Every gearhead who loves an underdog story will know the legendary tale of how Ford took Ferrari to the cleaners at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1966. This historical event was famously captured in the recent film Ford v Ferrari, and the star of the show was of course the original Ford GT. A massive amount of research and development went into the first GT car, and Alan Martin Racing's ultra-light prototype cars led the way for what would become one of the best known, and most loved American race cars of all time. Last year we teased the Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition, and now it's making its first public appearance at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show.

The special limited edition Ford GT pays tribute to the original AM GT-1, a one-off prototype that made use of light weight materials to achieve exceptional performance around the track. Only two of these lightweight cars were ever built, and the technology used in these cars led to the GT Mk 2 which famously won in 1966.

"Whether it's going like hell at the racetrack or out-innovating the competition, the Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition honors the vehicles that helped lead Ford to its wins. With its red and gold livery, this Ford GT is inspired by Alan Mann Racing's contribution to our Le Mans-winning story," said Mike Severson, Ford GT program manager.

The 2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition continues this tradition of light weight design with its lightweight carbon-fiber body, and proudly wears the red and gold colors of the original AM GT-1. The exterior design also features a dual over-the-roof racing stripe, Frozen White accent stripes, and Alan Mann's No. 16 decal on the doors, hood and rear wing. To add some contemporary flavor, Ford has also added some exposed carbon fiber to the splitter, engine louvers, side sills, mirrors, and rear diffuser. The car rolls on a set of stunning 20-inch wheels which hide red Brembo brake calipers.

The interior of the Alan Mann Heritage Edition feels just as race-inspired with its carbon-fiber trim and Ebony Alcantara -wrapped carbon fiber seats that feature the classic gold and red accent stitching. Gold appliques feature on the instrument panels and even the dual-clutch paddle shifters are finished in Alan Mann Red.

Behind the driver and passenger sits a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 producing 660 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The 0-60 mph sprint takes around three seconds, and an eye-watering top speed of 216 mph is achievable if you have the balls.

"It's a great honor for Alan Mann Racing and the Mann family to celebrate the epic motorsports heritage of Ford GT with this fantastic limited-edition car. To see the red and gold colors of our team's livery come back to life, and to debut this new GT alongside one of our original GT40s in Chicago, will be a magical occasion," said Henry Mann the director of Alan Mann Racing Ltd.

The Alan Mann Heritage Edition forms part of Ford's Heritage Edition Series that pays tribute to the people and moments that made the Ford GT such a legend. Currently the series includes awesome tributes such as the 2022 Ford GT '64 Prototype Heritage Edition honoring GT roots and the earliest five original Ford GT prototypes; and the 2017 Ford GT '66 Heritage Edition honoring the number 2 Ford GT40 Mk II co-driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon at Le Mans in 1966. Deliveries of the 2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition will start this quarter and will be available to pre-approved customers only.