2017 Automotive Hall of Fame Inductee Jack Roush received a very special delivery earlier this month. The motorsports magnate recently took delivery of his 2017 Ford GT at the Roush Collection in Livonia, Michigan.
Roush is one of just 500 customers who were selected to purchase the first run of Ford’s latest flagship supercar. Ford received over 7000 applications from customers around the world who wanted the opportunity to purchase the new GT. In deciding who would receive one of the first 500 cars off the assembly line, Ford considered factors such as association with the company, media following, and standing in the car community as an ambassador for the brand.
Roush has a longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company as well as Ford Performance, which undoubtedly led to his allocation of a 2017 GT. Ford was where Roush began his career in 1964 as an engine development engineer. He would later form a drag racing team, winning multiple championships in NHRA, IHRA and AHRA Pro Stock drag racing between 1970-75. In 1984, Roush was asked by Ford Motor Company to develop cars for the SCCA Trans-Am and IMSA Camel GT racing series. Roush’s cars won the Trans-Am manufacturer’s championship for Lincoln-Mercury in 1985 and an unprecedented 119 races and 24 national championships between the two series.
Roush also established his immensely successful NASCAR team in 1988. To date, Roush-Fenway Racing has claimed two NASCAR Cup championships, four NASCAR Nationwide championships, and one NASCAR Truck Series title, all while racing Ford-powered cars. Roush also has a history of making fast Mustangs under the Roush Performance brand and even serves as a supplier to Ford providing prototyping, testing and engineering services.
Roush’s 2017 GT is serial number 15, which matches the serial number of his 2005 Ford GT. It is finished in Liquid Grey with Ingot Silver racing stripes and matte-black carbon fiber wheels. All 2017 GT’s are fitted with a 647-horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with hydraulically-actuated adjustable suspension as well as active aerodynamics.
Other notable celebrities who received one of the first 500 cars include comedian and noted car buff Jay Leno and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti. In total, only 1000 examples of the new GT will be built and sold to the public through 2019. With his induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame later this month, Roush will join rarified company as possibly our only Inductee with a pair of Ford’s greatest supercars.
Click here to see a photo gallery of Jack Roush’s 2017 Ford GT