The Ford GT supercar and a jet-powered land speed racer are set to wow visitors to the Ford Discovery Centre over the coming Christmas/New Year holiday period.

The two rare and exciting vehicles will take centre stage at the Ford Discovery Centre in the lead-up to the holidays and are sure to attract and delight performance car enthusiasts during their brief stay.

A modern day interpretation of the legendary GT40 sports car that won the Le Mans 24 Hour race four times in the 1960s, the 2005 Ford GT was flown direct from the US for its local debut at Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October and is the only example of Ford's GT supercar currently in Australia.

The GT will be on show at the Ford Discovery Centre for a short time, giving both locals and visitors to Geelong a unique chance to see this special vehicle up close and in the metal, before continuing its display duties at motor shows around the country.

Finished in stunning Mark IV Red paintwork, the GT is also fitted with white racing stripes over the bonnet, roof and rear hatch as well as white lower bodyside "FORD GT" logo stripes.

Optional 19" forged lightweight aluminium wheels complete the impressive exterior package, which was one of the stars of the recent Australian International Motor Show.

The GT is powered by an all-aluminium, 5.4-litre supercharged V8 engine that produces 410kW of power and 678Nm of torque.

Also on display at the Ford Discovery Centre over the holiday period is the unique Project 500 Jet Car.

Australians Terry O'Hare and Jack McDonald designed and developed the Project 500 car for an attempt on the Australian Land Speed Record in 1973, which at that time was held by Sir Donald Campbell.

Designed to break the 500 mph (804 km/h) barrier, the Project 500 car unfortunately never confirmed its potential due to the unseasonal rains that flooded Lake Eyre that year, causing the attempt to be postponed.

Further attempts were planned in subsequent years but, apart from a test run at Lake Hindmarsh in northern Victoria in 1974 where the car reached 378 mph (608.3 km/h), the Project 500 car never completed a competitive run to challenge Campbell's record.

The Project 500 Jet Car has been fully restored in recent years by apprentices at the Kangan Batman TAFE College.

The Ford Discovery Centre is located on the corner of Gheringhap & Brougham Streets, Geelong. Hours of operation are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Wednesday to Monday – the centre is closed on Tuesdays, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Further enquiries can be made by telephoning the Ford Discovery Centre on (03) 5227 8700.

2005 Ford GT specifications

Drivetrain layout: Mid engine, rear wheel drive

Engine type: 5.4-litre supercharged V8, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, aluminium block, aluminium heads, H-beam connecting rods, forged aluminium pistons

Power: 410 kW @ 6,500 rpm
Torque: 678 Nm @ 3,750 rpm

Transmission: Ricardo six-speed manual with helical limited slip differential and 240mm twin plate clutch

Suspension: Unequal length upper "A" arm and lower "L" arm aluminium control arms, coil springs, monotube aluminium dampers and tubular anti-roll bar

Brakes: Brembo cross-drilled and vented discs with four-piston monoblock calipers and four-channel, four-sensor ABS

Project 500 Jet Car specifications

Power Plant: Rolls Royce Derwent jet engine with custom designed afterburner, developing 2750lbs of thrust or 4125lbs when the afterburner is engaged

Top Speed: Wind tunnel tested to in excess of 500 mph (804km/h)

Frame: Custom designed two-part monocoque construction space frame with shear-pin detachable front cockpit

Body: Hand wheeled alloy outer skin designed for maximum aerodynamic effect

Wheels: Specially designed chrome alloy wheels with expanding segmented brake discs

Parachutes: Two specially designed slotted parachutes fitted to ejection tubes at the rear of the fuselage

Build Cost: $150,000 (1972)