The Ford GT, released in 2005, is one of the coolest American supercars I can think of. Inspired by the company’s GT40 race cars of the late 1960s, it delivers a retro flair without being too gimmicky, and backs it up with a mid-mounted, 550-horsepower supercharged V8 engine and some of the coolest doors in the business.
Anyone who knows the story of the first-gen GT knows that it wasn’t particularly popular when it was new, with many cars sitting on dealer lots unsold for months. It was only several years later, when collectors began to realize the GT’s greatness, that they began to appreciate in value.
And appreciate they did. The GT originally started at $139,995, or at $151,695 if you checked every single option box. Now, though, you’d be hard-pressed to nab one off of Bring a Trailer for under $400,000. But depending on what options you chose (or didn’t choose), your GT could be far more valuable, all other things equal.
In This Case, Less Is More
I was inspired to write this by the always interesting Doug DeMuro, former car writer and founder of the online auction site Cars & Bids. While speaking on The Smoking Tire podcast back in December, DeMuro spoke about how he came across the original Ford GT order form that buyers had to fill out to get their order in.
The Ford GT’s list of customization options was famously small, with buyers able to pick between six colors and three different racing stripe setups (no stripes, stripes on the sides, or “full” stripes, including on the sides, the hood, the roof, and the rear decklid). Additionally, buyers could choose to add red- or grey-painted brake calipers, BBS lightweight aluminum wheels, and a McIntosh high-end sound system. That’s it. No fancy interior colors, no exclusive paint-to-sample programs, no weird aero kits. Just the color, the painted stripes ($5,350), the wheels ($3,500), and the stereo ($2,100).
As DeMuro points out on the podcast above, the current value of your GT could swing wildly based on which of the option boxes you checked off on the above hand-written order form. (DeMuro’s quotes have been edited for clarity):
It’s just a piece of paper that you fax to Ford. And it’s these check boxes. I’m looking at it, and I’m thinking, if you checked these in a certain way, you would have a $150,000 [gain].
At the time, the options didn’t have a cost, or they were minimal. But, just making certain decisions was a $150,000 value add or subtract. You had no way of knowing that 20 years ago.
[…]
If you had chosen red with a stripe, that car is worth $100,000, $200,000 less than if you had gotten a black, no-stripe car [or] a silver no-stripe car. Obviously impossible to know at the time, but kind of funny to look at this sheet of paper and think there was so much [potential value]. [The original owner] probably didn’t put that much thought into it.
DeMuro is, of course, totally correct. Or, should I say, mostly correct. Ford built just 3,660 GTs, so prices are only expected to go up as time goes on. His description of how color selection by the original orderer can certainly affect how much the car’s value has increased, sometimes by six figures. Looking at recent Bring a Trailer auction results, there’s a clear pattern.
Looking towards the top right of the graph embedded above, the highest sellers are Heritage Edition cars, which come with a Gulf livery reminiscent of the livery used by the GT40 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford made just 343 of these, representing 9% of production. Collectors will fight tooth and nail over low-mileage examples, leading to near-seven-figure hammer prices.
Below those cars is where DeMuro’s theory rings true. Stripless cars in rarer colors like blue and black, depending on mileage, regularly command sale prices over $500,000. This Midnight Blue example with 2,400 miles sold for $550,000 back in February. This similarly specced model with 2,100 miles on the clock sold in 2024 for $605,000. This black one with 5,700 miles on the odometer sold for $535,000 back in June.
Similarly, cars painted in yellow—stripeless or not—usually command more money than other colors, simply because this color was rarely chosen new (only 172 yellow Ford GTs exist, or around 4% of production). This one sold for $520,000 back in 2024, while this one sold for $630,000 back in October. Silver, another rare color, also demands a premium. Here’s one with side decals that went for $565,000 in December.
Meanwhile, if you peruse the lower portion of the sales results, you realize most of those cars are red, striped cars. Red cars make up nearly a quarter of all Ford GT production, making it by far the most common color. This one, with just 2,600 miles, sold for $455,000. This one with 4,700 miles went for $461,000 in October. Here’s one with 6,000 miles that sold for $410,000.
There are exceptions that pop up from time to time, of course. This red Ford GT sold for $627,000, despite the color and a handful of modifications, because it was owned by Paul Walker and didn’t have any stripes.
This phenomenon isn’t unique to the Ford GT. Plenty of collector cars have values that can swing wildly depending on option choices like color or transmission selection. As Hagerty points out, a Lamborghini Murcielago with a gated manual transmission is worth a staggering 300% more on average than the same car equipped with paddle shifters.
