You can like Ford’s unorthodox selection process for the 2017 Ford GT or not, but you can’t deny that the Blue Oval is paying back the loyalty shown by those who can proudly call themselves members of the Ford GT family by virtue of having owned the previous-generation version of the supercar.

Speaking with @FordOnline, Ford Chief Technical Officer Raj Nair opened up on the process by which the company picked the first 500 owners of the new Ford GT and admitted that applicants who own a current Ford model played a big part in getting past the proverbial velvet rope and into the GT club. According to Nair, 87% of the selected Ford GT applicants are existing Ford owners. More importantly, 69% of the accepted applications belonged to those who have specifically owned a previous generation Ford GT.

Do the math on those percentages and of the 500 people lucky enough to get first dibs on the 2017 GT’s initial two-year production run, 435 count them as existing Ford owners and 345 of them have owner a 2005 Ford GT. Take the calculations a step further and of the 4,038 units made of the 2005 GT, roughly eight percent - or less depending on whether they still have the 2005 model - of them will become owners of both versions of the GT supercar.

Even though only 500 of the 6,500 applicants for the new GT supercar will have get the first two-year production run, those who didn’t make the initial cut could still get their hands on the new GT provided that Ford builds more units after 2018, which by all indications, is what’s going to happen.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

Why it matters

Those who applied but got shut down may have a problem with Ford’s selection process for the 2017 Ford GT, but from an outsider’s perspective, it’s hard to find fault in how the automaker went about choosing the first 500 owners of the new GT supercar. It’s only right that loyalty is rewarded, especially in a business as competitive as the auto industry.

I don’t even see a problem with Ford playing particular importance on those who have owned the 2005 Ford GT supercar. I actually applaud the company for taking that approach because those who paid money for the 2005 GT should be afforded the opportunity to choose if they want to buy the new model. It’s the right thing to do and it’s nice to see Ford recognize that.

I know what some people will say though. Being shut down on the first two years of production may provide some lining of hope in the following years, but since Ford is adamant on limiting production of the new GT supercar to 250 units per year, what are the chances that they’re going to get picked? The odds will likely remain the same or it may get worse if more customers sign up for a chance to get picked to buy the supercar.

Here’s my suggestion. If you’re really bent on making it to the cut, buy a Ford model as early as now. Show Ford that you’re not just about the GT. It’s an expensive suggestion, I know, but if that’s one of the requirements to being short-listed for the supercar, it’s a gamble worth taking, especially if you have the $400,000 it takes to buy one.

2017 Ford GT

Read our full review on the 2017 Ford GT here.