Everyone loves a secret, and Ford's never-seen Ferrari challenger of the late '80s acquired almost mythical status online after a single photo surfaced. The story remained untold, until now. The Blue Oval's supercar started out on its doomed journey to oblivion in 1984, the same year that the Pininfarina-designed Honda NPX mid-engined show car began morphing into the NSX. The first true Japanese supercar might have bested the Ferrari in road testers' hands, but it was made in tiny numbers, just over 1000 units per year, with sales forever throttled by its Ferrari-like cost. The sweet spot was – and still is - in the 944/Boxster and Corvette price point, where there is far higher volume and profit.
This was an opportunity, and Ford's product planners were the best in the business. There was real money to be made in taking on Porsche, Corvette and Ferrari, instead of a Honda-like vanity project sold in penny numbers. All Ford could muster was the Mustang, the original pony car that was limping along on just four cylinders, and those planners needed to aim far higher.
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Esta historia es de la edición March 2022 de Classic & Sports Car.
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RAY HILLIER
Double-chevron oddity proves a break from the norm for this Crewe specialist
SHORT BACK & GLIDES
Eccentric enthusiast Captain RG McLeod's series of Manx-tailed Bentley Specials reached its zenith with this unique S2 Continental.
People's choice
The diminutive but multi-million-selling Fiat 850 packed a remarkable diversity of form and function into its compact footprint
PLASTIC BREAKS FROM THE NORM
Glassfibre revolutionised niche car-body production, but just occasionally strayed into the mainstream.
A SENSIBLE SUPERCAR
The cleverly conceived four-seater Elite secured Lotus a place at the big players' table, but has it been unfairly maligned since then?
"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"
From dreams of yachting glory to the Le Mans podium, via a stint at the top of the motorsport tree, Howden Ganley had quite the career
Still going strong
Herbert Engineering staked its reputation on the five-year warranty that came with its cars. A century on, this Two Litre hasn't made a claim
One for the kids
General Motors was aiming squarely at the youth market with the launch of the Pontiac GTO 60 years ago, and its runaway success popularised the muscle-car movement
A NEW BREED OF HERO
Launched at the turn of the millennium, the GT3 badge has already earned a place alongside RS, CS and turbo in Porsche lore.
Brits with SIX appeal
The straight-six engine is synonymous with a decades-long legacy of great British sports cars. Six variations on the sextet theme convene for comparison
