Ford Put 1901 Racing Colors on the Mustang GT3 — And the Story Goes Back Before Ford Existed

Ford is celebrating its racing history with a pair of Mustang GT3 race cars dressed in colors from more than a century ago. The design honors Henry Ford’s first race in 1901, when he drove a car called Sweepstakes to victory. The Ford Motor Company didn’t even exist yet, but racing was already part of the story.

On October 10, 1901, Henry Ford took Sweepstakes to a race in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The early car reached speeds close to 60 mph, and its reliable engine helped Ford pull off an unexpected win. That victory also helped him attract investors for the Ford Motor Company, which he founded in 1903.

The new livery brings back the original car’s black, burgundy, and gold colors. Ford also added the company’s early logo in gold, along with “Racing Since 1901” lettering on the hood. The two factory-backed Mustang GT3 cars will wear the design at the 10-hour Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta on October 3.

There’s a modern touch, too. After dark, an illuminated Mustang pony graphic on the sides will light up with a black-and-gold American flag design. It also marks the United States’ 250th anniversary. Even the drivers get something special: their racing suits take inspiration from the three-piece suit Henry Ford wore back in 1901.

Ford was founded in 1903, two years after Henry Ford won his first race. Now, more than a century later, the company is bringing the colors of his original race car to two Mustang GT3s at Petit Le Mans.