Speaking With Someone Who Bought a Ford GT New
Where DeMuro got it wrong is thinking that his car’s original owner “didn’t put that much thought into” choosing a color combo. In fact, the opposite happened.
I know this because I spoke with Karl Brauer, an executive analyst for iSeeCars.com, the host of the Karl Brauer Cars YouTube channel, and the original owner of DeMuro’s 2005 Ford GT, over the phone recently. He recounted how he was lucky to be able to spec his car out in the first place.
“Almost all Ford GTs were ordered by dealers,” he told me. “It was relatively rare that the customer got to order it. I was very fortunate because I did get to order mine.”
“I was part of a select group that Ford said, ‘You can have the car at MSRP, and you can order it the way you want ahead of time,'” Brauer continued. “I got really fortunate … from my understanding, from someone who was the main contact I had at Ford at the time, they got something like 750 requests from people saying, ‘I want a Ford GT,’ basically trying to call in favors through their Ford contacts.”
“And [of those people], 121 or 122, I think, was the number that Ford actually approved,” he said. “And it included people like, of course, Jay Leno, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony from Van Halen, and myself. I was very fortunate. That guaranteed that [I’d] pay MSRP, [I] could pick whichever dealer [I] wanted, and [I] could pick the car the way [I] wanted it to be equipped.”
Then came the hard part for Brauer: Actually picking his specification. Though the above order form seems extremely straightforward, Brauer told me he struggled for a long time to decide on the color he wanted. In the end, he was stuck between Midnight Blue or white.
“I agonized over color for almost the entire time I was waiting to put my order in, and I still wasn’t sure, because I like bright colors in general, and the blue looked so dark in all the photos,” he told me.
Before Brauer locked in his build, he managed to see a blue car in person—one that was getting delivered to a different customer at his local dealership—to make sure he wasn’t making a mistake.
“I sprinted over there because I was afraid it was going to get picked up before I could see it,” Brauer says. “And it was sitting there behind ropes, and as soon as I saw it for, like 10 seconds, I’m like, ‘It’s gonna be blue.’ The blue looked awesome in person and all.”
The blue turned out to be a financially smart call for Brauer, as it became one of the GT’s more desirable base colors for collectors. But as you’ve probably already figured out by now, Brauer’s car was optioned with the full stripe package, an option that, if left off, would’ve made the car even more valuable. But Brauer says he has absolutely no regrets about his spec, even if it meant not making as much when he sold the car.
“I’m glad with what I did,” Brauer says. ”I got the exact car that I, from an aesthetic point of view, [thought] looked the best. I put 31,000 miles on it and still sold it at a nice profit to Doug DeMuro. And now he’s got it. So I am extremely happy with my experience in that car.”
I think the lesson here depends on your priorities in life. If you’re the type who treasures the preservation of value and potential investment status when you buy a cool car, then make sure you get a version that very few people go for. Because eventually, it’ll end up being rarer and more desirable. Or, you can do what Brauer did, and simply pick the options that make you happiest. Personally, I’d go that route every time.
Top graphic images: Bring a Trailer
I will never forget taking delivery of my brand new 12 Evolution GSR which felt like a similar endeavor knowing the love of last Evos.
Still miss that car.
If I could have I’d have Gulf colors because it’s so iconic I painted a slot car that way. Second choice would have been blue, just because I like the color. Ironically I have had more red cars in my life than blue ones
This is my favorite car of all time. I’ll take it in any color, stripe or no stripe, and drive that MFer every damn day that I could. It’s a damn shame that it’s only for “the collectors” now.
I think on any given day these price fluctuations are function of in what mood the buyer woke up and how much their daily wins on stock where, rather than what stripes or no stripes the car came with.
The market on these has to be one of the wildest swings of any moden enthusiast car, for them all being near identical.
Cars should be driven regularly. These stories are just about assets for the rich, not really about “cars”.
Imagine getting all poopy pants that your car (asset) you’ve hardly driven is worth only $400k when it could be worth $500k…
All these “collectors” hoarding these cars for 20 years only to get maybe 400% gain would have done much better in the stock market
I was going to mention that, but you beat me to it. Cars should be driven beyond the parking lot of the Cars N Coffee and the Pebble Beach Yawn blah-blah-blah.
