First Ford GTs Delivered!

For Jon Shirley, "life in the fast lane" took on an entirely new meaning last week when he took delivery of the first production 2005 Ford GT, becoming the first buyer of America's new supercar.

Shirley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Seattle Art Museum, earned the right to buy the first production Ford GT at last year's Christie's Auction in Pebble Beach, Calif. He outlasted other bidders for 2005 Ford GT chassis number 10, certified by Ford as the first 2005 Ford GT offered for sale to the public. (Ford has reserved the first nine cars for internal use). Proceeds from the auction, which netted $557,500, benefit the designated charities of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

The car, delivered to Shirley at Bowen Scarff Ford in Kent, was produced with Shirley's choice of color (Midnight Blue with white stripes) and options (McIntosh Radio, lightweight BBS Wheels, and grey painted brake calipers). Each Ford GT will be powered by a hand-built aluminum 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 producing 550 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of torque. With a top speed of 205 miles per hour, it is the fastest production car ever to wear the Ford oval.

"I can't wait to get behind the wheel," said Shirley, a retired Microsoft executive who lives in Medina, Wash. "The GT has classic lines and great power, and it's reminiscent of the GT40s of the 1960's that were so successful. It's going to be a thrill to drive this car."

"The Ford GT is the ultimate automotive living legend," said Paul Russell, Ford GT marketing manager. "It is a true supercar with appeal equal to that of the greatest sports cars in the world, plus a celebrated heritage no one can match. We congratulate Mr. Shirley on his purchase of a Ford GT. I'm sure he's going to enjoy driving this car."

Public sale number two will take place this week in Los Angeles, when Jay Leno, host of NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," receives his 2005 Ford GT in Los Angeles. Coincidentally, it was Leno who drove the prototype Ford GT onto the ramp at the auction in Pebble Beach last August where Shirley was the winning bidder.