Fascinating Look Back at the Spectre R42, a Ford V8-Powered Supercar

Ray Christopher’s GT Development wanted to build a modern GT40 back in 1991, and the Spectre R42 was the result, but not without a few hiccups. Inspired by the GT40’s design, the R42 boasts a custom chassis, but its parent company went bankrupt a few years later.

Eventually, the rights to the R42 was sold to US-registered Spectre Motors Inc. for $2,500,000 USD, led by 34-year-old former GTD Scandinavian sales agent Anders Hildebrand in March 1995. The R42 subsequently went into production four months later, powered by a four-valve DOHC 4.6L Modular V8 from a Ford Mustang Cobra that makes 350 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, mated to a Getrag five-speed manual transmission. By 1996, Spectre only sold 23-units of the R42, thus ending its production.