Ford’s Forgotten Rally Racer - The GT70

In this Rare Cars documentary, we are going over the story of the INSANE GT70 Rally Race prototype that no one has heard about.
This mid-engined prototype rally monster was built to continue the onslaught of Ford's European racing escapades and now help the Blue Oval become a leader in rally racing, but with their Escort rally car at the time not performing too well, they needed to think outside the box.
The GT70 was the answer to that problem, a beautifully designed mid-engined rally racer designed to fight the Porsche 911 and Alpine A110.
👇 Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:10 The Beginnings
5:40 The Powerplant
*Note, we are not historians. If you see an error in our research then please mention it in the comments!
For business inquiries or other inquiries, reach out to: [e-mail]
NOTICE: Clips used from other videos are fair use and fall under U.S. copyright law because this work is transformative in nature, and has no negative effect on the market for the original work. It is against the law to fraudulently claim a copyright on a video you do not own under the DMCA or to abuse KZbin’s copyright claim tool. Copyright concerns and takedown requests can be submitted to: [e-mail]
Sources:
www.motortrend.com/vehicle-ge...
www.autoevolution.com/news/fo...
www.hotcars.com/gt70-ford-rac...

[@billr8667]

Is it my imagination, or does this look like a slightly enlarged Porsche 904?

[@UberLummox]

Kinda does for sure.

[@seancrowley1065]

Not really

[@rodclark5831]

fr fenders, a pillar, windscreen and rear valance, plus wheelbase and overhangs. Then the Dino copied parts of either. It's the logical size and shape of a pocket race car. Supra, last (BEST) RX-7, Speedster ......... :) more to cum.

[@theflash1425]

Having owned a 904, I'm gonna say "Not really", but it does look a lot like a British specialty car maker's model, the name of which I can't recall. One of the really small makers, like Clan or Piper.

[@troyallen8223]

Jaguar Porsche lotus

[@trickydicky2908]

Watching that headlamp cover flapping up and down, was funny, I have owned several cars that had that feature. Lol

[@theflash1425]

On one of my Saab Sonetts (I've had three), a 1971, both headlights would decide to completely pop up once you hit around 50 mph. For some reason, this didn't happen on either of my other two a 1973 and a 1974. I always wondered if it was a factory flaw that was corrected!

[@roberthill2219]

Do the Alpine A110...

[@UberLummox]

Yes!

[@Ecosse57]

i recall seeing a single photo of the silver example in a car magazine in the 1980s. no explaination beyond the 'gt70' reg plate and 'ford' on the nose. pre-internet this mystery haunted me for years. such a cool car.

[@tedgeldberg6498]

Ford wanted to capitalize on the Ford GT40's success by having a halo car for the street which is why they acquired De Tomaso in 1970. The Pantera was to be the Gt40's roadworthy succesor. I'm fortunate to have owned mine for the last 30 years.

[@opera93]

Thanks, for commenting. Interestingly, I owmed Fords many years (* first Car 1954;V8/2 DR, 57 :289 CI 4 BBL ENGINE, CUSTOM): MY odd Favorite was my 1966 FORD GALAXIE 500 XL/4 Speed/ 352/4 BBL,Burgandy Color/DELUXE BLACK INT, ETC; PROBABLY due to great Improvements & Driver..).

[@tedgeldberg6498]

Jay Leno has such a Galaxie in his collection, also burgundy. I saw him stuck in it on Coldwater Canyon in Beverly Hills a couple of years ago awaiting a tow truck. My first car was a new 1969 banana yellow with black stripes Cougar Eliminator. My Pantera was essentially not driveable for the first 18 years I owned it, too many issues. When in 2013 I bought a Jaguar XKR, which was quicker, more civilized, and such a wonderful car to drive, I gave up even trying to drive the Pantera. After looking at it for a couple of years in the driveway, I decided that either I would make it a car I could confidently drive any time I wanted to or I would get rid of it. Four years of modifying and restoring finally gave me the car it should always have been, and I now drive it every single weekend. The only good thing about waiting so long for it to be driveable was that I shrunk in height almost 4" over about 5 years (from about 6'-3" to about 5'11 1/2") which allows me to sit comfortably in my Pantera for the first time. If only my feet would shrink, maybe then I could wear shoes for the first time driving it. Somehow, I don't think that's going to happen, so it's still a barefoot drive.

[@woodsrdr]

I've regretted having to sell my 72 Pre L since 1991.

[@amaccama3267]

The Ford F3L would be a good video.

[@robertritchie2860]

Then the Lancia Stratos came with the same concept.. And improved it.

[@iscreenshotnfts9455]

Great video! Would love to see something on the history of Consulier/ Mosler!

[@ultimateformulations]

What jumps out to me is that Bradley kit cars straight up copied this prototype for their "Bradley GTII". Which, is what kit cars often do. But, I never knew this was likely where it originated from.

[@devilsson6660]

I thought the Bradley was a Ford when I was a young kid

[@andrewsmith2973]

This is great stuff. Keep up the good work

[@marciocarvalho8975]

It looks like... everything!!!! Once upon a time a car won a race! Short story to a great brand

[@danvandal4127]

Thanks man, love to find stuff like this which is new to me. Stay motivated!

[@trwsandford]

This is a very good looking machine!

[@thedon-e6514]

And then the Lancia Stratos appeared and all the other rally cars of the times were immediately outclassed. Who would have thought a mid-engined car built only for rallying would go on to dominate? 🤣

[@daveapplemotors]

stratos were 4WD turbo and supercharged - four hundred horse power. these Fords were given 2nd rate power plants

[@thedon-e6514]

@@daveapplemotors You may be conflating the Delta S4 with the Stratos. The Delta S4 was a Group B monster - 4WD, turbo and supercharger with many horse powers! The Stratos was 2WD with a Ferrari Dino V6 tucked in behind the driver. No turbos or superchargers, just a short wheelbase and a twitchy chassis 😁

[@daveapplemotors]

@@thedon-e6514 you are right

[@christophecamus8410]

Very interesting video ❤❤❤

[@philmanson2991]

As Spock would say, 'Fascinating!"

