The Other "Ford vs Ferrari"

Back in the 1980s, Ford had a bold idea: build a mid-engine supercar to rival Ferrari, known as the GN34. It was envisioned as an answer to the European exotics dominating the scene. With sleek designs from Italdesign and the Yamaha SHO engine, the GN34 had all the right ingredients. But in the end, the project was scrapped due to budget issues and logistical challenges. Imagine how different Ford’s lineup could’ve been had this Ferrari fighter made it to the streets! It could've even rivaled the Corvette at the very least…

It’s another one of those “what if” moments in car history. Ford clearly had the ambition and design, but the complexities of making it work just didn’t align. Still, it’s fun to wonder what might have been, especially considering how the 2000s Ford GT ended up filling that void a couple of decades later.

While Ford eventually built supercars like the GT, the GN34 remains an intriguing glimpse of what could’ve been. It also shows how high costs and the pursuit of excellence sometimes make or break automotive dreams.

Cited Sources:

​MotorTrend.com, TheDrive.com