For the jaw-dropping sum of $105,000, someone has purchased a previous-generation Ford GT engine and transaxle from the first generation of the Blue Oval's epic supercar, as per a listing on Bring A Trailer. Yes, that's six figures for an engine and transaxle sans the rest of the car, or just $300 shy of the price of a new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 1LZ. That Chevy itself comes with one of the best engines currently available in any car, a 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 screamer with a flat-plane crank that delivers 670 horsepower.
By comparison, the Ford GT's 5.4-liter V8 only makes 550 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, and although it sings a lovely tune and will make for an awesome power plant for a custom build, the price is still staggering. Then again, there are a few reasons it sold for so much.
Earlier this year, another supercharged V8 engine from a first-gen GT sold for $65,500, but that did without the rolling display case and transaxle of this latest one. And, of course, Ford no longer builds the first-gen GT, so this engine is even more difficult to come by.
As the seller notes, the V8 comes with key components like its supercharger, oil tank, and accessory belt, while the transaxle has a helical limited-slip differential and a twin-plate clutch. The Ricardo six-speed manual transaxle weighs around 200 pounds.
These components have never been installed in a vehicle or even run at all, so it's essentially brand new.
It must be said that the display case alone is a great part of the purchase, turning the V8 into more than an engine but also an exquisite piece of art for any well-heeled collector who only intends to keep it for that purpose.
"We painted the custom-built stand the same silver as the chassis on the cars as well," said the seller in the comments section of the listing. "The custom plaque on the transaxle goes with the floating theme. I thought this was a nice touch to explain the piece to the people that don't know details about the 2005-2006 Ford GT."
The seller further stated that the engine and transaxle are presented precisely as they came from Ford, but that's why some parts, like the manifold heat shields and engine/transmission mounts, are missing.
In terms of the bidding, one of the first ones amounted to a mere $540 on May 2, but things quickly escalated from there. May 8 was an exciting day, to say the least, with bidding starting at $44,000 in the early hours of the morning before hitting $105,000 - more than many of the most expensive new Fords other than the current GT - after 11 pm.
To put the final price into some perspective, Ford's Predator supercharged V8, as used in the defunct Mustang Shelby GT500, sold for just under $26,000 back in 2021, and that beastly mill made 760 hp.