[@Rafagafanhotobra]

Another awesome video - besides saying Ercole (Err-có-le) like "Earrlcol"

[@cheyennedogsoldiers]

Ford would take a stab at the mid engined layout again in the 80's with the RS200 which was aimed at Group B Rallying, but due to the cancellation of the group, it never really got the chance to shine. Although a number of the car did go on to have successful carriers in Rallycross.

[@WEKM]

Interesting car.

[@thomaskelley1718]

Interesting story

[@woodsrdr]

Looks like someone bred an Opel GT with a Saab Sonett and then bred that with an A110.

[@mry82]

I went from never hearing about it to wanting it pretty quick like, lol,

[@Nightmareof94]

I remember this car from rally sport challenge 2

[@corsa180]

The front end is very Opel GT-ish. In fact, kind of looks like a mid-engined re-imagination of an Opel GT.

[@mpetersen6]

A video about Ford racing and rallying. The first car in the video is a 72 or 73 AMC Matador in NASCAR trim 🙈🙉🙊

[@hansdomke89]

Wasn't expecting to hear a shout out to my Mk1 Ford Fiesta Ghia in this video lol

[@UberLummox]

Strange it couldn't beat the Escort. Cool vid!

[@fordgt5383]

First time i saw this car was in Ford Racing 3

[@tobihaifisch7558]

6:37 The what? The Tannis?! You mean the 'Taunus'.

[@craiggaulzetti2255]

It’s funny how it had those bitchin’ Panasport Magnesium wheels even in the drawings.

[@joshdobson2737]

The Ford Dino

[@daveapplemotors]

Looks a lot like a Lancia Stratos. And those look like Weber carbs while he is talking about Kuglefischer FI at about 6:07

[@indigenoussober407]

They could bring this idea back and make an American Miata. But that would be too much fun for the soulless Corporate ghouls.

[@rarecars3336]

True unfortunately

[@michaelteret4763]

Cool car, but not much of a secret - Corgi made a 1:64 diecast version, with an opening engine cover, cool toy.

[@yipperdipper3189]

Looks identical to an old alpine a110. That can’t be a coincidence. Like identical

[@vwgolf6487]

FORD CONTOUR SVT! I just caught you!

[@ricobobe]

This will go in my list of the most beautiful cars ever. So far the list consist of Ferrari 250 GTO, Lamborghini Miura, Porsche 904 and this 904d (see what I did there). 👊❤

[@Flies2FLL]

-This was built of fiberglass. The only reason that I can think of as to why Ford didn't introduce this in the United States was that it would have been too expensive and would have cut down on (profitable) Mustang sales. Sad. I would have powered it with a Kent 1.6 or the Pinto 2.3 SOHC engine with a small amount of performance upgrade. I would bet that the cast iron Cologne V6 version was tail-heavy since that engine weighs more than the 5.0 V8, and that might negatively effect handling

[@DarrenJones042]

Any relationship with the Davarian officially or unofficially?

[@VashSpiegel]

Ferrari Dino + Lotus Elan = Ford GT70

[@josephstaton4820]

Looks kinda like the Renault Alpine A110.

[@mikeoren3934]

I have to say it's does exist just not under the blue oval but alpine a110 you look at the lineage

[@jhonistein5347]

I think it's a continue to the 1962 mustang development

[@briancavanagh7048]

Track looks too narrow. Picking up suspension components from some pretty underwhelming cars. Did I miss it in the video, was the chassis tubular frame or monocoque? Surprised no one has tried making a fibreglass kitcar replica.

[@robertwoodliff2536]

Shame they did not take the GT 40 directly onto the rough ... OK engine size reduction .., but just get it in the loose stuff & see how it flew ...

[@KretinoSantino]

Escort killed it. Because it was marketing for car for every Joe Shmoe. And this wasn't. Rallye was always showoff of regular cars, even if under similar body, all mechanics were changed. That's why street legal Lancia Delta is till this day a legend. Even if you see 1.6 HF, you turn your head.

[@jsimmonstx]

in the intro, you mentioned Shelby Mustangs, and showed a non-Shelby. The Eleanor cars are NOT Shelby's.

[@GunsmithSid]

You had me going - I clicked. But no, it was the GT70. It was not an evolution of the GT40. I always appreciate informative car content, but the click bait headline wasn’t needed and is misleading.

[@deanstevenson6527]

🥝✔️

[@ruleninetyone]

Stuart Turner was the director of competition/ motorsport at Ford, know him well.

[@user-wv3dt6bq8j]

I wander what it would look like with some 28in forge’s

[@GRAHAMAUS]

In Europe, it's just called 'Rallying'. Rally-Racing is a US term, we don't call it that.

[@skeezix8156]

Video is made by an American KZbinr. Yet you’re still confused?

[@GRAHAMAUS]

@@skeezix8156 About a car built in Britain by Ford UK to go rallying in Europe.

[@gomezgomezian3236]

Well, its future was assured once I heard the line "And then Ford USA got involved ...". Yep, dead in the water. They would want to put a massive lump of V8 iron in the back, which would probably put out less power than a 4-cylinder Cosworth, and make it handle like a piece of the proverbial, and have an auto trans, 'cause Americans can't drive 'stick' and don't understand that what makes a car 'quick' is going around corners fast and braking fast, more than sounding like they are accelerating fast (especially when they are not, really).

[@user-fn4ub2yb2k]

It should have had a V8