1981 Ford/Zakspeed IMSA Mustang GTX

The Team Zakspeed GTX Mustangs of 1981 ushered in Ford’s return to road racing for a new era. Much had changed about the sport, the cars, and the level of competition since Ford’s last road-racing program ended in 1970. Employing design innovation and the latest technology, Ford Special Vehicles Operations (SVO) and its partners created a race car unlike anything that had ever worn a Ford badge, starting with the engine. In a sea of six- and eight-cylinder competitors, Ford chose to use a 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine, heavily modified by Zakspeed. By utilizing turbocharging, four valves per cylinder and electronic fuel injection, the engine produced 560+ horsepower. Working with Bill Scott Racing and taking advantage of IMSA rules changes regarding bodywork, a giant rear wing and wide fender flares were employed in conjunction with an extended front splitter, yielding an outrageous-looking machine that was extremely fast. Enlisted to drive the car was well-known German champion, Klaus Ludwig, who co-drove to win the 1979 24 Hours of LeMans. Going head-to-head with Porsche 935 Turbos, the GTX Mustang placed on the pole at Laguna Seca and finished in first place at Sears Point and Brainard in the 1981 season, signaling the beginning of Ford’s road-racing commitment for the coming decade and beyond.