The Ford GT Heritage Edition is without question one of the most prized American-made supercars->ke177 in history. Only 343 units were built by Ford->ke31 back in 2004. In the decade since, appreciation for the GT Heritage Edition->ke411 has shot to the sky as the supercar’s limited nature has made it one of the most prized possessions of any auto collector. Fortunately for those in the market for one, Barrett-Jackson will be auctioning not one, but two GT Heritage Edition models, one of which is about as close to brand new as it can get. The auction->ke2845 will take place from April 8 to 10, 2016 in Palm Beach, Florida.

This particular model carries the VIN 1FAFP90S96Y400781 and has just under five miles on its odometer. Yep, five miles. Everything about it remains in factory original delivery condition, right down to the steering wheel and the plastic-covered seats. Even the factory-transport stickers are intact. Same thing with the original documentation from Ford Motor Company, including the Window Sticker and all the books and manuals. It’s rare to find an auction piece that’s this close to being brand new. It’s even rarer when the auction piece is as exclusive as this one.

In terms of performance, this GT Heritage Edition is powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 engine that spits out 550 horsepower. That output isn’t special by today’s standards, but given everything else about this car is next to brand new, the estimated $500,000 price tag for this über exclusive Ford GT is worth every penny. That’s not to say that the car will fetch that amount. It could be less; it could be more. But it is attached to a piece of history that will likely go down in the annals of American performance cars as one of the most iconic supercars this beautiful country of ours has ever created.

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Why it matters

The past few years have seen a number of Ford GT Heritage Edition models go up for sale or hit the auction block. I don’t know if that means anything, but I do know that the car is special in every sense of the word. Back in 2013, a GT Heritage Edition that also had less than 10 miles on its odometer was sold in Monterey, California. Then as recently as November 2015, another GT Heritage Edition – VIN 1FAFP90S36Y400856 – with 7,617 miles on its odometer was being sold at auto classifieds site Catsexotics.

Now comes the latest GT Heritage Edition to hit the market. Considering how new this model is relative to the previous examples, it does seem like $500,000 is a safe estimate for the car. Personally, I don’t have that kind of money so I’m not even going to bother making a bid for it. But I am interested to see the kind of reception it receives, especially in a place like Barrett-Jackson where I’m pretty sure that it won’t be the only car that collectors will be fighting over.

If this GT Heritage Edition exceeds the $500,000 estimate, it validates my belief that this model, given it’s incredibly limited number, will one day go down as one of the most sought-after American-made supercars in history. Who knows, it might be in that position already. That would not only be great for the legacy of the Ford GT, but it would also cement it as a true collector’s item, the kind that sits in a garage as the centerpiece item.

Ford GT Heritage Edition

Read our full review on the Ford GT Heritage edition here.