Imagine owning one of the coolest supercars Ford ever built, knowing it came straight from Ford’s private stash. That’s exactly what happened this past Saturday (October 18) when Ford auctioned off its own 2006 Ford GT Heritage No. 3 at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Fall Auction. This wasn’t just clearing out inventory; the whole sale, with no reserve, was set up to raise money for Ford’s own collection of historic vehicles, the Heritage Fleet. It sold for $742,500 with fees.

This specific GT is a big deal. It’s car number three of the super rare Heritage Edition run – only 343 were ever made with that iconic blue and orange Gulf Oil-inspired paint job. Ford kept this one for itself until now, making it the earliest production Heritage car ever sold to the public. That $13,000 paint option involved a ton of work at the time, and it’s easily the most sought-after version of the 2005-2006 GT.

Of course, it still has the heart of a beast: a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 making 550 horsepower, hooked to a proper six-speed manual gearbox. These things were monsters, capable of hitting 60 mph in the low threes and breaking 200 mph flat out. Ted Ryan, Ford’s Heritage guy, said this car is “a rolling embodiment of our racing heritage.”

The money raised is going directly back into preserving Ford’s history. Ford CEO Jim Farley recently pushed to gather the company’s significant vehicles into one collection, the Heritage Fleet, to inspire future designs and keep the legacy alive. Ryan explained, “The sale of this Ford GT is the first of several vehicles that will benefit the amazing cars we identified for permanent retention in the Ford Heritage Fleet.”

So, while one lucky bidder took home an incredible piece of history, the sale of the 2006 Ford GT Heritage No. 3 also ensures that Ford’s own automotive treasures will be taken care of for years to come.