Ford GT70: The Forgotten Rally Hero That Never Reached the Podium

Glorious Misfire - In the golden era of motorsport, when rally cars danced across gravel and tarmac with grace and aggression, the pursuit of speed often led to the birth of machines that lived more in myth than on podiums. Among them, a car emerged from the shadows of greatness, carrying the weight of a legendary name. It promised adrenaline, performance, and a new chapter for Ford’s racing legacy. But sometimes, even the most well-intentioned heroes never quite find their stage. This is the story of the Ford GT70—an ambitious creation meant to roar, but that ended up only whispering through history.

The Ford GT70 is the Ford GT you never knew existed—an ambitious and daring creation intended to roar across rally stages, yet ultimately faded into obscurity, leaving behind only a faint whisper in the pages of motorsport history. (Picture from: AutomobileMag)

In the late 1960s, Ford Motor Company had already tasted motorsport glory with the GT40, a race car that crushed Ferrari at Le Mans and cemented Ford’s place in the annals of racing. Riding high on that success, Ford set its sights on conquering the World Rally Championship. The answer? Build a rally-ready weapon that could live up to the Ford GT name. The mission landed at Ford of Britain’s doorstep in Brentwood, where a specialized team was put together to bring the new vision to life.

The Ford GT70 is beautifully wrapped in the iconic BP racing livery, proudly positioned alongside other legendary creations from Ford’s rich motorsport legacy. (Picture from: Mad4Wheels)

To give the GT70 its edge, Ford enlisted the expertise of Ercole Spada, an Italian designer celebrated for his work at Zagato. His design for the GT70 was sleek, purposeful, and compact—perfect for rally stages. Underneath the striking exterior, the car housed a mid-mounted 2.6-liter V6 from the Capri RS2600, generating around 240 bhp. It was a promising setup for a car that was intended to fly down dirt tracks and twisty tarmac routes alike.

The Ford GT70 is adorned in the legendary BP racing livery, a striking visual tribute that reflects its ambitious role in Ford’s racing history. (Picture from: AutomobileMag)

But Ford didn’t stop with design flair. For the engineering muscle, Len Bailey—whose credentials included the mighty GT40—was brought in to handle the chassis and bodywork. The result was a lightweight fiberglass-bodied car on a specially designed frame, sitting on custom four-spoke wheels and 13-inch studs. The GT70 certainly looked the part, and on paper, it had all the ingredients of a world-beater. 

The Ford GT70 was a lightweight fiberglass-bodied car on a specially designed frame, sitting on custom four-spoke wheels and 13-inch studs. (Picture from: MotorBiscuit)

Unfortunately, paper doesn’t win races. When the GT70 was finally put to the test in rally events, it struggled. The frame wasn’t stiff enough to handle the brutal demands of rallying. The cockpit was tight and uncomfortable, especially for long stages. And the high-mounted V6 engine gave the car a center of gravity that worked against it rather than for it. The handling wasn't razor-sharp, the balance wasn't quite right, and the reliability just didn’t match the pace of its competitors.  

The Ford GT70 offers an interior view that reflects its purpose-built racing nature, featuring a compact cockpit designed for performance over comfort. (Picture from: AutomobileMag)

Hoping to salvage potential, Ford of France tried swapping the V6 with a 1.6-liter Cosworth BDA inline-four, aiming to lower the center of gravity and improve agility. While this tweak did bring some improvements, it wasn’t enough to justify continuing the program. By 1973, Ford had seen enough. The GT70 project was shut down, and the company redirected its focus to the more competitive and practical Escort platform, which went on to dominate the rally scene.

The Ford GT70 initially utilized a rear-mounted 2.6-liter V6 engine sourced from the Capri RS2600, delivering up to 240 bhp and aimed at providing the power and agility needed to compete in the demanding world of rally racing. (Picture from: AutomobileMag)

In the end, only six GT70 units were ever produced. Each one stands today as a rare glimpse into a “what could’ve been” moment in motorsport history. Though it never stood on a rally podium, the GT70 wasn’t a failure—it was an experiment, a bold step in Ford’s quest for racing evolution. It showed that even giants like Ford weren’t afraid to take risks and learn from their missteps.

The Ford GT70, with only six units ever produced, remains a rare glimpse into what might have been, despite never reaching a rally podium. (Picture from: MotorBiscuit)

What’s especially fascinating is that the GT70 wasn’t the only forgotten sibling in the Ford GT family. Years later, the GT90—a stunning concept car from 1995—followed a similar fate, dazzling fans but never seeing production. And yet, these stepping stones led to what we know today as the modern Ford GT, a car born from decades of passion, trial, and relentless pursuit of performance.

So while the Ford GT70 never got its chance to shine on the world stage, it remains a symbol of vision, courage, and ambition. It was a car built with heart, shaped by masters, and remembered not for its trophies, but for its spirit. Sometimes, even the unsung heroes deserve their story told. *** [EKA [020112020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WIKIPEDIA | AUTOMOBILEMAG | MOTORBISCUIT ]

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