Ford GT's still being wrecked???

[buddyg]

Originally Posted by Cobra #3170

The last or possibly previous issue of Hot Rod magazine showed a GT that crashed right by their offices in SOCAL. So yes, it is still happening although not as often because most are not driven as pointed out previously.
They are particularly dangerous on cold mornings because a stock one can make 600 RWHP in those conditions and the tires are near glass transition temps.

They were 550 at the crank stock, I find it hard to believe it's going to make 600 rwhp on a cold morning.

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by buddyg

They were 550 at the crank stock, I find it hard to believe it's going to make 600 rwhp on a cold morning.

First of all, intake air temperature has a very big effect on forced induction engines. Ford, as you may or may not recall had a problem with over rating Mustang HP years ago and got burned. Being a normal corporate entity they over reacted in the opposite direction and started being VERY conservative with HP numbers. The 550 GT number was based on worst case conditions and with a safety factor. The other piece of information you are missing is that the Recardo transaxlel loses about 5% HP and torque because of it's excellent design.
A personal friend witnessed the 600 HP pull on a chassis dyno during development of the FGT with a bone stock engine. These cars are not like many we see here where an overly optimistic (phoney) engine dyno HP number is excused by saying 20-25% was lost to driveline and exhaust when a sub par RWHP is measured.