it may not be as rare as the Enzo, but given its pedigree and storied past, it’s still a very, very special piece of automotive history.