- "This race car represented Ford's last effort to challenge for the 24 Hours of Le Mans title."
- ―In-game catch text for the car, from GT7's car collection
The Ford Mark IV Race Car '67 is a race car produced by Ford. It appears in Gran Turismo 5, Gran Turismo 6, Gran Turismo Sport (as part of Update 1.25, released on August 29, 2018) and Gran Turismo 7.
The car appears to be the #1, driven by Dan Gurney and A. J. Foyt, who has finished the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1st place overall.
In-game description[]
- "The Ford Mark IV dominated the 1967 Le Mans 24-hour race. It was a momentous achievement for Ford, which had also won the previous year. The car was powered by the same 7L V8 engine that Carroll Shelby had chosen for the Mark II. That said, its chassis was completely different. Here, the chassis was based on the J-car that was under development to meet new regulations... Incorporating cutting edge aerodynamic innovations. As a result, the Mark IV was incredibly quick. So quick in fact, that it finished a full four laps ahead of the second placed Ferrari 330 P4 at Le Mans in 1967. It's also worth noting that the drivers, Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt, were both American... Making this the first victory for an all-American team in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Indeed, it's because of these facts that the Ford Mark IV has a special place in motorsport history."
- ―In-game description of the car, from GT7's Legend Car Dealership
"The final car used by Ford to challenge the Le Mans championship."
The year was 1966, and Ford was on a roll, especially at the world's most famous endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The company realized its goal of winning the historic contest on its third try, dominating the competition with the Ford GT Mark II. With their eyes set on winning future Le Mans races, the engineers from Ford had begun work developing a new race car in 1965, one that would eclipse the prowess of the GT Mark II. The new car, the Mark IV, was built according to changes in article J of the FIA vehicle regulation.
The new car possessed an aluminum honeycomb chassis, which replaced the previous car's steel monocoque one. The profile of the car was characterized by its long, low body that curved from the center section to the rear end. The side air intakes utilized NACA ducts for less drag. The car was subjected to intense wind tunnel testing, and as a result, the Mark IV was one of the most aerodynamically proficient vehicles in the world.
Although the Mark IV's engine was carried over from the Mark II, its power was increased to 523 HP. The chassis was also updated. The result was a race car with an improved top speed of 215.6 miles and better overall stability than its predecessor. In 1967, the Mark IV won the 12 Hours of Sebring and claimed the checkered flag at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating its rival, Ferrari, by five laps. This victory marked the last time the Ford works team participated at Le Mans. The main reason for its departure was the adoption of a new rule in 1968 that restricted maximum displacement, which seemed directly aimed at the Ford GT because, simply put, the car was too fast for the competition.
Café Conversations (GT7)[]
Shiro Nakamura[]
Design-wise, the Mark IV was a complete departure from the Ford GTs that came before. Its body and side profile alone evidence a prioritization of pure aerodynamic performance. From this point on, Ford showed its commitment to breaking the GT mould... In its mission to create completely pure race cars.
Acquisition[]
| Game | Purchase location | Credits | Other methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Turismo 5 | Ford Dealership (Lv. 20+) | 20,000,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo 6 | Ford Dealership | 20,000,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo Sport (  v1.25+) |
Ford Brand Central | 20,000,000 | --- |
| Gran Turismo 7 | Legend Cars | 6,750,000[1] | --- |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Ford Mark IV is among the most expensive cars whenever it appeared in the Gran Turismo series, save for Gran Turismo 7, as its price was heavily adjusted (and significantly cheaper).
- In the PS3 era games, this car and the Subaru Impreza rally cars (1999, 2001 Prototype, 2001, 2003, and 2008 versions) are the only race cars to have a collectable paint item.
Notes[]
- ↑ Price as of September 2023.