I don’t have really awesome cars, but when I have a decent one, I let people drive it, sit in it or whatever. Heck, I’m letting my brother-in-law drive my Miata for an entire season of Autocross. They are meant to be experienced.
Didn’t Clarkson buy a blue with striped? Watching him trying to get in and out was hilarious
A lot here makes no sense. They didn’t sell well on the lot but Ford nor dealers ignored guaranteed sales by refusing custom orders? Value here is based on rarity but dealers thinking they know best warped fact.
I always thought the stripe was the most iconic thing about the design. Those being cheaper is great news for me, if I stumble upon a couple hundred thousand dollars
When I first discovered these, the blue w/stripes were so prevalent I thought they were a “Ford blue” exclusively. Gorgeous cars, awesome that they don’t look like Transformers.
Bumblebee didn’t die to be slandered like this
Interesting that that order form didn’t have the heritage livery. I think I’ve successfully weaned myself off gulf and martini liveries and the only livery I’d pay for is John Player Special on a lotus or something.
But while this is a good article about the market, I never want to ever be the person that buys a car in a particular spec because it might make me more money down the line in the future.
My Lotus is black. I wanted gold wheels on it because I like the colours, but I didn’t want people thinking I was trying to make it look like a JPS car.
Also with Lotus the ones that aren’t a special edition with some sort of stripe are rarer.
After much thought and soul searching I have come to this conclusion.
Stripes, no stripes. IDGAF. I still lust after these. I am old enough to remember the original Ford GTs that ran LeMans, and all over the damn world. And kicked some ass in the process.
BTW did anyone see the movie about that?
Was it worth the watch?
I have seen one of these in real life.
One of the best things Ford ever built.
A race car for the street.
Because of what it is this would never be an investment for me.
I would have no choice but to drive it.
At this time I could afford one of these.
But would need to sell my house to do so.
I wonder how hard it would be to do a trailer hitch on one of these?
Ford vs Ferrari? It was worth a watch – a bit too Hollywood for my taste but I thought Christian Bale was excellent as Ken Miles. I didn’t think that Matt Damon was a great choice as Carroll Shelby.
thanks
Seconded, Ford vs Ferrari was great, Christian Bale killed it as Ken Miles, but I think they could have done better for Shelby. Matt Damon certainly wasn’t bad, but outside of the moments where he was interacting with Ken it didn’t feel like he captured the essence of Carroll Shelby to me.
thanks
I would choose blue, white, and yellow without stripes, and red,blue and black with stripes. And a track shaped mile plus loop driveway on the estate behind the wall and gate.
Don’t forget the “..and no neighbors for miles around” lol
Huh. I guess it’s just down to rarity, but it is strange that the more iconic color/stripe package is “less desirable.” I’d wager that anyone who pictures one of these GT’s thinks of either a red or blue one with full stripes.
If it were me, I think I’m torn. Back then, no doubt I would have gone with the stripes. But the non-stripe version does look great, and in some way “cooler” because it’s different than what you initially imagine. Maybe that explains it.
I’m guessing stripes was the more popular choice since it was iconic. That means they are more common and therefore worth less.
It’s funny at the time I thought it was wild paying $150k for a Ford. Now it’s what some dipshit payed for a bronco or rapter a few years ago. My uncle had the paper and was so close to buying one I think he was trying to get x plan because my cousin worked for Ford at the time. Im not sure if it qualified for any plans anyway. But he just couldn’t get his head around dropping that kind of money on a car. He ended up buying a tbird it was like $90k cheaper.
I doubt these were available on any sort of plan. The Raptors, Shelbys, and special cars (GT) were never on the A/X plan list while i was there.
Story time:
Flashback to Christmas eve 2007 or 2008. A young me was working at our local music store when 2 dudes rolled up in a gold late 60s/early 70s drop-top caddy. They waltzed right in, asked for a karaoke machine and whatever accessories they needed for their party later that night. We got them all set up. As we were gathering their karaoke paraphernalia/getting them rung up, I commented on the sweet Caddy to the dude who was driving. The other guy overheard me and said something to the effect of “you should see his other cars,” begging the question of what else he had. On the list was a Ford GT. As the hot car at the time, I asked if he liked it. He said yes. So much so that he bought “the rest of them.” Ol boy had 13 Ford GTs sitting in a warehouse with delivery miles. A chunk of them were heritage models. That year my Christmas gift was learning that some people really do live in a different stratosphere. At least the dude was pretty cool, so that’s a plus but 13 Ford GTs on flat tires is kind of lame.
