The order books are open for Ford Motor Company's [NYSE:F] reborn supercar, the GT, but getting on the list isn't quite as simple as walking down to your local showroom and picking out the options you want.
With a list price beginning in the mid-$400,000s, the GT isn't for everyone. And Ford knows that.
Among the initial questions asked on the application pages, found on the special website www.fordgt.com, are some designed to determine just how closely related the potential buyer is to Ford and its motorsports programs. For instance, the application asks if buyers have previously owned a GT, if they're involved with charities Ford supports, and if they consider themselves "an influencer of public opinion."
Additionally, the application requires potential buyers to disclose if they work for Ford or for one of its suppliers. But what's particularly intriguing is that the application appears to favor buyers who might use Ford vehicles for work purposes, such as part of a fleet.
Have your VINs ready
Then, the automaker asks about previous GT ownership, going so far as requiring VINs for any GTs the applicant may have. The application later asks buyers if they own any other Ford or Lincoln vehicles.
Other questions include how the applicant plans to use their GT—on the track or in club events, indicating that Ford wants a balance between owners who will preserve their cars and owners who will put theirs to good use.
Such a stringent application process is virtually unheard of in the auto industry, especially among mainstream makes. Ferrari [NYSE:RACE] faces a lengthy waiting list for its cars and it is generally impossible to buy a new one without having owned at least a couple of older models, but the Italian automaker also has years of experience in the supercar market.
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