I would never sell my GT.
If I had one.
Am I remembering incorrectly? I thought the original GTs sold well and were in-demand. I believe you had to apply to Ford to order one – and people did (unlike the stupid process to acquire an LFA, which people chose to avoid).
I thought that was the second gen of the GT, but I also could be wrong…
It was, but it was also the first one.
It was not financial crisis time yet. The first gen ran for the 2005 and 2006 model years – the peak of free money forever thinking. You could walk into a bank and get a $500k loan just for writing your name on a piece of paper (and the banks didn’t bother verifying the name).
New car flipping was silly at the time. Ferrari Enzos were being sold pre-delivery for double their MSRP. Ford wanted to put these in the hands of people who would use them to promote the brand.
There’s a guy who shows up with his white/blue stripe GT at the local Cars & Coffee semi-regularly. He comes from a fair bit north of here from what I remember, too. Definitely driven and appreciated, that car. Even seen it with bug splats.
This is a disappointing article. In 2009 there was a black GT with no stripes for sale at a RV dealer who had taken it in on trade. He had it listed at $72,000 and it sat for a while. I called him out of curiosity and he told me that he figured he could sell it easier than the RV he traded it for. Remember, it was the middle of the global financial crisis. He told me to come take a look and make a realistic offer. My issue, was I had 3 kids under 8 and at the time no “extra” money. If only I could go back in time.
Cars are built to be driven. If you buy a Ford GT and haven’t taken it to the grocery store at least once, you have let that car down. It should get to experience life in the wild, dang it! Where’s that cloud I was yelling at?
Indeed, a 20 year old car with 5,000 miles on the odometer seems like a waste. That is always what strikes me about these supercars – they don’t get driven – it is a shame. I have a lot more respect for the guy that dailies a Ferrari and puts 200k+ miles on it over 20 years. I think I remember reading about a guy in California that did this. These look-at-me only cars do dull my interest in fancy cars in general.
I prefer it with the stripes. That is all.
If I had been buying new, yellow with the stripes would have been the one for me. But if I had to take a red with stripes, I certainly wouldn’t be shedding a tear for my lower appreciation. I’d just be enjoying the damned thing.
Apparently so did everyone who bought one new.
I agree. I’d have never guessed that the non-stripe ones would be the more desirable (aka. valuable) option.
Agree, big time! IMO these cars should be red or blue WITH the stripes. Yellow ones and black ones do look great, but c’mon! STRIPES! On a FAST FORD! It’s not rocket surgery, people.
To quote Scotto on his most recent episode of Very Vehicular. “Fuck Spec”
IMO this is as bad as NFTs and Blockchain speculators. It’s not like I was ever going to afford a GT, but the amount of money tied up in these things that will hardly ever get used is, frankly; disgusting.
I can’t imagine looking at car and thinking “you’re investment would have paid off so much harder if you just chose better options.” There is a personality type in that form of thinking that does not appeal to me. Course, I don’t care about resale value of what I drive ever. That is never figured in to the amount I spend. For me, that sucks all the fun right out. I’ll stick with doing what I want and not worrying about the investment or resale.
I looked this up so I wouldn’t feel bad:
An investment of $140,000 in an S&P 500 index fund at the beginning of 2005 with all dividends reinvested would be worth approximately $1,201,069.17 as of January 30, 2026.
Further proof that the concept of cars as an investment is pretty much a joke
I cannot imagine spending wild money on a cool, fast, fun car and then keeping the mileage low so I can maybe keep up with inflation (or maybe lose a lot). If I buy it, I want to enjoy it.
If I had one of these I’d go broke trying to keep tires on it.
Ford GTs should be appreciating in value because the supply is constantly decreasing due to owners crashing them backwards into trees at 120mph. It should be a mark of shame to have less than 50,000 miles on the odometer.
Drive the damn things! They want to be driven!!!
1) I consider it a financial win if I don’t lose money.
2) Bought a clean 964 C2 for $15K just before the values started going up… turned out to be my best “investment” ever. Blind luck of course, but make sure to bring that one up with my wife every time she gives me the side eye seeing me browsing for another car.
I paid $3300 for a ’98 Chevy C1500 back in 2011 and sold it last year for $5500 (could have gotten more but didn’t feel like spending my time on it). I was happy and my wife was impressed.
Even the best of the best. I think there are very few cars out there which have appreciated quickly enough to have made them worthwhile as investments…one of those might be the second generation Ford GT.
not all investments are good investments.